Directory of Providers
What is the Directory of Providers?
It is simply a list of all settings that are entitled to access nursery education grant funding for children in their care.
All settings – that is private and voluntary nurseries and playgroups, independent schools and accredited childminders in the Richmond upon Thames Childminding Network – must be listed on the council’s current Directory of Providers before they can access the nursery education grant.
In order to become a member of the Directory of Providers, settings must be delivering education to 3 and 4 year olds in line with the Foundation Stage curriculum given to children in maintained (that is, state school) nurseries, as well as providing childcare in the usual way in accordance with the standards laid down by Ofsted.
The education element lasts for 2½ hours and can be delivered once a day in the case of sessional settings such as playgroups, or twice a day for full day nurseries, childminders or independent schools.
Who can join the Directory of Providers?
Any setting offering 2½ hours or more childcare and education to children in its care, for a minimum of 33 weeks per year.
Which settings are currently on the Directory of Providers?
There are 103 providers on the Directory. The groups that are members can be found on this list of providers.
How do I join the Directory of Providers?
An existing provider, or a newly established setting, wishing to join Richmond upon Thames’s Directory of Providers will need to show evidence of working towards the Early Years and Childcare Best practice principles for the foundation stage. They must also be operating an inclusive provision where children with special needs, disabilities or learning difficulties are offered equal opportunities for progression and development.
Once an application to join the Directory has been received, the setting is put on our Support and Improvement Programme C. Members of the Early Years and Childcare team work with the setting to ensure they are of a standard which would receive at least a ‘satisfactory’ outcome at an Ofsted inspection. This usually takes at least a term. Once on the Directory, providers are expected to continue to strive for excellence in all areas of the curriculum and in the quality of their childcare by attending regular training courses to maintain and update skills and knowledge. Continuing professional development for all staff is actively encouraged.
Advantages of being in the Directory of Providers
- The Early Years and Childcare Partnership Training Programme is produced 3 times a year and offers a wide range of training courses provided by a variety of training providers. If enough staff wish to be trained on a specific subject, some courses can be offered ‘in-house’, but the majority of training is offered at a number of venues in or around the Twickenham area.
- Regular advice and support on all aspects of the curriculum is available from an ‘assigned’ Early Years Advisory Teacher (EYAT). They come to visit settings, and they also give email and telephone support. Information on outside play, session planning, snack time management, phonics and leadership and management are just a few of the skills they can offer.
- Regular advice, support and ‘surgery’ sessions on the inclusion of children with special needs, disabilities or learning difficulties can be obtained from an ‘assigned’ Area Special Educational Needs coordinator (Area SENCo). The Area SENCo will also come and visit the setting, and can give specialist advice on the management of individual children’s learning programmes to the settings’ SENCo, as well as being a route to accessing support funding if necessary and signposting to other useful services and funding.
- Accessible information on the nursery education grant (NEG), and advice and information on ‘per session’ funding amounts, term dates, etc is available from NEG staff in the Early Years & Childcare team.
Who do I contact for further information on joining the Directory of Providers?
Contact the Senior Admin Officer at the Early Years and Childcare team on 020 8831 6267 for more information and an application form.