Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what guidance she has provided to local authorities on charging childcare providers a fee for mistakenly providing incorrect information relating to 30 hours of free childcare.

The department’s model agreement, published on 3 March 2017, sets out our expectations of what should be included in agreements between local authorities and childcare providers for the delivery of the free early education entitlements for two-, three- and four-year-olds. This is intended to bring more consistent practice across local authorities.

The model agreement is clear the local authority should not charge providers disproportionate penalties for providing late or incomplete information leading to additional administration in the processing of free entitlements. Any charges should be reasonable and proportionate to the inconvenience or costs incurred to the local authority as a result of the lateness, and local authorities should ensure charges are clearly communicated to providers.