Financial support for children in Early Years Education
Eligible families are entitled to Early Years Education (EYE) funding based on the age of the child and eligibility criteria
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) sets standards for the learning, development, and care of your child from birth to 5 years old. Funded Early Years Education (EYE) places are available in Ofsted registered school nursery classes, private day nurseries (including independent schools), pre-schools and childminders.
You may be eligible for financial support for children in early years education. Eligibility depends on:
- your working status or income
- the age of the child
The funded offer is for 570 hours per year or if eligible up to 1140 hours. The standard delivery for EYE funding is up to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks.
Families can use more than one approved early years setting for their child to access their funded hours.
EYE can be offered flexibly by early years settings, but in any one day:
- no session can be longer than 10 hours
- no session can start before 6am or finish after 8pm
- a session can not be used by more than two early years settings
Entitlement
When your child is eligible for funding
Entitlement starts in the funding period following the eligible child’s birthday, on 1 January, 1 April, and 1 September.
| Child's birthday | Eligibility begins | Funding begins |
|---|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 March (Spring) | from 1 April | Summer |
| 1 April to 31 August (Summer) | from 1 September | Autumn |
| 1 September to 31 December (Autumn) | from 1 January | Spring |
EYE will stop the funding period before your child starts school, even if it is on a phased start, EYE funding is only available up to statutory school age.
| Child starts school | Eligibility ends | Parents responsible for funding |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | 31 August | from 1 September |
For information about your child starting school in Hampshire, see: Starting School.
For information on children continuing to attend EYE even if they are of school age, see: Decelerated admission for summer born children.
How much funding your child is entitled to
Until 31 March 2024, the existing EYE funding offers 15 hours to all to all 3 and 4 year olds, and some eligible 2 year olds that meet the criteria. Working families of 3 and 4 year olds can access an additional 15 extended hours, up to 30 hours funded childcare.
From April 2024, existing EYE funding will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, working families with children under the age of 5 may be entitled to up to 30 hours of funded childcare.
The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families. This means that:
- from April 2024, eligible working families of 2 year olds will be able to access up to 15 hours funded childcare
- from September 2024, up to 15 hours funded childcare will be extended to eligible working families of children from the age of 9 months
- from September 2025, eligible working families of children from 9 months until they start school will be entitled to up to 30 hours funded childcare
Depending on your early years setting, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks using fewer hours per week (spreading the same entitlement over the funding year).
Standard and stretched EYE funding
For parents who would benefit from their child attending for more than 38 weeks, some early years settings are able to offer these funded hours over a stretched period of up to 52 weeks. This means that fewer than 15 hours a week will be available.
It is not possible to change your funding pattern of delivery from “standard” to “stretched” offer during the funding period.
The following table details three examples of how the funding could be claimed, but this will differ depending on the number of weeks the early years setting is offering EYE and when it is open during the year.
| Funding weeks per year | Maximum hours per week | Autumn (1 Sept to 31 Dec) | Spring (1 Jan to 31 Mar) | Summer (1 Apr to 31 Aug) | Total hours claimed |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 38 weeks | 15 hours | 210 hours / 14 weeks | 180 hours / 12 weeks | 180 hours / 12 weeks | 570 hours |
| 48 weeks | 11.875 hours | 190 hours / 16 weeks | 142.5 hours / 12 weeks | 237.5 hours / 20 weeks | 570 hours |
| 51 weeks | 11.18 hours | 179 hours / 13 weeks | 145 hours / 13 weeks | 246 hours / 22 weeks | 570 hours |
Access EYE funding
To find an early years setting use the Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub:
Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub (FISH)
You will need to speak to the early years setting(s) that you choose and complete the EYE Parent Declaration Form. If you will be using more than one early years setting, you must declare this on the form.
The early years setting will have policies relating to charges to cover costs, such as additional hours, meals, outings and consumables, such as nappies or sun cream. You must discuss this with your chosen early years setting before your child takes up a place so that you are clear about how charges will be applied.
Further information for parents
Sign up to receive notifications for information and updates to the government Childcare Choices website and check to see what childcare support you might be eligible for and find the right offer for you.
You can search for childcare services using the Hampshire Family Information and Services Hub (FISH).
The Hampshire Local Offer publishes information, support and services for children and young people with special educational needs or disabilities (SEND).
Translations
You can contact the Ethnic Minority and Travellers Achievement Service (EMTAS) for further support (term time only).
Early Years Education Funding Payment and Statutory Guidance
Local authorities follow the Department for Education's (DfE) Early education and childcare statutory guidance to deliver Early Years Education (EYE) for eligible children.
Hampshire County Council uses this guidance to develop the Early Years Education Payment Funding Terms and Conditions which all childcare providers who deliver EYE in Hampshire are required to comply with.
