Focused Childcare Support Scheme 
This grant contributes to the delivery of a range of Welsh Government & Childcare & Early Years priorities, outlined in the Childcare Sufficiency Assessment Action Plan.
One of the priorities for the Vale of Glamorgan is to provide Focused Childcare Support for the following criteria:
The Focused Childcare Support Scheme supports 2 elements:
- Pre-school children for one term (12 weeks max) up to 10 hours per week prior to starting their entitled early education in school the term following the child’s third birthday. This could be for:
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- A child with an emerging and/or diagnosed additional need – depending on family circumstances this could mean funding the placement and additional support (if agreed by the Early Years Forum)
- A child who is at risk of isolation and /or lack of socialisation and not attending any other funded or non-funded childcare provision i.e. Flying Start, 2 yr old offer, private day-care etc.
2. Children aged 4yrs plus for up to 12 hours per week for a maximum of 6 weeks throughout the school holidays (during 1 year only). This could be for:
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- A child who is at risk of isolation and / or lack of socialisation and not accessing any other funded scheme i.e. play schemes, Childcare Offer, Fun and Food Programme etc due to double funding.
Please Note: There are many Government funded schemes available to working parents which must be explored before a referral is made or accepted through the Vale’s Focused Childcare Support scheme.
For more information regarding financial help for childcare, please contact the Family Information Service or visit their 'Choosing Childcare web page:
Referrals
Referrals can be made by an organisation/school or professional whom the family is working with. We are unable to take referrals made by parents/carers. Please ensure that you are using the new Focused Childcare Support scheme referral form, which needs to be signed by both referrer and parent/carer. We will only be able to discuss referrals with the referring agency and family.
To ensure a straightforward way of reviewing referrals, referrers will need to provide robust information as to why a referral is being made.
Referrals are discussed by a panel fortnightly (where possible), so please allow time for this to take place and we will get back to you as soon as we are able. We may contact you for further information. Once a referral has been agreed at panel, we will ensure that the referrer is notified of the outcome. N.B. - This process can take time when seeking appropriate childcare.
Monitoring visits are carried out with the childcare setting to ensure that the child’s needs are being met, parent/carer is happy and that the child has settled.
Should the referring agency remove their service from the family, they will have a duty to inform us so that continuation/removal of Focused Childcare Support place can be discussed.
Please note the Focused Childcare Support scheme:
- Places the child in registered childcare, the term before they commence their early education nursery place. Please bear this in mind when making a referral as a childcare setting may not be the most appropriate place for the child/young person you are looking to refer.
- Is not designed to offer respite care, emergency childcare or be considered as part of the family’s care plan.
- Is not aimed at supporting the needs of parents/carers
- Is not able to support children on the Child Protection register
- Has a firm policy that if a child’s attendance is irregular, the childcare place may be stopped as missed sessions still have to be paid for by the scheme.
For further information, please contact the Childcare and Early Years Team:
If you feel that your child could benefit from this scheme but you are not currently working with agencies mentioned above, please contact the Families First Advice Line on: