Support and Funding Options for Childcare and Early Years Education

Free Early Years Education (EYE) Funding

Eligible families of two year olds and all three and four year olds are entitled to some funded early years education. These places are available in Ofsted registered school nursery classes, state or private nursery schools (including independent schools), day nurseries, playgroups or pre-schools and childminders. They need to approved by the local authority to deliver early years education.

Further details can be found here.

2 Year Old Offer

The 2 Year Old Offer allows eligible children to receive funded early years education from the funding period after their second birthday. For further details and to see if your child is eligible, please follow this link.

3 and 4 Year Old Funding - 15 and 30 Hours Childcare

All 3 and 4 year olds can receive up to 570 funded early years education: 'Universal Entitlement' or '15 Hours' per funded year.

An additional 570 hours of free early years education, 'Extended Entitlement' or '30 Hours' is available for eligible families of children aged 3 and 4. Further details can be found here.

Early Years Pupil Premium

This is for eligible 3 and 4 year olds who are receiving the universal funded early years education. Their childcare provider could claim an additional £342 per year for each child to provide additional support for the development, learning and care of eligible children. Further details of the scheme can be found here.

See examples of how the funding is used in the case studies published here.

There are additional support available for children with special educational needs and disabilities (SEND).

For further information on:

• SEN Funding
• Inclusion Support Fund Grant (SENIF)
• Disability Access Fund (DAF)
• Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• Personal Independence Payment (PIP)
• Direct Payments
• Family Fund

Please see our main support page.