Busy2s funding information for providers

2 Year Targeted Funding

This scheme in in Westminster City Council is called Busy 2s.  To see eligibility criteria and to make an online application, families should visit this link: https://www.westminster.gov.uk/free-early-education-2-year-olds

Applications can be submitted once a child turns 20 months old.  They are held and processed in the term in which the child turns 2 years old. If eligible, funding starts in the term after the child’s 2^nd birthday.

Online benefit checks are done to establish eligibility.  However, in some cases families are required to send in proof of eligibility, for example if the child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance (DLA) or has been adopted.

If eligible, a Busy 2s ticket is posted out addressed to the child with a letter containing a list of participating providers.  Once a parent has decided on a provider, they handover the Busy 2’s ticket to the provider and must complete a parental declaration form in order to take up a funded childcare placement.  They are also required to show the provider proof of the child’s date of birth, such as a birth certificate or passport.  The Busy 2’s ticket will tell you what term the child is eligible to start from. 

Families with no recourse to public funds (NRPF)

Please have a look at the following document: No recourse to public funds.

Termly breakdown

2 year funding is for 15 hours per week and is paid for 38 weeks in the year, see chart below, for termly breakdown:

* A provider can opt to offer a stretched offer to a family, offering less hours in a week with more weeks in the year.  A typical example of a stretched offer is 11 funded hours per week for more weeks in the year. 

Change of circumstances

If the parent circumstances change, for example they start working this does not affect the 2 year funded placement.  Once a child starts a 2 year funded placement, they can continue to access it.

Out of Borough Applications

A non-Westminster family can also access a funded placement from a Westminster provider, as long as the provider is participating in the 2 year funding scheme.  Out of borough families, will need to follow the same procedure and go to the Westminster website and make an online application. If eligible, they will also get issued with a ticket to access a funded placement.  We are not able to simply accept evidence of eligibility from their home LA, as our system needs to generate an eligibility code.

Rates

Eligible 2-year-olds are eligible for up to 15 hours of free early education per week for 38 weeks.

This is paid directly to settings can be found on the following page: Westminster EY Funding rates.