July 2019 - Discretionary Deferral Funding & Early Entry to School Data

The request was successful.

Patricia Anderson

Dear North Lanarkshire Council,

Please accept this email as a Freedom of Information request.
Please could the Council provide:

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)? (Answer only required to this question if your 2/7/19 response to my previous FoI on this topic has changed)

7b. How many of these early entry applications were approved? (Answer only required to this question if your 2/7/19 response to my previous FoI on this topic has changed)

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

McKay Neil, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Ms. anderson

I acknowledge receipt of your email which is receiving attention.

I shall contact you again when I am in a position to respond more fully to your request.

Yours sincerely

Neil McKay
Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
Democratic and Legal Services
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Windmillhill Street
Motherwell
ML1 1 AB
Tel : 01698 302 484

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Keachie Jacqueline, North Lanarkshire Council

Dear Ms Anderson

I refer again to your email dated 18 July 2019 seeking information in relation to discretionary deferral funding and early entry to school.

Having investigated, my response to your questions 1 8 is as follows:-

(1) There were 42 requests received to date for the provision of discretionary funding.

(2) The breakdown is as follows:-

(a) private/voluntary - 6

(b) Council run - 36

(3) The number of places where continued funding has been agreed is as follows:-

(a) private/voluntary - 4 approved

(b) Council run - 31 approved

(4) 11 of the children applying have a December birthday.

(5)
(a) One appeal was received.

(b) One decision was overturned.

(6) No official complaints have been received.

(7)
(a) 21 applications were receive for children to be permitted early entry to primary school to start in Aug 2019 instead of Aug 2020.

(b) Seven were approved.

(8) The council recently reviewed the discretionary deferred entry policy and any child born between the school commencement date in August and December will be granted an additional year in nursery if requested.

I can advise that North Lanarkshire Council, having regard to the provisions of Section 21 of the Freedom of Information (Scotland) Act 2002, has established a procedure whereby any person who has requested information and is in any way dissatisfied with the decision on that request, can within forty working days require a review of that decision by writing to the Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions, Civic Centre, Windmillhill Street, Motherwell ML1 1AB. Accordingly, if you are dissatisfied with this decision and seek such review please write to the Head of Legal and Democratic Solutions.

I would advise, also, that in terms of Section 47 of the Act a person who is dissatisfied with a notice given by the local authority under Section 21 of the Act - ie. a notice following a review of a decision by a local authority, or by the failure of a local authority to give such a notice - may make application to the Scottish Information Commissioner for a decision as to whether, in any respect specified in that application, the request for information to which the requirement relates has been dealt with in accordance with the Act. Such an application must be made within six months of the review decision and be in writing or in another form which, by reason of it having some permanency is capable of being used for subsequent reference. The application must state the name of the applicant, and provide an address for correspondence. The application must also specify the request for information to which the requirement for review relates, the matter which gave rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the original decision of the local authority and the matter which gives rise to the applicant’s dissatisfaction with the decision on review by the local authority or the failure of the local authority to issue such a decision. The Scottish Information Commissioner can be contacted as follows:-

Scottish Information Commissioner
Kinburn Castle
Doubledykes Road
St. Andrews
KY16 9DS
email: [email address]

Appeals to the Scottish Information Commissioner can also be made online via the following link: -

www.itspublicknowledge.info/Appeal

I hope this information is sufficient for your purpose. If, however, you require further information – or I can assist in any other way – please let me know.

Yours sincerely

Jacqueline Keachie
for Freedom of Information Co-ordinator
North Lanarkshire Council
Civic Centre
Motherwell
ML1 1AB
01698 302232

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