Early Years Services

Early Years Grants and Support

COMHAIRLE NAN EILEAN SIAR
DEPARTMENTOF EDUCATION
APPLICATIONS FOR ASSISTANCE FROM 2009/2010
EARLY YEARS/CHILDCARE AND SURE START GRANT

TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF GRANT

GENERAL

Applications for financial assistance from the Childcare Strategy, Sure Start or Pre-school Education grants are open to early years/childcare providers (including childminders) who are registered by the Care Commission. However, non registered community groups may be eligible for Sure Start Funding. In addition, organisations can apply for funding if the main beneficiaries of the grant are employed within childcare/early years in the Western Isles.
Grant is intended to:
- Support the inclusion of children with additional needs.
- Support new Gaelic or English childcare expansion in line with demand.
- Upgrade equipment and play areas thus improving standards for health and safety.
- Address additional running costs and expenses incurred as a result of rural and island factors.
- Enable early years/childcare providers meet the requirements of the Care Commission.
- Support community based groups for parents of children aged 0-3 who may need extra support for the following reasons: economic, family stress, health, social exclusion, isolation due to limited support, teenage parents/lone parents, families affected by alcohol/drugs and children with additional needs including behavioural problems.
Grant applications for supplementary (“top-up”) funding for very small early years partner providers are sent separately to potentially eligible groups.
Applications for travel, course fees and other costs associated with the training of staff should be detailed on a separate early years/childcare expense claim form (form PT03).
In the majority of cases applications for accredited qualifications will only be accepted from training providers within the Western Isles. This type of application should be detailed on a separate claim form (form TPGA).
The grant is only available for expenditure actually incurred in the 2009/2010 financial year (1 April 2009 to 31 March 2010). The Comhairle cannot guarantee that it will provide grant funding in 2009/2010 nor that the Western Isles allocation of grant will be distributed in the same way. Groups seeking assistance with projects continuing into the following financial year must therefore be in a position to provide continuing funding from their own resources if necessary.
If grant assistance is required for a new project the business plan of the organisation/provider must reflect the long-term sustainability of the service beyond one year.
Early years/childcare or community provision should promote access for disadvantaged groups e.g. additional support needs and low-income groups.
Unregistered community groups and/or organisations applying for Sure Start funding must:
- Provide a stimulating environment, in which very young children, through play, have opportunities for physical development, social interaction, personal development and the growth of skills in communication and language.
- Offer parents opportunities to assist their child development and achieve greater satisfaction in their role as parents through playing together and exploring how children develop.
- Provide support to parents which will assist in providing a healthy upbringing for their child
Grant is available for up to 100% of costs incurred or to be incurred but the sum of money available is open to bids from all Western Isles early years/childcare providers. Not all major project proposals will therefore succeed, and some may only succeed in part.
Any application for funding made by a Department within Comhairle nan Eilean Siar must be signed by an appropriate head of service. In addition, the Childcare Partnership should be informed and involved in the project planning from the outset.
It the event of grant money not being used or being used inappropriately the grant or part of the grant, will be repayable to the Comhairle by the applicant. You are required to certify to that effect as part of your claim
The grant, or a reasonable proportion of it, will also be repayable in the event that your group disposes of an asset acquired, converted, extended or refurbished wholly or partly with the assistance of grant or ceases to use such an asset for the original purposes. You are required to certify to that effect as part of your claim and to confirm that you will advise Comhairle nan Eilean Siar of any such disposal of assets.
It is the responsibility of the organisation to ensure that all equipment meets minimum safety requirements and is adequately insured. The Comhairle may request evidence that this is the case.
You are required to give Scottish Executive and Comhairle nan Eilean Siar access to such accounts and other documents in respect of grant as they may require in order to ensure that the terms and requirements attached to the payment of grant are fulfilled.
Approved grants will be paid in arrears on production of relevant invoices. Estimates will be acceptable for expenditure to be incurred up to the end of March 2009 but will require subsequent verification as soon as possible after the end of the financial year. Further information about payment and submission of invoices will be sent to you if your application for grant is approved.
If a grant is awarded the applicant must acknowledge Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Western Isles Childcare Partnership’s support in any promotional literature and publicity.
If a grant is awarded Comhairle nan Eilean Siar and the Western Isles Childcare Partnership has the right to publicise this support in any promotional literature and publicity.
Any group/individual receiving grant must advertise their service on the Childcare Information Service.
The Comhairle has the right to send a Comhairle Officer to visit any individual/organisation or group receiving grant funding.

SUBMISSION OF PROPOSALS

You should ensure that your application form contains full details of your proposals including full information on costs and suppliers. Where necessary, estimates (e.g. for building work should also be submitted.)
The application form should be signed by an authorised person and should be returned to Childcare Partnership Administrative Assistant, Comhairle nan Eilean Siar, Childcare Partnership Office, 7 Harbour View, Cromwell Street Quay, Stornoway, HS1 2DF.
Any queries about the form or your application for grant should be addressed in the first instance to the Administrative Assistant as above.

HOW APPLICATIONS ARE ASSESSED

The Western Isles Childcare Partnership Financial Sub Group meet quarterly to assess applications for grant. The deadline for applications is approximately two weeks prior to each meeting and applicants will be informed of this date on enquiry.
Each application is assessed on its own merits within the stated criteria and Financial Group members reserve the right to refuse or amend any application put forward for consideration.
Applicants will be informed in writing of any decisions made within 2 weeks of each meeting.

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