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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 20 March – 2 April 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 2 April 2024
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26 April – 1 May 2024
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 1 May 2024
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 24 May – 31 May 2024
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 31 May 2024
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26 June – 1 July 2024
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 1 July 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 26 July – 31 July 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 31 July 2024

  • Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 23 August – 6 September 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 6 September 2024
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26 September – 2 October 2024
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 2 October 2024
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 25 October – 31 October 2024
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 31 October 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 26 November – 29 November 2024
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 29 November 

  • Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 19 December 2024 – 8 January 2025
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 8 January 2025 
  • Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 27 January – 31 January 2025
  • Optional Headcount task deadline date 31 January 2025
  • Mandatory Headcount Return available to complete 24 February – 28 February 2025
  • Mandatory Headcount task deadline date 28 February 2025

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’.

Please use our online form to accept the provider agreement.

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 19 March 2024