Children Young People and Education Directorate Synergy FIS Provider Portal Guidance for Free Early Education Providers

Transcription

1 Children Young People and Education Directorate FIS Provider Portal Guidance for Free Early Education Providers Page 1 of 25

2 Contents Introduction... 3 Accessing the Provider Portal... 3 Home Screen... 4 Applying for Early Years Funding... 5 Termly Funding Dates (Stretch Funding Providers Only)... 6 Funding Summary Tab... 8 Submitting an Estimate (3/4 Year Old Funding Only)... 9 Submitting Actuals (Headcount) 3/4 Year Olds EYPP Submitting Actuals (2 Year Olds New Starters & Continuings) Making an Adjustment Hours Funding (3/4 Year Old Funding Only) FAQs Page 2 of 25

3 Introduction Family Information Service (FIS) Provider Portal is used by child care providers to apply for 2, 3 and 4 year old Early Years funding. The Portal links directly into the system, where the Early Years Free Entitlement Team will process funding payments. Accessing the Provider Portal KCC will provide a User Name (usually the DFE URN) and a password via together with a link to the Provider Portal. Once this has been received, click on the link contained in the and the Login Screen will be displayed. Enter the User Name and Password in the relevant boxes and click Sign In. The Home Screen will be displayed. The first time a user logs in they will be prompted to change their password. Please note passwords must be a minimum of 7 characters in length, contain at least one capital letter, contain at least one number and cannot be the same as the User Name. Also the same password cannot be used more than once. Page 3 of 25

4 Home Screen Once a user has logged in the Home Screen will be displayed. In the top right hand corner is the User Name and options for User Settings, where the user can change their password, and Sign Out. On the left hand side are three tabs Home, Forms and Funding. Various notifications and messages will also be displayed in this screen from time to time. Page 4 of 25

5 Applying for Early Years Funding To start an application for funding, click on the Funding Tab. The Funding screen will be displayed which has five or six tabs at the top on the left hand side, depending on whether Stretch Funding is offered. All providers will have tabs for Summary, Estimates, Actuals, Adjustments and Eligibility Checker. If Stretch Funding is offered there will be an additional tab for Termly Funding Dates. Please Note: If Stretch Funding is offered, the Termly Funding Dates information must be completed for all terms before any Estimates or Actuals information is submitted. Page 5 of 25

6 Termly Funding Dates (Stretch Funding Providers Only) If Stretch Funding is offered the user will need to add any days they are not open, for example, weekends, weeks they are closed etc. before they add any Estimate or Actuals (Headcount) information. To add the dates that the setting is not open, click on the Termly Funding Dates tab and click Select on the required term. Individual days can be entered, such as Christmas Day, etc. by clicking the Add Date button and/or all weekends can be entered by clicking the Weekends button. Clicking the Weekends button will automatically add all the dates for weekends within the selected term. Clicking the Add Date button will bring up a box enabling the user to add individual dates. Clicking into the Date box will bring up a calendar which can be used to input individual dates. Alternatively, the relevant date can be typed directly into the Date box in the format of dd/mm/yy (i.e. 25/12/17). Click OK to add the date. Once all closure dates for that term have been added, click the Submit Dates button. A Page 6 of 25

7 green bar will appear at the top of the screen to confirm that the submission has been successful. Remember to add closure dates for all terms before entering Estimate or Actuals (Headcount) information. Click on the Termly Funding Dates tab again and repeat this for the remaining terms. Also remember to add dates for any whole weeks the setting is closed, for example, if it is only open 48 weeks a year. Page 7 of 25

8 Funding Summary Tab This tab shows a summary of Estimates, Actuals (Headcount) and Adjustments that have been submitted. To view a payment summary for a particular term and funding type click Select. A summary of Estimates and Actuals for that term will be displayed. To view a different term or funding type click CHANGE. The screen will return to the list of terms where another can be selected. Page 8 of 25

9 Submitting an Estimate (3/4 Year Old Funding Only) Click the Estimates tab. Select the Term and Funding Type if this was not done in a previous screen. Enter the Number of Weeks for the Term (the default for non-stretched terms has been pre-populated). Enter the Estimated Number of Funded Hours Per Week as a total for all children that you are expecting to attend your setting that term and click Calculate. A message will appear advising of the total number of hours that are being claimed for all children for the term. Once the correct information has been entered click Send Claim. A green bar will appear at the top to confirm that the submission has been successful. Note: The information can be amended and re-submitted whilst the submission dates remain open. Estimate payments will be calculated based on the last submitted information before the final submission date. Once the Estimate submission date has passed, the Estimate screen for that term will show a summary of what was submitted. Please note this is the termly total funded hours for all children. Page 9 of 25

