Registered Education Providers
| Information/Guidelines |
| The Welsh Assembly Government places a statutory duty on Local Authorities to ensure that all children from the term following their third birthday can access a free part time (minimum 10 hours per week) educational placement either at school or in a non-maintained registered setting. In Rhondda Cynon Taff the majority of children can access a full time place within a school setting. However, there are a few areas where school places are all taken in September and children who live in these areas can access the minimum part time placement within a registered non maintained setting for the term following their third birthday. |
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| Registrations and Funding |
| In order to become a Registered Education setting, playgroups, cylch meithrin groups, childminders and day nursery settings must be registered with Care and Social Services Inspectorate Wales (CSSIW) and have policies and procedures in place to provide a Foundation Phase curriculum. Registered Settings will be subject to Estyn Pre-school Inspections within their first year, non-maintained settings should receive an Estyn inspection every 6 years. Settings are also subject to CSSIW inspections bi-annually. |
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| Foundation Phase Curriculum |
| Whilst attending a Registered Education Provider setting a child will have access to a Foundation Phase Curriculum, which will include the seven areas of learning: - Personal and Social Development and Well-being and Cultural Diversity - Language, Literacy and Communication Skills - Mathematical Development - Welsh Language Development - Knowledge and Understanding of the World - Physical Development - Creative Development The Foundation Phase encompasses the developmental needs of the child. It is a holistic curriculum that builds on children’s skills across the curriculum. Therefore it places great emphasis on developing children’s: - Knowledge, skills and understanding; - Personal, social, emotional, physical, and intellectual well-being so as to develop the whole child; - Positive attitudes to learning so that they can enjoy learning and will want to continue with their education for longer; - Self-esteem and self-confidence to experiment, investigate, learn new things and form new relationships. |
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| Early Years Advisory Teachers |
| The Welsh Assembly Government provides funding for Local Authorities to engage a team of Early Years Advisory Teachers to support the Registered settings. The team visits the settings on a regular basis and provide information, advice, guidance and support for early years practitioners to ensure they provide a high quality Foundations Phase curriculum! They also support staff in preparation for Inspection and in drawing up the post Inspection Action Plan and in adapting techniques to implement aspects raised in Inspection and included in the post Inspection Action Plan. |
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| What is a part time place? |
| Each child for the term following their third birthday is entitled to access a part-time free place. If this place is at a school in Rhondda Cynon Taff it is likely to be a full time place, however Welsh Assembly Government requirements place a statutory duty on Local Authorities to ensure that each child can access a minimum part-time place of 10 hours per week at a setting Registered to provide a Foundation Phase curriculum. |
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| When will my child be eligible to access a place? |
| Each child can access a place from the term following his/her third birthday. The table below provides information on when this date applies: - If Born Between 1st April and 31st August can access a place from (following their third birthday) 1st September - If Born Between 1st September and 31st December can access a place from (following their third birthday)1st January - If Born Between 1st January and 31st March can access a place from (following their third birthday) 1st April |
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| How do I access the part-time place? |
| A list of settings registers to provide a free part-time place can be found on the Family Information Service page under "search for childcare" or contact them on 0800 180 4151. Staff Registered at the setting will be able to provide information, advice, guidance and the appropriate application forms for parents/carers to complete. The settings submit the application to the Early Years and Family Support Services along with a photocopy of the child’s birth certificate. Following confirmation with RCT School Admissions Team that no school place has been offered the placement will be confirmed. RCT Early Years and Family Support Services will make payments directly to the registered setting for the minimum 10 hour placement per week. |
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| Additional Hours |
| Some registered settings offer more than the minimum 10 hours per week provision e.g. 9.30am to 12noon four days per week. The total provision being 12½ hours per week. RCT Early Years and Family Support Services only fund the setting for the maximum 10 hours per week. In these settings parents/carers may be asked to pay the setting for the additional hours being provided. |
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| Find a Provider |
| Click on the link to find your local Registered Education Provider http://www.earlyyearsrct.co.uk/ |
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| Queries |
| For further information please contact the Early Years Advisory Teachers Team on 01443 744 262 or the Family Information Service on 0800 180 4151 |
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