UNIVERSAL FUNDING
All children qualify for Free Entitlement Universal Funding the term after their 3rd birthday. If your child’s 3rd birthday is between 1st September and 31st December, they will qualify for grants from the start of the Spring term. If your child’s 3rd birthday is between 1st January and 31st March, they will qualify for grants from the start of the Summer term. If your child’s 3rd birthday is between 1st April and 31st August they will qualify for grants from the start of the Autumn term.
Working Parents Entitlement
Working parents can apply for childcare funding and if you qualify you can get 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year from when you child is 9 months up to 2 years old and up to 30 hours per week funding for 38 weeks a year for 3/4 year olds. For information on how to apply please see: Apply for free childcare if you’re working – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) or speak to a member of our team.
EARLY YEARS PUPIL PREMIUM
What is it?
It’s extra funding available to any early years provider who delivers funded early education places for three and four year olds. This could help your setting improve the support they are able to offer your child.
How much funding is available?
Providers will be paid a national rate of an extra 68 pence per hour per eligible child. This could mean an extra £387.60 a year if your child is accessing the full 570 hours. If your child isn’t accessing the full 570 hours, funding will be paid for the hours being delivered.
Who is eligible?
Any child who is accessing Free Entitlement funding and their family is in receipt of one of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers Allowance (NOT contribution based JSA)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (NOT contribution based ESA)
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 – National Asylum
- Seekers Support (NASS)
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (you must NOT be entitled to Working Tax Credit and have an annual income (as assessed by HM Revenue & Customs) that does not exceed £16,190
- Working Tax Credit ‘run-on’ – the payment you receive for a further four weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Tax Credit
You will also attract funding for your setting if your child has:
- Been looked after for one day or more
- Been adopted from care
- Left care under a special guardianship order or residence order
I think I could be eligible, what do I need to do?
Speak to someone at your setting about how you can apply for Early Years Pupil Premium. You will need to provide some basic information about yourself so that an assessment check can be made by the Local Authority.