Accessing Early Education

Published: 23 November 2022

Early years pupil premium

Your child’s early years education provider could get up to £342 per year to help with your child’s education. This will be paid direct to your provider.

Who can apply

You can apply for early years pupil premium if your child is aged 3 or 4 and you get 15 hours free childcare.

You must also get at least one of the following:

· Income Support

· income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

· income-related Employment and Support Allowance

· support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

· the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

· Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190

· Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

· Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get

You may also get early years pupil premium if your child is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales or if your child has left care in England or Wales through:

· adoption

· special guardianship order

· a child arrangements order

How to apply

To apply for early years pupil premium speak to your childcare provider or contact Services for Young Children.

Disability access fund

Your child’s early years provider could get £800 or more per year to help with their education and support. This will be paid direct to your early years provider.

Who can apply

You can apply to get disability access funding if your child is aged 3 or 4 and you’re receiving both:

· 15 hours free childcare - you do not need to use all of your hours to be eligible

· Disability living allowance for children

How to apply

To apply for disability access funding speak to your childcare provider or contact Services for Young Children.