Estimates
The initial deadline is 12 December 2025 (but the portal will remain open until 16 January 2026 for adjustments)
Actuals
The initial deadline is 16 January 2026 to submit claims
Eligibility and Age Range
under 2 year olds
1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025 | 2 year olds
1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 | 3 and 4 year olds
1 January 2021 to 31 December 2022 |
- 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 December 2025 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 tooTERM TIME OFFER
The following table indicates the maximum hours recommended for a Term Time offer -
Up to 15 funded hours
| Claim Form | Sum-25 | Aut-25 | Spr-26 | Sum-26 | Aut-26 |
| Part 3a |
| 219 hours | 162 hours | 189 hours |
|
| Part 3b |
|
| 162 hours | 192 hours | 216 hours |
| Part 3b (4th claim - under 2's) |
|
| 162 hours |
|
|
| Part 3c | 189 hours | 219 hours | 162 hours |
|
|
Up to 30 funded hours
| Claim Form | Sum-25 | Aut-25 | Spr-26 | Sum-26 | Aut-26 |
| Part 3a |
| 438 hours | 324 hours | 378 hours |
|
| Part 3b |
|
| 324 hours | 384 hours | 432 hours |
| Part 3b (4th claim - under 2's) |
|
| 324 hours | | |
| Part 3c | 378 hours | 438 hours | 324 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
Providers will receive Early Education payments on or by 7th of each month and will be based on -
Estimates
Actuals
- February - 34%
- March - Balance
* option to opt out and receive 80%
Successful SEN funding awards will be paid from w/c 10 February 2026
New and Amendments to bank or contact details
- new/amendments to bank details
- contact details