Early Years Providers 2, 3 and 4 year old Early Education funding

2-year-old funding process

This is the process you follow when offering a 2-year-old funded place

Early Years Process Offering 2 year funded place

Funding claims for 2-year-old funding

Eligibility Route 1

Help paying for childcare: Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

Eligibility Route 2

2-year-olds may also get free childcare if they:

• are looked after by a local authority, for example a Foster Carer – proof of evidence will be required, such as– A letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth.
• have an education, health and care (EHC) plan- a letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth regarding the EHCP awarded.
• the child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance Evidence – award letter for DLA
• the child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order - a letter from a relevant professional with the child`s name and date of birth or special guardianship, adoption or residence order from the court.
• the 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 the child has a diagnosed syndrome, condition or disability that significantly affects the ability to access learning or has 12 months developmental delay in 2 or more out of the 4 areas of need. These are:
  • Communication and Interaction
  • Cognition and Learning
  • Social, Emotional and Mental Health difficulties
  • Sensory and / or Physical needs
    and
  • the child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals

• Early Help support – the child is accessing additional services provided by health or local authority professionals and the total household income of £20,000 or less a year, after tax

Proof of the parent’s total household income for a year, after tax and a letter from the relevant professional will need to be submitted when applying

If parents are a non- UK citizen who cannot claim benefits

If parent’s immigration status says that they have ‘no recourse to public funds’, they may still get free childcare for their 2-year-old. They must live in England and their 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

They cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

Proof of evidence will be required when applying and the completion of a Self-Declaration Form must be submitted onto the portal, along with copies of the parent’s Biometric Cards or Aspen Card.

Extended Entitlement (30 hours childcare) process

This funding is only available for 3 and 4-year-old children where working parents meet the eligibility criteria

Guidance for providers when offering the Extended Entitlement (30 hours).

There are posters you can use to promote the 30-hour extended entitlement to inform parents and carers.

30 hours funding posters for 3 three terms

Useful links for you to share with parents:

30 hour funding: apply online to HMRC

How to apply for 30 hours childcare and Tax-Free Childcare - YouTube video

Children in Foster Care accessing Early Education Expanded / Extended Funding Entitlements

Foster Carers who work outside of their fostering responsibilities may be entitled to receive Early Education Funding Entitlements for Children aged 9 months to 4 years.

The child's Foster carer and allocated social worker will decide together, before making an application, that accessing the Early Education Funding Entitlement is consistent with the child's care plan and the foster carer meets the eligibility criteria for expanded or extended funding entitlement.

Please note the following:

• In single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent, although there is no minimum income requirement.

• In 2 parent foster families, either both partners are engaged in paid work outside their role as a foster parent (although there is no minimum income requirement for either foster parent.

• If one partner is not a foster parent, then that partner must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum, unless they are receiving certain qualifying benefits.
  Please access: Free childcare for eligible working parents for children aged from 9 months and above in foster care

• For expanded entitlement funding, 15 hours per week is the maximum amount of funding available.  However, it is perfectly acceptable for the child to access fewer hours. Please note that from September 2025, this will increase to 30 hours.
• For extended entitlement funding, 30 hours per week is the maximum number of hours that can be claimed. However, it is perfectly acceptable for the child to access fewer hours.
• Hours must be taken over no less than 38 weeks per year, up to a maximum of 570/1140 hours across the year
• Foster Carers can choose to pay for additional hours above the expanded / extended funding entitlement 30 each week, if this is consistent with the care plan
• Costs in addition to direct childcare e.g. food or nappies will not be covered by either the expanded, universal or extended hours entitlement funding
• Coventry City Council is responsible for the generation of childcare codes for all eligible, Children in Care, in Coventry. This includes children who either have a Coventry address or attend a Coventry childcare setting.

Foster Carers must apply within the time frames stated in the Expanded / Extended Entitlement Application form and guidance notes for Foster Carers ;

• Before 31 December for a January start date
• Before 31 March for an April start date
• Before 31 August for a September start date.
• All applications must be re-confirmed every three months by your social worker and Coventry Business Sufficiency and Funding Team, to ensure continued eligibility. Failure to reconfirm may result in the expanded / extended hour's provision being withdrawn, in line with the terms and conditions of the funding stream

Once a Special Guardianship Order (SGO) is granted, the carer then has the same right to benefits and tax credits as a birth parent. All Foster Carers who are granted Special Guardianship Order are then required to apply for expanded / extended funding on the Childcare Choices website, the same as the birth parents.

For further information please see the guidance notes for expanded / extended entitlement for foster carers.

• Childcare Choices Flowchart - How to apply for 30 hours as a Foster Parent
• Coventry City Council Expanded / Extended Entitlement for Foster Carers Application form and guidance notes

Helping parents to reduce childcare costs

This poster can be displayed in your setting or used on any of your marketing materials such as Social Media to inform parents of how they can reduce their childcare costs

Ways to reduce your childcare costs poster.

Coventry Schools and Early Years Portal Support

What to do when you are logged out of the Early Years Portal.

If you have any questions about these documents, please contact the Early Years Team - EYProviderfunding@coventry.gov.uk