Early education funding (EEF) for providers

How child eligibility is determined

• 2 year olds - Best Start: low income households could be eligible from the term after turning 2 years old (see table below). The household must meet the criteria and apply online to receive code confirmation for funding. A maximum of 15 hours per week over 38 weeks, or as stretched over more weeks but for less hours per week
• 3 and 4 year olds - funded entitlement of 15 hours per week over 38 weeks (or stretched as 570 hours per year). No parent criteria nor application is required. Children become eligible the term after turning 3 years old (see the table below)
• 30 hours for 3 and 4 year olds: Working parents meeting the earnings criteria could be eligible for an additional 15 hours of funded childcare. The extended hours start from the term after parents successfully apply to Childcare Choices for an age eligible child. A maximum of 30 hours per week over 38 weeks (or stretched as 1140 hours per year) can be claimed. Revalidation must be completed every 3 months or before, based on the expiry date of the Working Family Code

From April 2024

• Working parent entitlements for 2 years olds - families who meet the earnings criteria can apply to receive 15 hours of funded childcare per week over 38 weeks, or stretched over more weeks but for less hours per week
• From September 2024 - Working parent entitlements for children from 9 months old - families who meet the earnings criteria can apply to receive 15 hours of funded childcare per week over 38 weeks, or stretched over more weeks but for less hours per week
• From September 2025 all working parent entitlements will increase to 30 hours per week or 1140 hours as stretched over the year but for less hours each week
• For all the above, revalidation must be completed every 3 months or before, based on the expiry date of the Working Family Code

For all working parent entitlement, parents must apply to Childcare Choices.

Children could be eligible for the term after they become of the relative age:

Can parents fall out of eligibility for funded hours?

• Best Start funding for 2 year olds - for disadvantaged or low income families. Once eligibility is confirmed families do not lose funding and will receive this seamlessly until the child becomes eligible for the Universal Hours for 3 and 4 year olds
• Universal hours for 3 and 4 year olds – all 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to this funding and families do not lose funding
• Working parent entitlements – from 2 year to 4 years – if parents fall out of eligibility, they could lose funding. Parents must reconfirm their eligibility through *Childcare Choices every 3 months. Also see the section for grace periods.
  • Parents of 3 and 4 year olds who are eligible will have access to 30 hours of funded childcare. Families who fall out of eligibility for the working parent entitlements will still have access to the Universal Hours.
  • *Foster Carers will be prompted to reconfirm by the council

The 3 month 'reconfirmation' for the working parent entitlements

Families who have successfully applied must reconfirm their eligibility every 3 months with Childcare Choices* or they could lose their eligibility.

Parents should receive reminders from Childcare Choices to reconfirm and would need to log into their gateway account to reconfirm.

* Foster carers will be prompted to reconfirm by the council.

Grace periods

Grace periods are an extended period of funding that families could receive if they fall out of eligibility for the working parent entitlements. The table below outlines the parameters of grace periods.

Once the grace period has ended for 3 and 4 years, they will still be able to access the universal entitlement. For children aged 9 months to 2 years accessing the working parent entitlements who fall out of eligibility, parents will have to pay for their childcare but can review if they could receive other support for childcare costs at Childcare Choices.

If a family wants to start a funded place when they are already in their grace period

Children cannot access the working parent entitlements with a provider when the family are already in the grace period. This includes the following scenarios:

• Where a parent falls into their grace period before the child starts their EEF hours
• Where a parent falls into their grace period while their child is attending a provider for their entitlement, and the parent then moves the child to a different provider whilst in their grace period

These scenarios are also applicable when a provider submits a claim for a child who was eligible at the time, but the child entered the grace period later and before starting their EEF hours.

In exceptional circumstances, we have the discretion to extend the grace period for a short time. For example, if a parent has been forced to leave their home and paid employment due to being a victim of domestic abuse or other emergency situations, or the child moves from the provider as they are rated Inadequate or closes. Providers should advise the EEF Finance team in such cases.

A child receiving funding from more than one provider

A child can receive funding from a maximum of two sites in one day. A parent has the discretion to split funding between any type of provider, childminder, nursery, preschool and school or academy run provision. Parents must decide which provider/s claim for what amount of hours and the parent has sole discretion as to which provider claims for the extended hours in a split arrangement.

Childminders cannot claim funding for children who are relatives

Government legislation states funding cannot be claimed by childminders providing childcare for their own child or a related child, even if they are claiming for other children. This is due to the definitions in the Childcare Act specifically excludes care provided for a child by a parent, step-parent, foster parent, or other relative.