Agenda and minutes

Forward Plan Ref: 2010/106

Contact: Marion Evans, Early Education Development Manager Tel: (01865) 815115

Report by Director for Children, Young People & Families (CMDCY4).

Capital funding (£7.8 million in total for expenditure up to March 2011) has been made available by the Department for Education (DfE) to secure significant investment in early years provision, mostly in the non-maintained sector.

The Cabinet approved the Oxfordshire Early Years Capital Plan 2008-2011 on 16 September 2008. This sets out how the funding will be used in Oxfordshire.

Expressions of interest were received from 59 early years providers for large capital grants.

Stepping Stones Day Nursery and Nursery School Ltd in Witney is one of 10 potential projects that were invited to submit a full application (necessary for externally-managed projects in excess of £25,000).

Officers have completed the assessments of these 10 externally-managed large projects and have previously recommended approval for 9 of these projects.

The Cabinet Member is now requested to approve an early years capital grant for Stepping Stones Day Nursery and Nursery School Ltd.

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to approve the application from Stepping Stones Day Nursery and Nursery School Ltd for funding up to £100,000 from the Early Years Capital Grant, subject to planning consent being obtained and subject to appropriate contractual agreement.

to approve the application from Stepping Stones Day Nursery and Nursery School Ltd for funding up to £100,000 from the Early Years Capital Grant, subject to planning consent being obtained and subject to appropriate contractual agreement.