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.
Headcount dates
Summer 2024
- Mandatory Head Count Return available to complete 27/3/2024 to 3/4/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 3/4/2024
- Funding payment date 25/4/2023
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26/4/2024 to 2/5/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 2/5/2024
- Funding payment date 24/5/2024
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 28/5/2024 to 4/6/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 4/6/2024
- Funding payment date 25/6/2024
- Mandatory Headcount Return to complete 26/6/2024 to 3/7/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 3/7/2024
- Funding payment date 25/7/2024
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26/7/2024 to 1/08/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 1/8/2024
- Funding payment date 23/8/2024
Autumn 2024
- Mandatory Head Count Return available to complete 27/8/2024 to 5/9/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 5/9/2024
- Funding payment date 25/9/2024
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26/9/2024 to 2/10/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 2/10/2024
- Funding payment date 25/10/2024
- Mandatory Head Count Return available to complete 28/10/2024 to 4/11/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 4/11/2024
- Funding payment date 25/11/2024
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 26/11/2024 to 29/11/2024
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 29/11/2024
- Funding payment date 19/12/2024
Spring 2025
- Mandatory Head Count Return available to complete 27/12/2024 to 6/1/2025
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 6/1/2025
- Funding payment date 24/1/2025
- Optional Adjustment Return available to complete 27/1/2025 to 3/2/2025
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 3/2/2025
- Funding payment date 25/2/2025
- Mandatory Head Count Return available to complete 26/2/2025 to 4/3/2025
- Headcount / adjustment task deadline date 4/3/2025
- Funding payment date 25/3/2025
Following the monthly payment of headcount claims, a detailed report will be sent to providers to give a full breakdown of payments and all early years’ supplements received.
For further information or to request a copy of the 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’.
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 North Northamptonshire Council and EEC providers are meeting the expectations regarding delivering funded childcare places.
Last updated 01 April 2024