Early Education Funding in Coventry information for professionals - Print version

Early Education Funding types

Funding for Two year olds

• Not all children are eligible to receive the two year old funding entitlement.
• Eligible children can get up to 15 hours, per week, 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 application to determine eligibility. Authorised professionals may apply on behalf of the parent/carer.
• Once a child has started their 2 year old funded place, they will not lose this eligibility, even if parents/carers financial circumstances change. The child will continue to be able to access a 2 year old funded place until they seamlessly transition to universal funding.
• Where parents require support in finding an appropriate childcare provision the Early Years team offer a brokerage service. Please contact us by telephone or email if brokerage is required.

Universal funding for three and four year olds

• All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to access the up to 570 hours of early education funding per academic year. This begins the term after the child’s 3rd birthday and continues until they either start reception class 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.
• They can access up to 15 hours per week, over 38 weeks per year.
• This entitlement is known as ‘Universal’ funding.
• Parents should contact their chosen childcare provider to arrange a place. Where parents require support in finding an appropriate childcare provision the Early Years team offer a brokerage service.
• Please contact us by telephone or email if brokerage is required.
• There is no requirement to apply for, a unique code from HMRC or the local authority to access the 15 universal hours per week.

Extended entitlement for three and four year olds

Also known as 30 hour funding

• Some 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to an additional 15 hours per week, over 38 weeks, increasing the funded hours to a total of 30.
• Parents must complete an application to determine eligibility.
• The application can only be completed by the parent/carer via the Gov.uk website.
•  Parent/carers must re-confirm their eligibility every 3 months as promoted 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 two year old funding

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.

Eligibility criteria for extended hours funding

To be eligible for 30 hours funding parents/ carers 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 awaiting for a decision or have permission to access public funds (this will be highlighted in the parents/ carers UK residence card)
• Each parent parent (or lone parent) earns at least the minimum equivalent of 16 hours per week at the national minimum wage 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 leave, paternity leave, statutory sick, 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’ as 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

• May be eligible, 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 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, even if the child attends reception on a reduced timetable

Age eligibility criteria

Where can funding be used?

Funding can be used with the following providers. They must be registered with the local authority to deliver funded childcare places. Funded places are subject to the childcare provider having funded place vacancies.

• Day Nurseries
• Pre-schools
• Childminders
• Nursery/School classes

Parent/carers can use the Family Information Directory website to search for childcare providers in their locality. [https://cid.coventry.gov.uk]

Tax-free childcare

This is a government scheme set up to help parent/carers with childcare costs:

• For every £8 a parent pays in, the government will pay in an extra £2. Parents can receive up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards their childcare costs, or £4,000 for disabled children.
• To qualify, parents will have to be in work, and each expecting to earn at least £120 a week. Each parent must not have an income over £100,000 per year.
• Parents must re-confirm their codes every 3 months.
• Only childcare providers registered with Ofsted can receive Tax-Free Childcare payments.

Childcare Choices website [https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk]

Making a claim

To make a claim parents should complete an online 2 year old funding application [http://www.coventry.gov.uk/2yearoldfunding].

Family Hubs are able to complete assisted checks. Find your nearest Family Hub [https://www.coventry.gov.uk/familyhubs].

Apply for extended hours funding (30 hours) [https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk].

Changes to Early Education Entitlements 2023 -2025

The financial support that is available to parents to help with the cost of childcare is increasing. These include major changes to make it easier for parents with childcare responsibilities to move into or take on more paid work. Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases.

The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure you can meet the needs of more families.

This means that:

• From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
• From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
• From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.

Like the existing offer, these hours can be delivered across 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if offering a stretched model of delivery.