Estimates
The initial deadline is 14 August 2026 (but the portal will remain open until 2 October 2026 for adjustments)
Actuals
The initial deadline is 2 October 2026 to submit claims
Eligibility and Age Range
under 2 year olds
1 September 2024 to 30 November 2025 | 2 year olds
1 September 2023 to 31 August 2024 | 3 and 4 year olds
1 September 2021 to 31 August 2023 |
- Children must meet the national criteria to be eligible to receive a funded place
- Families planning to claim the working parent entitlement, must have a valid code on or by 31 August for this claim period
Documentation
Recommended Hours
The Local Authority will recommend a maximum number of hours that can be claimed for a child. This recommendation will depend on the child's date of birth (cycle of eligibility) and whether the entitlement is taken term time only or is stretched.
The actual number of hours to claim will be based on the child's pattern of attendance.
Where a family choose to take less hours or the pattern of attendance is less than the recommendation, it is possible within the same cycle of eligibility to claim the unused hours later provided –
- the national criteria is met
- where applicable a 30-hour eligibility code is valid
- it has not been necessary to pro rata the entitlement
Claims will be adjusted by the Local Authority where the national criteria is not followed. This includes where a claim exceeds the maximum weekly and/or annual hours.
Please remember that where families decide to access the entitlement with two or more providers, the national criteria must be met too.
TERM TIME OFFER
The following table indicates the maximum hours recommended for a Term Time offer -
Up to 15 funded hours
| Celebrate (or has celebrated) their second, third or fourth birthday or is/was 9 months in | Claim Form | Spr-26 | Sum-26 | Aut-26 | Spr-27 | Sum-27 |
| April, May, June, July or August | Part 3a |
|
| 213 hours | 159 hours | 198 hours |
| January, February or March | Part 3c |
| 192 hours | 216 hours | 162 hours |
|
| September, October, November or December | Part 3b | 162 hours | 192 hours | 216 hours |
|
|
4th claim under 2's (Part 3a) = 426 hours
Celebrate (or has celebrated) their second, third or fourth birthday or is/was 9 months in
| Claim Form | Spr-26 | Sum-26 | Aut-26 | Spr-27 | Sum-27 |
| April, May, June, July or August | Part 3a |
|
| 426 hours | 318 hours | 396 hours |
| January, February or March | Part 3c |
| 384 hours | 432 hours | 324 hours |
|
| September, October, November or December | Part 3b | 324 hours | 384 hours | 432 hours | |
|
STRETCHED OFFER (ALL YEAR ROUND).
To calculate the maximum hours available for a Stretched offer -
- Divide 1140 or 570 by the total number of weeks funding is offered in a year [A]
- Multiply [A] with the number of weeks funding is offered this claim period
[IMPORTANT] Please remember to use the Cycle of Eligibility Chart to determine which Part 3 to issue.
Early Years Payments
We aim to process payments so that a provider should receive them no later than 7th of each month or the next working day. Failure to meet any funding deadlines will mean your payment will be delayed until the next scheduled date or until sufficient data has been received and processed.
[IMPORTANT] Payments are subject to change when matters beyond our reasonable control occur. (eg. bank holidays, system/technical issues)
Estimates
- September - 25%*
- October - 25%
Actuals
- November - 25%
- December - Balance
* option to opt out and receive 80%
Successful SEN funding awards will be paid from w/c 26 October 2026
New and Amendments to bank or contact details
- new/amendments to bank details
- contact details