Call the Early Years Finance team on 01603 222300 option 2

or email earlyyearsfinance@norfolk.gov.uk

Estimates

The initial deadline is 22 July 2025 (but the portal will remain open until 3 October for adjustments)

Actuals

The initial deadline is 3 October 2025 to submit claims (recommended by 26 September 2025)

Eligibility and Age Range

• 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 2025 for this claim period

Documentation

Claim period documentation can be downloaded via the links in the Finance Newsletter or Early years funding webpage

To help determine which Part 3 to issue, please refer to the Cycle of Eligibility Chart

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

Up to 30 funded hours

STRETCHED OFFER (ALL YEAR ROUND)

To calculate the maximum hours available for a Stretched offer -

1. Divide 1140 or 570 by the total number of weeks funding is offered in a year [A]
2. 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

Providers will receive Early Education payments on or by 7th of each month and will be based on -

Estimates

• September - 25%*
• October - 25%

Actuals (records which have been downloaded)

• November - 25%
• December - Balance
  * option to opt out and receive 80%

Successful SENIF and exception applications will be paid w/c 28 October

New and Amendments to bank or contact details
Please ensure a Provider Funding Update Form is completed to confirm

• new/amendments to bank
• contact details