Early Years

The Dollywood Foundation UK offers Imagination Library books to all children in care aged under 5 in England, in partnership with Virtual Schools. Funding for this scheme has been secured to allow children to regularly receive books for at least the next two years.

The scheme aims to:

• Inspire a lifelong love of books and reading
• Promote school readiness
• Encourage emergent literacy skills
• Support the development of a rich home literacy environment

The books are all published by Penguin Random House and are selected by a panel of experts in early childhood development and reading.

Children who the Virtual School enrol on the scheme, receive one book every month until their 5th birthday. The book will belong to them and can therefore be kept forever.

The first book that all children receive is a special addition of ‘The Tale of Peter Rabbit,’ which includes a note from Dolly Parton. The following books are then different for each age group.

If you require further information about this scheme, please contact Nottingham City Virtual School.

Information on Early Years Funding options including Pupil Premium Plus and the Early Years Premium 

Our resource bank has information, advice, links and more for those supporting children in the Early Years. This includes links for toolkits from the Education Endowment fund, help guides and more.

We provide training for those supporting children in care in the Early Years. We also offer bespoke training on request. Please visit our Training page.

Children in care have Personal Education Plans. If you would like to know more please visit our page here.

Free Childcare by Age for Foster Carers

Free childcare is available for working parents caring for children aged 9 months to 2 years olds - including foster carers. Foster carers can apply for up to 30 hours of free childcare if they meet certain criteria.

Criteria

• The child is aged between 9 months – 2 years old after September 2025
• You are working (employed, self-employed or a director)
• Your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
• Your immigration status
• You are in paid work outside your fostering role 

For more details click on the link Free Childcare for Working Parents: Check if you're eligible - GOV.UK

When to apply for 30 hours of free childcare

You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old. When you can get your hours from will depend on the date your child turns 9 months old. For more details click on the link

Free Childcare for Working Parents: When to apply - GOV.UK

Free Universal Childcare for 3-4 year olds: including foster carers

Every child aged 3 years to 4 years old is entitled to 15 hours of free childcare from an approved childcare provider. To claim the 15 hours of free childcare contact the nursery provision of your choice to inquire if they have a place available and inform them that the child is looked after. The provision may request supporting evidence that the child is looked after which can be provided by the child’s social worker via email.

Please remember that you may need to pay for extra costs such as nappies, meals or trips. The funding will cease once the child starts reception class or becomes compulsory school age. 

For further information please click on the link below:
Free Childcare for Working Parents: Check if you're eligible - GOV.UK

If you are a Foster Carer and want to apply for 30 hours of free childcare you must contact Marcus Reid, Education Support Officer within Nottingham City Virtual School who will discuss the funding criteria with you.

The criteria is as follows:

• You must live in England
• The child is aged 3-4 years old
• The provider must be approved
• The foster carer and partner must both be working
• You will (both) expect to earn a certain amount over the next three months which is equivalent to the national minimum wage for 16 hours a week on average. This is approximately £1853.28.

If you meet the criteria, you will be asked to complete a set of forms. Once the forms have been submitted and agreed you will be provided with a code to be presented to your nursery provider. This will enable you to claim the 30 hours of free childcare.