Introduction
Early years settings can claim extra funding through the Early Years Pupil Premium to support children’s development, learning and care.
The Early Years Pupil Premium provides an extra amount of money per hour per child for eligible children from the funding period after they turn 9 months old. Children maybe eligible if their parents are in receipt of certain benefits, or if they are adopted from care or are in care.
Eligibility
To qualify, parents who receive any of the following are entitled to The Early Years Pupil Premium
- Universal Credit with an annual income of less than £7,400
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance (not contribution-based)
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (not contribution-related)
- Support from the National Asylum Support Service under part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of the State Pension Credit
Children may also qualify for Early Years Pupil Premium if they:
- Are being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales
- Have been adopted from care in England or Wales
- Have left care under a special guardianship order or child arrangements order in England or Wales
Age and Early Years Pupil Premium entitlement
- 9-month-olds to 2-year-olds: Payable on the working parent entitlement.
- 2-year-olds: Payable on either the Early Learning for 2 year olds entitlement or the working parent entitlement. Will be paid against the former first, if the child is eligible.
- 3 and 4-year-olds: Payable on the universal 15 hours’ entitlement only.
How to apply
Parents need to apply by using the application form on the early years pupil premium information for parents page. All applicants will receive a letter regarding the outcome of their application. The Entitlements Team will notify providers of those children that we have had legal documentation and a child registration form for and where qualifying criteria have been met.
Regular checks will be carried out to confirm continued eligibility. Parents are advised that they must notify the Entitlements Team if their circumstances change, as they may then no longer qualify for the additional funding.
To apply for Early Years Pupil Premium for children in the care of the Local Authority, the provider must contact the Virtual School.
Payment
Payment will commence in the funding period after the award and will be paid on the number of hours paid on your actual form or adjustment form, up to a maximum of 15 hours a week (570 hours per year).
For example, if a parent of a 3-year-old successfully applies for Early Years Pupil Premium on 15 April, Early Years Pupil Premium will not be paid until the autumn funding period.
The Early Years Pupil Premium follows the child, so if the child moves part way through the year, the funding will follow that child.
If an adjustment form is received that reduces the number of hours for a child eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium, the Early Years Pupil Premium will be reclaimed for these hours along with the claimed hours. For example, ZYX nursery claimed 100 hours on their actual form for Fred. Early Years Pupil Premium has been paid on 100 hours. An adjustment form is then submitted, which reduces this to 70 hours. So, not only will 30 entitlement hours be reclaimed, 30 Early Years Pupil Premium hours will also be reclaimed.
Providers are encouraged to ask all parents to complete an application form and send it into the Entitlements Team so they can be checked to see if they qualify for Early Years Pupil Premium.
Parents may ask how the Early Years Pupil Premium is being spent, and Ofsted will expect to see how the money has been spent, and what benefit it has had on the children that qualify.
Use of Early Years Pupil Premium funding
Providers should use EYPP alongside any other available funding streams or support to deliver interventions that improve outcomes for disadvantaged children.
Providers should ensure EYPP funding is used to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children by spending on activities, staff training and resources that specifically impact educational outcomes for disadvantaged children. Providers should plan EYPP spending based on consideration of well-evidenced approaches such as professional development for staff, which may benefit all children while providing the greatest benefit to disadvantaged children.
Recommended spending approaches are set out in the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium. This offers practical, evidence-informed advice for setting leaders on maximising the use of EYPP in their context.
Providers should spend EYPP funding in full within the academic year for which it has been allocated.