In the Spending Review the Government confirmed that there would be at least £50m in capital investment for early years settings to provide the places.
The Department for Education has put out a call for expressions of interest from local authorities, alongside the consultation on how the 30 hours will be delivered.
The DfE wants local authorities to bid for capital funding to expand childcare provision in their area.
At this stage the DfE said it does not want detailed proposals, but wants local authorities to work with childcare providers in their area to demonstrate the need for capital funding to support the increased entitlement.
Local authorities are being asked to make applications that will include specific provider level projects.
All projects must provide evidence that capital funding is the appropriate solution to meet the need for councils to provide sufficient childcare in their area. They will need to show how they will evidence through using data that there is a 'sufficiency need' and that extra capital is required to meet this need.
The DfE said that it would not be announcing cost thresholds for the project yet or be limiting the type of provider that might be eligible.
Projects will need to involve a setting that will be offering the 30 hours. They must be existing settings that are already offering childcare for three- and four-year-olds, ‘and have a proven track record with Ofsted in delivering quality provision’.
This could include schools that currently offer, or are considering offering the increased entitlement.
Local authorities have been told that they do not need to put in detailed plans at this stage - the initial process will be used to help inform the guidance and detail of the full bidding process, which will take place later this year.
Councils will find out whether they have been successful in their bids in the autumn and receive grants during the current 2016/17 financial year.
- All local authorities that wish to bid for funding must submit the expression of interest form by 29 April.
