Bolton Start Well

How can this page help you?

These pages are designed to bring together all the information that is available to support you with business planning.

Here you will find a combination of resources including FREE online workshops, links to business planning tools, resources to help you review cash flow, marketing posters and many other useful tools and information.

In light of the current pandemic, we have included a section on COVID-19 Government Guidance and the Department for Education sufficiency data capture.

Training and E-learning

In this section:

• Hempsall's Training Package
• Business Innovation Programme for Childcare Providers
• MBK E-learning 30 Hours Business Planning Course

Free Business Planning Tools

In this section:

• Hempsalls: Business Map Tools 
• PACEY
• NDNA
• Early Years Alliance

Advice and Support

In this section:

• Bolton Business Support
• Enterprising you
• The Business Growth Hub

COVID-19 Government Guidance

In this section:

• Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (Furlough)
• Self-employment
• Bounce back loans

Sufficiency Data

In this section:

• Information on the DfE Sufficiency data return
• Bolton Council annual childcare sufficiency assessments

Marketing and Resources

In this section:

• My Life in Bolton
• Self Update Portal
• Marketing material
• Downloadable resources

Bolton Council provides a range of services to support the Early Years and Childcare sector, including:

Bolton Start Well

Information, advice, professional development and support for those working in the Early Years Foundation Stage in Bolton. 

Email:StartWell@bolton.gov.uk​

Telephone:01204 338149

Families Information Service

Information on early education and services for children, young people and families in Bolton.

Email: families@bolton.gov.uk

Telephone: 01204 332170

Business Bolton

Bolton's One Stop Shop for supporting individuals and businesses to acheive economic prosperity in Bolton.

Email: businessbolton@bolton.gov.uk

Telephone: 01204 336222

Children's Workforce Planning and Development

Comprehensive, high quality training courses to suit the mandatory and essential training requirements of the children’s workforce.

Email: wpd@bolton.gov.uk

Telephone: 01204 333333

Bolton Council Schools Finance Team

The Finance team supports early years providers with early years funding payments, processes and enquiries through:

• Financial aministration of the 15 hour entitlement for eligible two year olds, three and four year olds (the “Universal Entitlement”) and the 30 hours entitlement for working parents of three and four year olds (the “Extended Entitlement”).
• Financial administration of the Early Years Pupil Premium, Early Years Inclusion Fund and Disability Access Funding payments.
• Operational support of the Early Years headcount portal, including initial headcount and amendment task processes.
• Pupil data enquiries.
• Guidance with regards to parental funding enquiries.
• Application of the Local Authority budgetary requirements and statutory monitoring of the total Early Years Block funding.
• Finance element of early education and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities, including determination of funding rates.
• Servicing of Schools Forum, including the Early Years Sub Group.

Email: earlyyearsfinance@bolton.gov.uk

Telephone: 01204 337169

Other useful information

The Department for Education has developed a range of funding streams which enable children to access high quality childcare provisions. Details of these funded entitlements are also listed in the Funding section of the Bolton Start Well website.

Please click here for direct access.