Financial support for children in Early Years Education

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

All 3- and 4-year-olds continue to receive up to 570 universal hours.

The Working Families Entitlement is up to 1140 hours for eligible children.

Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds funding is up to 570 hours for eligible children.

Families can use more than one approved early years setting for their child to access their funded hours.

Early Years Education (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
• not be split 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.

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.

For information about your child starting school in Hampshire, see: Starting School.

For information on children continuing to attend early years education (EYE) even if they are of school age, see: Decelerated admission for summer born children.

How much funding your child is entitled to

Children aged 9 months old, up to attending school, who are eligible for Working Families Entitlement will be able to access up to 1140 hours per funding year.

Depending on your early years setting, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (within 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.

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 Best Start in Life website and check to see what childcare support you might be eligible for and find the right offer for you.

For parents with 'No Recourse to Public Funds' (NRPF), see the NRPF Network for further details.

The Hampshire SEND 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).