Section outline

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    Early Years Children with a Social worker

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    Children with a Social Worker – Key Information for Parents and Carers

    Children who have (or have had) a social worker are a focus group in education, and the Virtual School works closely with early years settings across Hampshire to support the educational outcomes for these children and young people.

    What can I expect from my child’s early years setting?

    • Positive partnerships that support you and your child with all aspects of their early year’s experience. 
    • Regular communication about the strengths and the needs of your child
    • Targeted response to any emerging needs
    • Engagement with wider support, organisations etc

    Click here to access important resources, including:

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    What is the role of the social worker in supporting my child’s education?

    • To support communication and collaboration with the early years setting
    • To help address any challenges, identifying key barriers and the best ways to support
    • to ensure relationships and parent and child voice are at the centre of any approach
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    Early Years Funding

    Early Years Pupil Premium Funding – Preschools/Nurseries/Childminders

    The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) aims to support early years settings in narrowing the achievement gap between children from certain potentially vulnerable groups, including looked after children, and their peers. Its purpose is to enhance the progress of these children in education through focused and strategic interventions and support, encouraging practitioners to give particular attention to their development.

    Having a social worker does not automatically make a child eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP). Children may be eligible if they receive funded early education and their parent/carer receives certain qualifying benefits. If a child has a social worker but is not looked after by the local authority, eligibility must be assessed against the EYPP income-based or care-status criteria.

    Further information on Early Years Pupil Premium is available via the resources links at the top of this page.

    Early Years Funded Hours - Preschools/Nurseries/Childminders

    Early Years funded hours are government-funded hours for children to attend EYs education (preschools, nurseries or childminders) before they begin formal schooling. Depending on the age and circumstances of the child, different amounts of hours are available via government funding.

    Children with a Social Worker (CWSW) are not automatically entitled to additional Early Years funded hours because of their social worker status alone. However, they may be eligible for funded early education if they meet the criteria for the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer, having an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), receiving Disability Living Allowance, or meeting certain family income thresholds. All children are also entitled to the universal 15 hours of funded early education from the term after their third birthday, with some families eligible for up to 30 hours through the working parent entitlement. 

    Key entitlements:

    • Age 2: 15 hours funded childcare if eligible through the disadvantaged 2-year-old criteria
    • Age 3 and 4: Universal 15 hours for all children
    • Eligible working families: Up to 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds (and eligible younger children under the expanded childcare offer)

    Term time hours are calculated on the child attending for 38 weeks per year.