Early Education Funding in Coventry information for professionals - Print version

Early Education Funding options

Funding for eligible working parents of children aged 9 months to 3 years (expanded hours funding)

From September 2024 working parents, may be eligible to receive up to 15 hours per week of funded childcare, up to a maximum of 570 hours per academic year, for children aged 9 months to 3 years. From September 2025, this funding increases to 30 hours per week for eligible children.

• Eligible parents can access expanded hours funding from the term after the child turns 9 months.
• Parents can apply for Working Parents Expanded Funding [https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working]
• Parents must complete an online application form to determine eligibility.
• Eligibility must be re-confirmed every 3 months as prompted by HMRC or the childcare provider.

Funding for targeted two year olds

• Not all children are eligible to receive the targeted 2-year-old funding entitlement.
• Eligible children can get up to 15 hours, per week of funded childcare, up to a maximum of 570 hours per academic year.
• Eligible children can access a place at the beginning of the school term following their 2nd birthday
• Parents must complete an online application to determine eligibility.
• Authorised professionals may apply on behalf of a parent.
• Once a child has started a Targeted 2-year-old funded place, they will not lose eligibility, even if parents financial circumstances change.  Funding will remain in place until the term after the child’s 3rd birthday, when they will transition seamlessly into universal early education funding.
• Where parents require support in finding an appropriate childcare provision the Early Years Business, Sufficiency & Funding Team offer a brokerage service to assist parents. Please contact us by telephone or email if brokerage is required.

Funding for all 3 and 4 year olds (universal funding entitlement)

All 3 and 4 year-olds in England are entitled to access universal funding, the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. This funding entitlement continues until the child starts a Reception Class place in a maintained, free school or academy. In some circumstances where the child remains in a PVI nursery or attends an independent school, they may continue to access this funding until they reach compulsory school age, which is the term after their 5th birthday

• Universal funding provides up to 15 hours per week of funded education, over 38 weeks (up to a maximum of 570 hours per academic year)
• Parents should contact their chosen childcare provider to arrange a place.
• Parents do not need an eligibility code to access this type of funding as it is a universal entitlement for all 3 and 4 year-olds.
• Where parents require support in finding an appropriate childcare provision the Early Years Business, Sufficiency & Funding Team offer a brokerage service to assist parents. Please contact us by telephone or email if brokerage is required.

Funding for eligible working parents of children aged 3 to 4 years (extended hours funding)

As highlighted in the previous section, all 3- & 4-year-olds are entitled to access up to 15 hours per week of universal funding.  However, some will also be entitled to an additional 15 hours per week, bringing the total to a maximum of 30 hours per week over 38 weeks.  This combined with universal funding provides a maximum of 1140 hours per academic year for eligible children.

To apply for these additional hours parents must complete an online application form to determine eligibility. The application can only be completed by the parent [https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working].

Parents must re-confirm their eligibility every 3 months as prompted by HMRC or their childcare provider.

Once a child has started a Reception Class place in a maintained, free school or academy, they are no longer entitled to receive Early Education Funding. In some circumstances where the child remains in a PVI nursery or attends an independent school they may continue to access this funding until they reach compulsory school age, which is the term after their 5th birthday.

Eligibility criteria for expanded and extended hours funding

To be eligible for the working families’ entitlements. parents must have a national insurance number and at least one of the following:

• British or Irish citizenship - settled or pre-settled status or have applied and be awaiting a decision or have permission to access public funds (this will be highlighted in the parents UK residence card).
• Each parent (or lone parent) works at least 16 hours per week and earns at least the minimum equivalent national minimum wage for those hours, or national living wage.  This equates to earning at least: £120 per week (or £6000 a year) for each parent aged 25 years and over, or £112.80 per week (£5,800 a year) for each parent aged 21 - 24 years.

Some families could be eligible where;

• One or both parents are unable to work due to maternity or paternity leave, statutory sick leave, shared parental or adoption leave.
• One parent meets the earnings criteria, but the other parent is unable to work due to being disabled, having carer responsibilities or they have been assessed for having limited capacity to work.
• One parent is in the ‘start up period’ of a new business as a self- employed person, therefore they do not need to demonstrate they meet the income criteria for 12 months.

Foster Carers

• Foster Carers may be eligible [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/early-years-childcare/early-years-pvi-providers-2-3-4-year-old-early-education-funding/4], if they meet one of the above criteria and have reached an agreement with the fostering team, to support the child’s plan.

Parents will not be eligible if:

• Either parent has an expected adjusted net income of over £100,000 in the current tax year. This includes any bonuses the parent expects to receive
• The parents’ adjusted net income is their total taxable income before any personal allowances and deductions
• The child is registered as a Reception Class pupil.  This applies even if the child attends Reception Class on a reduced timetable

Age eligibility criteria