10 Submitting Actuals (Headcount) 3/4 Year Olds Before an Actuals (Headcount) claim can be made the details of the children must be input into the Provider Portal. To do this, click on the Actuals Tab. Select the Term and Funding Type if this was not done in a previous screen. If Stretch Funding is offered, the Actuals screen will display a message saying Show Stretched Offer Validation Calculation. Click on the arrow next to this message to see the calculation for the maximum weekly hours that can be claimed for Stretch Funding. If Extended (30H) hours are offered, the calculation for these will also be displayed. Click the Add Child button. A screen will appear with three tabs at the top on the left hand side Child Details, Parent/Carer Details, Funding Details. Page 10 of 25

11 First, enter the child s details. Mandatory fields are marked by an asterisk (*). Next, click on the Parent/Carer Details tab. Please note, parent/carer details are only required if 30 Hours Funding or EYPP is being claimed. Input the Parent/Carer details. Please include the Parent/Carer s Date of Birth (see EYPP for further information). Next, click on the Funding Details tab and enter the information in the appropriate boxes. Mandatory fields are marked by an asterisk (*), including non-funded hours. If the child is not attending any non-funded hours a zero must be entered in this field. Present During Census - This box must be ticked during the Spring Headcount for the child to be included on the EY Census in January. If it is not ticked in January you will not receive funding for the child. Please ignore the box for Autumn and Summer terms. Attends Two Days or More - if a child is attending only one day, the maximum amount of funded hours that can be claimed is 10 per week. A child is deemed as attending more than one day if they are at 2 different settings, even if they are only attending one day at each setting. In this instance, please ensure the box is ticked for Attends Two Days or More. Page 11 of 25

12 Nominated for DAF- Please ensure NO is selected in this field for all children, even if they are entitled to DAF. We do not currently have the facility for providers to upload supporting documentary evidence in the Portal, so will continue to process DAF applications via the exiting application form. For settings offering 30 Hours Free Childcare, the Funding Details screen will have additional fields, as shown in the picture below. Please refer to 30 Hour Funding for more information. Please note, the parent/carer details will need to be added to the Parent/Carer tab before the 30 Hours Free Childcare button is clicked on the Funding tab. Page 12 of 25

13 Note: The Term Start Date is the date the Child started in that term. This may not be the first day of term, however, it must be during Headcount Week. If a child is due to start after this date, they must not be included in the Actuals (Headcount) submission, but must be claimed for afterwards as an Adjustment (see Making an Adjustment for further information). Please be aware that if an inputting error is made the term dates will return to the default, so please ensure these dates are correct before submitting your information. The Term End Date is the date the setting closes, which will not necessarily be the end date for the funding period. If you know at the start of term that a child will be leaving mid-way through the term, please enter the child s end date in this field To save the child s details click the Save button. Once all known children have been added the claim can be submitted for payment by clicking the Send Claim button. A green bar will appear at the top of the screen to confirm the submission was successful. Repeat for other Funding Types for that term if appropriate. Note: Information can be amended and re-submitted whilst the submission dates remain open. Actuals (Headcount) payments will be calculated based on the last submitted information before the final submission date. Once the Actuals submission date has passed, the Actuals screen for that term will show a summary of what was submitted. Individual child records can still be viewed, but no further amendments can be made, as shown below: Page 13 of 25

14 Or To add children who have started after Headcount Week or to make other amendments, please submit an adjustment via the Adjustments Tab (see Making an Adjustment for further information). Page 14 of 25

15 EYPP In order for the Early Years Funding Team to check for EYPP eligibility, the Parent/Carer details, including Date of Birth, must be completed. Please complete this section when submitting new children for Actuals (Headcount) and Adjustments so that appropriate checks can be completed. Please note, however, that the Partner details are not required for this check to be performed. Page 15 of 25

16 Submitting Actuals (2 Year Olds New Starters & Continuings) Before an Actuals claim can be made the details of the children must be input into the Provider Portal. To do this, click on the Actuals Tab. Select the Term and Funding Type if this was not done in a previous screen. If Stretch Funding is offered, the Actuals screen will display a message saying Show Stretched Offer Validation Calculation. Click on the arrow next to this message to see the calculation for the maximum weekly hours that can be claimed for Stretch Funding. To add a child, click the Add Child button. A screen will appear with three tabs at the top on the left hand side Child Details, Parent/Carer Details, Funding Details. First, enter the child s details. Mandatory fields are marked by an asterisk (*). Next, click on the Parent/Carer Details tab and input the parent/carer details, including their Date of Birth. Page 16 of 25

