This grant has now closed
Thank you very much for your interest in small capital childcare grant for 2024 to 2025. The application process is now closed.
What happens next
We will be in touch with you as soon as possible, if you have submitted an application.
Following the application review process, we will then decide if there is an opportunity to reopen the grant process once more. We will contact the sector by email and the umbrella organisations if this is the case.
Original information
Small Grants Scheme 2024 to 2025
Welsh Government have published the conditions for the childcare and early years small capital grant funding for 2024 to 2025.
The council, using the systems it already has in place, is to administer the Childcare and Early Years Small Grants Scheme on behalf of Early Years Childcare and Play Division, Welsh Government.
In considering an application, the council will need to make sure that the applicant is eligible and meets the criteria.
Eligibility
- Be able to demonstrate that there is an un-met demand for childcare. This includes childminders, private and voluntary sector providers, settings offering all-day childcare, wrap around care, holiday play schemes, out of school childcare clubs and so on.
- Be registered with Care Inspectorate for Wales (CIW) or in the case of new providers, give a written undertaking that it will register with CIW at the earliest opportunity. If a setting is not registered within 6 months of receiving confirmation of grant, the Local Authority may take steps to recover the funds.
- Offering The Childcare Offer.
- Be able to articulate the benefit to the setting and children of the investment.
- Be prepared to commit to offer childcare for a minimum of 5 years from the date on which the final grant payment is made and acknowledge that if it stops providing childcare places or routinely accepts privately fee-paying children over those in receipt of Welsh Government funded childcare, then it will be required to repay all or part of the grant funding paid. The amount repayable will vary depending on the circumstances.
- Be able to demonstrate security of tenure for a minimum of 5 years. Where the number of years remaining of a lease is less than 5 years, consideration may be given to applications where the provider is able to show that there is a clear commitment or intent from the landlord to renew the lease.
- Acknowledge the investment it has received in any promotional material issued to parents.
What can be funded
We would expect the maximum amount available to any one setting in any given financial year to be:
- Childminders: £10,000
- Childcare providers registered for 15 or fewer: £10,000
- Childcare providers registered for 16 to 29 places: £15,000
- Childcare providers registered for 30 or more places: £20,000
Guidance for grant applications
Funding can be offered for various capital works that may be needed such as:
- general refurbishment, including painting, replacing vinyl flooring, and so on
- improving the outdoor play facilities of a setting, such as replacing the outdoor play surface, shelters or providing a canopy to enable play and learning in all weather
- replacing / repairing fixtures and fittings such as toilets, kitchen units (nurseries, cylchoedd meithrin, pre-schools, after school clubs/holiday clubs), windows, doors, and so on. (We advise you to include photos / videos in your application as evidence of fixtures or fittings that are wore and in need of repair)
- replacing worn equipment / furniture / toys which could potentially pose a health and safety risk. So for example a rusted outdoor climbing frame, which could cause splinters; or a well-used and tatty changing table, which can no longer be hygienically cleaned
- IT equipment, provided it can be clearly shown that it is to support the setting to provide a more digital offer to parents (allowing a setting to email reports) and children’s development. This could include laptops, tablets, printers, and so on
- the provision of bespoke equipment / furniture which will enable a provider to accommodate a child with additional learning needs
- contribute towards purchasing a vehicle that would be used to transport children between childcare and education locations. Leasing costs or running costs such as insurance, petrol, servicing, etc., are not eligible with this grant. If problems arise within 5 years of purchasing the vehicle, the cost of repairs is your responsibility or you will be expected to repay the grant in full. The provider must comply with the following to be considered for the grant:
- The vehicle must be purchased from a reputable dealer/garage
- You must purchase an additional one-year warranty for the vehicle
- You must make sure that you have money in reserve for the additional costs such as MOT, service, tax, insurance, general vehicle maintenance (tyres and so on)
- equipment/adaptations to ensure that services can operate in a Covid-secure manner and to support the recovery of the sector, for example:
- additional handwashing facilities
- improvements to internal areas, including additional windows/ventilations, room partitioning and storage facilities
- other adaptations to improve access and flow, for example additional entrances and/or reconfigure internal rooms/areas
- CO2 monitors
Apply
You can apply for this grant using our online form.
The closing date for applications is 16 September 2024.
The link to the online form has been removed because the grant is now closed.
Terms and conditions
Please make sure you read the
terms and conditions for the grant offer (link opens a new tab).