Priority will be given to Level 3/Foundation degree applications from the PVI sector as follows:

• existing childminders

• unqualified employed practitioners

• practitioners in settings graded Satisfactory by Ofsted

• practitioners in settings that need to maintain qualified staff ratios

• existing Foundation Degree students.

School based staff – only those working their full contracted paid hours in the nursery and/or Reception class will be eligible to apply. (Please print the bursary application form as a signature from the Headteacher is required by all school based applicants).

Out of School practitioners may apply for funding for Level 3 Playwork qualifications.

Bursary applications for GCSE English and Maths will be considered on a first come basis, priority will be given to Foundation degree practitioners or those intending to undertake foundation degree study. the award will be 75% of the course fee up to a maximum amount of £150.

Support for Level 2 qualifications should be available through ‘Apprenticeship’ or similar funding administered directly by colleges and training providers. If funding is not available to practitioners through this route, bursary applications will be considered on a case by case basis only. Proof that alternative funding cannot be accessed will be required, please attach evidence from the college/training provider to your application. If a Bursary is awarded it will be restricted to £300 (no payment less than £150 will be made).

A 2011/12 Level 3 bursary award will not cover the full cost of the course you are intending to study. You must be prepared to fund any shortfall. The value of the 2011/12 Level 3 Bursary Award is £900.

Any practitioner requesting a bursary for Foundation degree study must be aware that Bursary support will be £800 for 1 year only. Funding for future years cannot be guaranteed at this stage. Proof of GCSE ‘C’ grades in English and Maths may be required by the Foundation degree provider. Please notify us if your situation changes following your interview.

Practitioners undertaking Foundation degree study with the Open University must contact SfYC before completing a Bursary/OU application form.

If you are applying for a BA Top up bursary then it is expected that you will go on to achieve EYPS. Please note, you will be required to refund the full bursary amount if the status is not achieved.

The maximum bursary awarded for BA Top Up will be £800. The bursary award will not cover the full cost of the course you are intending to study. You must be prepared to fund any shortfall.

No bursaries will be available for BA Primary Practice as this is the route into teaching, not EYPS.

All completed application forms must be received by SfYC before or within 2 weeks of the training start date – incomplete forms will not be accepted. An up to date SfYC subscription number must be quoted.

All requests that meet the above funding criteria will be considered, however, we cannot guarantee to fund all applications.

Full completion of the course is required. If for any reason you do not start or you withdraw from your qualification course once a bursary has been claimed by the college/training provider, you must inform SfYC within 14 working days and be aware that failure to comply with this time frame means all or part of the bursary will be reclaimed from you.

If funding is approved a confirmation slip detailing the amount awarded will be sent to you. You must take this to the training provider and obtain and keep a receipt as proof you have done this.

The training provider is responsible for sending an invoice to SfYC before the expiry date stated on the form.

All registration forms and exit questionnaires must be completed and returned to the training provider or SfYC for monitoring purposes.