17 Next, click on the Funding Details tab and enter the information in the appropriate boxes. Mandatory fields are marked by an asterisk (*), including non-funded hours. If the child is not attending any non-funded hours a zero must be entered in this field. Present During Census - This box must be ticked during the Spring Headcount for the child to be included on the EY Census in January. If it is not ticked in January you will not receive funding for the child. Please ignore the box for Autumn and Summer terms. Attends Two Days or More - if a child is attending only one day, the maximum amount of funded hours that can be claimed is 10 per week. A child is deemed as attending more than one day if they are at 2 different settings, even if they are only attending one day at each setting. In this instance, please ensure the box is ticked for Attends Two Days or More. Note: The Term Start Date is the date the Child started in that term. The child must have started and settled within this first week to submit as an Actuals claim. If a child is due to start after this date, they must not be included in the Actuals submission, but must be claimed for afterwards as an Adjustment (see Making an Adjustment for further information). Please remember that you cannot claim funding until the child has been confirmed as eligible. Please be aware that if an inputting error is made the term dates will return to the default, so please ensure these dates are correct before submitting your information. The Term End Date is the date the setting closes, which will not necessarily be the end date for the funding period. If you know at the start of term that a child will be leaving mid-way through the term, please enter the child s end date in this field. Page 17 of 25

18 To save the child s details click the Save button. Once all known children have been added the claim can be submitted for payment by clicking the Send Claim button. A green bar will appear at the top of the screen to confirm the submission was successful. Repeat for other Funding Types for that term if appropriate. Note: Information can be amended and re-submitted whilst the submission dates remain open. Actuals payments will be calculated based on the last submitted information before the final submission date. Once the Actuals submission date has passed, the Actuals screen for that term will show a summary of what was submitted. Individual child records can still be viewed, but no further amendments can be made. To add children who have started after the first payment cut-off date, or to make other amendments, please submit an adjustment via the Adjustments tab (see Making an Adjustment for further information). Page 18 of 25

19 Making an Adjustment An Adjustment should be submitted for any children that you have not already claimed for because you missed the first deadline, for any children that have started with you after the first deadline date or to increase/decrease the hours for a child you have already claimed for. To make Adjustments after the Actuals claim has been processed by the Early Years Free Entitlement Team, click on the Adjustments tab. Select the Term and Funding Type if this was not done in a previous screen. The list of children submitted as Actuals will appear and also a button allowing you to add further children. To amend the details of a child submitted as an Actual click on the child s name. You will be taken to the child s record, which is defaulted to display the Pending Adjustment tab. Clicking on the other tabs will allow you to make other amendments to the child s information if this has changed since the Actual claim was submitted. Personal details can be amended by clicking on the Child Details tab. Page 19 of 25

20 Parent/Carer Details can be added/amended in the Parent/Carer tab. Please include the Parent/Carer s Date of Birth (see EYPP for further information). Only the Start Date and End Date can be amended in the Funding Details tab. The hours claimed or weeks attended cannot be amended in this screen. This must be done in the Pending Adjustment tab. To amend the hours or weeks being claimed, click on the Pending Adjustments tab. In the Number of Hours field, please put the total number of hours for the term that the child s record is to be adjusted by. For example, if the child is reducing their hours by 5 hours for 11 weeks, -55 (minus 55) should be entered in this box. In the Reason box, please inform MI of the type of adjustment you are submitting using the lists below: 3 & 4 Year Olds Universal and Extended Entitlement Adjustments Incorrect headcount claim - incorrect hours submitted Child left off headcount - child in attendance during headcount but missed off claim Late joiner - a child starting after headcount week who has not claimed FEE funding in the current term Page 20 of 25

21 Appeal - changes to a child s FEE funding (this will be looked at on a case by case basis and cannot be guaranteed) 2 Year Old Funding (FF2) There can be only one Actuals submission on per term. Any new claims submitted after the first payment cut-off date need to be submitted as an adjustment and will be paid in accordance with the (FF2) Provider Payment Schedule If you wish to increase or decrease a child s hours, please submit an adjustment but inform MI in the reason box that it is Extra Hours or a Reduction in Hours for an existing child. Once all the information has been amended, click Save. To add a new child, for example a late joiner, new starter or continuing, from the Adjustment s tab, click Add Child. A new child s record screen will be displayed. Enter the Name, Address, Date of Birth etc. Page 21 of 25

