Nursery World - New push to win grants for care out-of-school

The Scottish Executive is seeking to increase the success rate of bids for cash for out-of-school care from the New Opportunities Fund (NOF), following new evidence that the current system has led to some childcare partnerships having to waste substantial amounts of time and effort on bids that failed to win a grant. Possible changes could include indicating the funding allocated for each area, so that local authorities and partnerships would know the likely level of resources available. The Scottish Executive plans to consult on proposals for changes to the NOFearly this year.

Possible changes could include indicating the funding allocated for each area, so that local authorities and partnerships would know the likely level of resources available. The Scottish Executive plans to consult on proposals for changes to the NOFearly this year.

In Early Education and Childcare Plans 2001-2004: Guidance to Partnerships, the Scottish Executive notes that 'it is in everyone's interest to increase the success rate of bids, and to streamline the process as much as possible'. This follows a Glasgow University analysis of partnership plans carried out for the Executive, which found that the return on investment of time in NOF applications was low. One partnership had submitted eight bids, only two of which had been successful.

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