Early Education Funding in Coventry information for professionals

Route 1 criteria – Parent

All parent/carers must check to see if meet any of the criteria at route 1 before making an application under route 2. This is because route 1 is the primary pathway to this funding.

A parent or carer may be eligible if they are in receipt of:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit and your household income is £15, 400.00 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
• Child Tax Credit and your household income £16,190.00 a year or less, before tax
• Guarantee element of Pension Credit
• Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act

Parents or carers with legal responsibility who do not meet any of the above criteria, should then check route 2 criteria to see if they may be eligible via this route.

Route 2 criteria

• The child is looked after by a local authority (for example a Foster Carer)
• The child has a current Education and Health Care Plan EHCP) or has a current Education and Health Care Plan EHCP)
• The child Receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
• The child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangement order
• The child is supported through and Early Help Assessment Plan
• The child is subject to a child protection plan or child in need plan
• The child has a diagnosed syndrome, condition or disability that significantly affects the ability to access learning or has a delay of at least 12 months in 2 or more areas of development
• If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still be entitled to receive free childcare for your 2-year-old.

You must live in England and your household income must be no more than: £26,500 for families outside of London with one child £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children. You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments. Proof of evidence will be required.

Parent/carers will be asked to provide written evidence from the appropriate body if they meet any of the route 2 criteria where applicable, proof of household income of £20,000 or less a year, after tax will required.

Route 2 - local criteria

The child you are applying for may be eligible for funding if one or more of the three criteria set out below is met:

Child Protection

If your child is supported through a child protection plan or child in need plan.

A letter from the lead Social Worker would be required as evidence.

Coventry SEND

Your child has a diagnosed syndrome, condition or disability that significantly affects the ability to access learning or has 12 months developmental delay in two or more out of the four areas of need.

These are:

• Communication and Interaction
• Cognition and Learning
• Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties
• Sensory and/or physical needs
• Your child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals.

Proof of your total household income a year, after tax and a letter from the relevant professional will need to be submitted when applying.

Early Help support

You have a total household income of £20,000 or less a year, after tax.

Your child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals.

Proof of your total household income a year, after tax and a letter from the relevant professional will need to be submitted when applying.