July 2019 - Discretionary Deferral Funding & Early Entry to School Data
Dear City of Edinburgh Council,
Please accept this email as a Freedom of Information request.
Please could the Council provide:
(For Qs 1-3 below this data was already requested in an FoI by Sarah McCluckie via the WDTK website in early May so I am looking for either confirmation that your response to that FoI is still accurate or an update on the data if there have been any subsequent applications and decisions).
1) The total number of requests received to date for the Council to provide discretionary funding for a further year of early learning and childcare for children whose fifth birthdays will fall between the day after the school start date in August 2019 and 31st Dec 2019.
2) A breakdown of the total number in 1. above by requests for
a) continued funding in private/voluntary settings and
b) continued funding in council run settings.
3) In relation to question 2, please provide the number of places the Council has agreed to provide continued funding for in
a) private/voluntary settings and
b) council run settings.
4. How many of the children applying have a December birthday?
5a. How many appeals (challenges if there is no official appeals process) did the Council receive against the Council’s decision not to grant funding?
5b. How many of these appeals/challenges resulted in the initial decision being overturned?
6. How many official complaints has the Council received regarding discretionary deferral funding decisions between Nov 2018 and today?
7a. How many applications did the Council receive for children to be permitted early entry to primary school to start in Aug 2019 instead of Aug 2020 (for children who will turn five on or after 1st March 2020)?
7b. How many of these early entry applications were approved?
8. Is the Council’s discretionary deferral funding policy currently under review or are there any plans to update it in the near future?
Yours faithfully,
Patricia Anderson
Ms Patricia Anderson
Our ref: 24360
Dear Ms Anderson
Acknowledgement of Request
Subject: Discretionary Deferral Funding & Early Entry to School Data
Thank you for your request for information received on 18/07/2019. I can confirm that your request will be processed under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, Environmental Information Regulations (Scotland) 2004, or the INSPIRE (Scotland) Regulations 2009.
You will receive the information requested within 20 working days unless the Council does not hold the information, or there is a reason for it to be withheld. We will write to you in any event. This means we have until 16/08/2019 to respond to your request.
In some circumstances a fee may be payable and if that is the case we will let you know.
If you have any requirements regarding the format any information should be supplied in, e.g. the language to be used, audio, large print and so on, then please let me know.
If you have any queries or concerns, do not hesitate to get in touch. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.
To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175....
Further information about your rights and accessing information is available on our website at: www.edinburgh.gov.uk
Yours sincerely,
Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk
Dear City of Edinburgh Council,
Please can you advise when I will receive the council's response to the FoI request I submitted on 18/7/19 as the 20 working days it was due to be completed in have now passed.
Yours faithfully,
Patricia Anderson
Dear Ms Anderson
Please accept my apologies for the delay. I will be able to respond to you today.
Kind regards
Sue
Sue Brown | Information Rights Officer | Information Governance Unit | Strategy and Communications | Chief Executive | Tel DD: 0131 529 7855 Main: 0131 200 2340 | [email address]
Ms Patricia Anderson
[FOI #590350 email]
Our ref: 24360
Dear Ms Anderson
Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 - Release of Information
Subject: Discretionary Deferral Funding & Early Entry to School Data
Thank you for your request for information of 18/07/2019 where you asked for the following updated information. Your request has been processed and considered under the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002 and the information is provided below.
1) The total number of requests received to date for the Council to provide discretionary funding for a further year of early learning and childcare for children whose fifth birthdays will fall between the day after the school start date in August 2019 and 31st Dec 2019.
97
2) A breakdown of the total number in 1. above by requests for:
a) continued funding in private/voluntary settings
34
b) continued funding in council run settings.
63
3) In relation to question 2, please provide the number of places the Council has agreed to provide continued funding for in
a) private/voluntary settings
16
b) council run settings.
43
4. How many of the children applying have a December birthday?
58
5a. How many appeals (challenges if there is no official appeals process) did the Council receive against the Council’s decision not to grant funding?
25
5b. How many of these appeals/challenges resulted in the initial decision being overturned?
13
6. How many official complaints has the Council received regarding discretionary deferral funding decisions between Nov 2018 and today?
3
7a. How many applications did the Council receive for children to be permitted early entry to primary school to start in Aug 2019 instead of Aug 2020 (for children who will turn five on or after 1st March 2020)?
1
7b. How many of these early entry applications were approved?
0
8. Is the Council’s discretionary deferral funding policy currently under review or are there any plans to update it in the near future?
No
To promote transparency and accountability, please note it is the Council’s policy to publish all request details and responses made under the freedom of information legislation. This information will be made available through the Council’s website and will not include your personal details. The disclosure log is available at the following link: http://www.edinburgh.gov.uk/homepage/175...
Your right to seek a review
If you are unhappy with the way we have dealt with your request, you can ask us to review our actions and decisions by writing to the:
Head of Strategy & Communications
The City of Edinburgh Council
Waverley Court Business Centre 2:1
4, East Market Street
Edinburgh
EH8 8BG or,
Email: [email address]
Please note that your request must be in a recordable format (email, letter, audio tape etc.), and that you have 40 working days upon receipt of this letter to ask for a review. You will receive a full response to your review request within 20 working days of its receipt. Please quote the reference number above in any future communications.
If you are not content with the outcome of the review, you can ask the Scottish Information Commissioner to review our decision. You must submit your complaint to the Commissioner within 6 months of receiving our review response. The Commissioner can be contacted at:
The Office of the Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St Andrews
Fife
KY16 9DS
Telephone: 01334 464610
Fax: 01334 464611
Website: www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal
Email: [email address]
Yours sincerely,
Sue Brown
Information Rights Officer
Information Governance Unit
Level 2:1, Waverley Court, Edinburgh EH8 8BG Tel 0131 200 2340
[Edinburgh City Council request email] www.edinburgh.gov.uk
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