Delivering funded early education and childcare
Funded places for 3 and 4-year-olds
All parents and carers of 3 and 4-year-old children are able to claim up to 570 hours a year of free early education and childcare, also known as Universal Childcare. This is split over the 3 funding blocks.
Some parents of 3 and 4-year-old children may also be eligible to claim up to an additional 570 hours a year (split over 3 funding blocks) of free early education and childcare (known as 30 hours).
Funded places for 2-year-olds
Some parents of 2-year-old children may be eligible to claim up to 570 hours a year (split over 3 funding blocks) of free early education and childcare.
From April 2024, there will be two different funding streams for, 2-year-old funding streams. 15 hours for 2-Year-old for families in England, receiving some additional forms of government support and 15 hours for 2-Year-old for eligible working families in England (Coming from April 2024).
Future expansion of the entitlements
- September 2024: 15 hours for children aged 9 to 23 months from eligible working families
- September 2025: 30 hours for children aged 9 to 23 months and 2-year-olds from eligible working families
Headcount dates and funding calendar
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 24 March to 2 April 2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 23 April to 5 May 2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 21 May to 3 June 2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 24 June to 1 July 2025
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 28 July to 4 August 2025
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 27 August to 8 September 2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 24 September to 3 October 2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 29 October to 5 November 2025
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 20 November to 28 November 2025
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 17 December to 9 January 2026
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 28 January to 3 February 2026
- Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 25 February to 3 March 2026
For further information or to request a copy of the funding calendar please email [email protected].
Provider agreement and compliance review
Provider agreement
All providers delivering Early Education and Childcare Funded provision for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds must read and accept the 'provider agreement’ and 'the Addendum'.
Please use our online form to accept the provider agreement and the addendum.
Compliance review
The Early Education and Childcare (EEC) funding compliance review is directly linked to the provider agreement, which all providers must sign in order to receive funding.
The 2 documents aim to ensure both West Northamptonshire Council and EEC providers are meeting the expectations regarding delivering funded childcare places.
Last updated 14 March 2025