22 Next click the Parent/Carer tab and input the relevant details, including their Date of Birth (see EYPP for further information). Next click the Funding Details tab. As this is an adjustment, the user will only be able to add the Child s Start Date and End Date and tick the check boxes to denote that the child is Attending 2 Days or More and Nominated for DAF. Please note, in the Start Date field, the user must enter the date that the child started at the setting during that funding term, not the term start date. For example, if term started on 4 th September, but the child did not start until 30 th October, you would enter 30 th October in this field. Please be aware that if an inputting error is made the term dates will return to the default, so please ensure these dates are correct before submitting your information. Present During Census You will not be able to tick this checkbox in the case of an Adjustment. Attends Two Days or More - if a child is attending only one day, the maximum amount of funded hours that can be claimed is 10 per week. A child is deemed as Page 22 of 25

23 attending more than one day if they are at 2 different settings, even if they are only attending one day at each setting. In this instance, please ensure the box is ticked for Attends Two Days or More. Nominated for DAF- Please ensure NO is selected in this field for all children, even if they are entitled to DAF. We do not currently have the facility for providers to upload supporting documentary evidence in the Portal, so will continue to process DAF applications via the exiting application form. Next click the Pending Adjustments tab. Please note: There are not separate Hours and Weeks Attended fields as there were on the Actuals tab. Instead, you will need to calculate: The number of weeks the child is attending this term Multiplied by The number of hours per week they attend You would then enter this total amount of hours on the Pending Adjustment tab in the Number of Hours box. For example, if a child attends 14 weeks x 15 hours this is 210 hours in total. Therefore, you would enter 210 in the Number of Hours box. Please then state in the Reason box that you are claiming for 14 weeks x 15 hours and also put in the type of adjustment you are submitting, using the lists on Page 20. Without this information, we will be unable to process your claim. When all adjustments have been made click Send Claim. A green bar will appear at the top of the screen to confirm the submission was successful. Page 23 of 25

24 30 Hours Funding (3/4 Year Old Funding Only) The FIS Provider Portal is not to be used for validating codes for 30 Hours Funding. Please continue to check the eligibility of the 30 Hours 11 digit codes via the 30 Hours of Free Childcare Eligibility Checker link in KELSI. This interim checker needs to continue being used until further notice. FAQs 1. The Stretched Funding Calculation is not displaying the correct number of Operational Days per Week for my setting and I cannot amend it. This is set in the system which is administered by the Early Years Free Entitlement Team. Please contact eyfe@kent.gov.uk or eyfreefor2@kent.gov.uk and ask for this to be amended. Once the amendment has been made, you will need to log out then log back in again to see the changes. 2. The Stretched Funding Calculation is not displaying the correct number of Closure Dates in the Year for my setting. Please ensure closure dates for all 3 terms have been added before any child information is entered. If you have done this, and you still believe the calculation to be incorrect, please contact eyfe@kent.gov.uk or eyfreefor2@kent.gov.uk. 3. The Home Screen is displaying a notification advising that there are unsubmitted child funding records. Click on the message to display a sub-message with details of the funding term that has the unsubmitted record/s. Click on the sub-message to be taken to the funding term. Click Send Claim to submit any pending claims. 4. The Estimates Tab/Actuals Tab is showing a summary of my submission and will not allow me to enter any amendments. Either the submission date for Estimates/Actuals has passed or the Early Years Free Entitlement Team is processing your submission for payment. You will only be able to submit amendments through the Adjustments Tab at this time. Page 24 of 25

25 5. The Adjustments Tab is displaying a message asking me to the Authority to request changes to the adjustments. This message is displayed when the submission dates for Estimates or Actuals are active. Please submit your claim via the Estimate or Actuals Tab. 6. I have clicked on the Default Term Dates button, but the dates that have been populated are different to the term dates for my setting. The Start and End dates can be overwritten with the dates for your setting. Please remember that the Start Date should be the date that the Child started in that funding term. This may be different to the start date of the funding term for your setting. 7. When I save a child s details in the Actuals tab I get an error message saying: Funded Hours Per Week: Value cannot be greater than (Funding Details Tab). Ensure that the checkbox to confirm that the child is attending two or more days is ticked. If the child is only attending one day, a maximum of 10 hours only can be claimed. 8. A child is attending one day at my setting, but is also attending another setting. Should I tick the Attending Two Days or More checkbox? Yes, as the child is attending for a total of more than one day across the settings. 9. I am now offering/no longer offering Stretch Funding/30 Hours Funding/2 Year Old Funding. If the type of provision you are offering changes, for example, if you begin or cease to offer Stretch Funding, 30 Hours Funding or 2 Year Old Funding, the Early Years Free Entitlement Team will need to amend your details in the system to reflect these changes. Please, therefore, advise us of any such amendments by ing eyfe@kent.gov.uk or eyfreefor2@kent.gov.uk. 10. I have entered my password incorrectly a number of times and my account is locked. Please contact eyfe@kent.gov.uk or eyfreefor2@kent.gov.uk to have your account unlocked and your password reset. Page 25 of 25