About early education funding
Entitlements for early years funding are:
- 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of children from 9 months to 2 years old (due to be extended to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
- 15 hours entitlement for eligible working parents of 2 year old children (due to be extended to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
- 15 hours entitlement for families of 2 year olds receiving additional support (formerly known as the 2 year old disadvantaged entitlement). Known as ‘Best Start’.
- Universal 15 hours entitlement for all 3 and 4 year olds
- Additional 15 hours entitlement for working parents of 3 and 4 year olds
Increase in working parent entitlements from September 2025
- From September 2025 all working parent entitlements will increase to 30 hours per week or 1140 hours as stretched as over the year but for fewer hours each week.
Early education funding can be accessed with any Herefordshire provider, as long as the provider is registered with Ofsted or a childminder agency and Herefordshire local authority. The funded entitlement can also be accessed with providers in neighbouring English local authorities. We are not able to fund the expanded English childcare offer for children attending providers in Wales or children residing in Wales accessing funding within Herefordshire.