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| Parent Information: Funding
 Early Education Funding (EEF) for 9-23 months, 2, 3 and 4-year-olds (Information gained from the Oxfordshire county council website August
2025)FAQs for Parents Information for parents Please note that all funding claims will need to be completed electronically through the OCC Establishment Portal. It is important for all parents and carers to complete all sections of the funding form you will be given in order for us to check entitlement. Types of funding: 15 hours early learning for families in England receiving some additional forms of support Some 2-year-olds can take up this funding for 570 hours per year the term after their 2nd birthday (refer to chart below for the earliest start dates).
2-year-olds that meet the criteria for Early Years Pupil Premium will receive the additional EYPP rate. Please note our setting must run an eligibility check via the Establishment Portal to claim this. This funding will stop the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. All 3-year-olds are then entitled to 570 hours per year of funding. This is known as universal funding. 3 and 4-year-old funding - Universal entitlement All 3 and 4-year-olds in Oxfordshire can take up a funded place for universal entitlement the term after their 3rd birthday (refer to chart below).
Universal entitlement does not require a code. This funding can be claimed up until the child meets compulsory school age (the term after their 5th birthday). If a child starts in a reception class in school, they will not then be able to claim this funding. Working Parent Entitlement for 9-23 months, 2-year-olds and 3& 4-year olds Parents can receive:
Up to 30 hours a week for children aged 3 to 4 years old.
Parents must apply for a code by the end of the month before a new term starts. For example, if the term starts on 1 September you must apply by 31 August. Parents must meet the eligibility criteria found on the Working Parent entitlement page. Parents apply for this entitlement through Childcare Choices. Parents need to have applied and received their 11-digit code from HMRC before the entitlement date i.e. by 31 August 31 December and 31 March. Codes must be validated on the Establishment Portal by the setting to confirm the correct start date. Parents must reconfirm their code is eligible via HMRC every 3 months through their government gateway account. Please note a child cannot claim funded hours for the first time nor start a funded place at a new provider if they are in their grace period. Working Parent entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds Some 3 and 4-year-old children of working parents may be eligible for an additional 570 hours (these are additional to the universal hours and can total up to 30 hours per week). Information and eligibility criteria can be found at Childcare Choices. Working parent entitlement for foster carers Foster carers can claim funded childcare if they are working as long as: They are in paid work outside of their fostering role, and the social worker agrees the funding to be in line with the child’s care plan Foster carers cannot use the online application to assess for funded childcare. Foster carers should speak to their social worker for further information on how to apply. Once the application form has been completed and the social worker has confirmed eligibility, they will forward the form onto The Early Education Funding Team to create an 11-digit code beginning with 400. Foster carers must fill out their application and receive their code the term before the child turns 2 or 3 to use the funding for the following term. Foster carers must also reconfirm with their social worker every 3 months. A child cannot claim funded hours for the first time nor start a funded place at a new provider if they are in their grace period. Disability Access Funding (DAF) DAF is available to children: Currently in receipt of Disability Living Allowance receiving funded early education as a 2 or 3 & 4-year-old To be eligible for DAF, the child must be named on their current DLA award letter (children whose siblings attract DLA but don’t themselves would not be eligible). From April 2025 the DAF funding is a non-transferable lump sum payment of £938 per year and the parent must nominate which provider will receive the funding. For example, if you claim for DAF in spring term. 2024 then the earliest next claim will not be until spring term 2025, providing that child still claims early education funding. This funding can only be used at one provider and cannot be shared. The parents should nominate their chosen provider to receive DAF if they share their funded hours between more than one provider. SEN inclusion funding Inclusion funding is intended for funded 2, 3, and 4-year-olds with low-level or emerging special educational needs. It can be claimed by Oxfordshire providers in receipt of Early Education Funding, such as our setting. Coming soon From September 2025, working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare per week. Working parent criteria must be met. Like the existing offer, depending on the provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks for a reduced number of hours per week. Otherwise known as stretched funding Please use the following links for further information and applications for funding. Please also click on the link for funding questions and answers. Childcare Support Expansion - Parents Free early education for eligible working families Free Childcare for Working Parents |
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Chesterton Playgroup
The Village Hall
Alchester Road
Chesterton
Oxfordshire
OX26 1UN |
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| Contact Details | Julia Shillito and Claire Hall 01869 360593 (Playgroup Manager Team) General e-mail contact admin@chestertonplaygroup.org.uk |