Together for Better, the funding model for early learning and childcare, contains four major programmes:
the Early Childhood Care and Education (ECCE) programme, including the Access and Inclusion Model (AIM),
the National Childcare Scheme (NCS), the Core Funding scheme and the Equal Start Model.
Core Funding supports the sector as a whole with the introduction of direct supply-side funding.
Core Funding operates alongside the NCS and ECCE and provides additional income for providers on top of
funding for these schemes and income received from parental fees and aims to create a more stable and
sustainable financial environment.
Core Funding also improves:
- Affordability for parents by instituting a fee freeze in participating Partner Services
- Access by expanding the capacity being offered by the sector, particularly for younger children
- Quality including through improved pay, conditions and career structure underpinned by Employment Regulation Orders
One of the key objectives of Together for Better is to introduce greater public management of the sector,
to support all of the above goals. To achieve this, Core Funding includes conditions in relation to fee
management, quality improvements in services, and transparency in relation to operations.
This transparency is primarily achieved through the requirement to submit a validated annual financial report.
To drive high-quality service provision, Core Funding requires all services that benefit from Core Funding
to complete a Quality and Inclusive Practice Plan (QIPP) and an end of year QIPP Report.