Family Information

Foster parents and funded hours

Information for foster parents who wish to access the funded entitlement

The application process for foster parents is different when applying for the expanded / extended entitlement for children aged 9- 23 months, 2 Years and 3 to 4 year old.  The social worker will discuss the application criteria and form filling process directly with the foster parent(s).

Eligibility criteria for foster parents

The foster parent(s) must meet the following criteria:

• That accessing the expanded/extended entitlement is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making and
• That, in a single parent foster family, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent; or
• In a two parent foster family, both partners engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent. If one foster partner is not a foster parent, then they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours per week at the national minimum / national living wage.

If the foster parent is eligible, an eligibility code will be issued. This will then allow the child to take up the offer from the start of the term after eligibility has been granted.

The social worker will check and reconfirm the foster carer’s eligibility for the expanded / extended entitlement on a termly basis.

How to apply

If you are the social worker and you still have further queries, please contact us by:

email: earlyeducation@leicester.gov.uk 
telephone: 0116 4541680