Early education funding rates and payment dates
Early education funding (EEF) rates for 2025-2026
| 9-23 months olds 30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England with children |
2 year olds |
2 year old with Best Start support 15 hours for 2 year olds receiving support ** |
3 and 4 year olds 15 hours childcare. For all families in England |
3 and 4 year olds 30 hours childcare. For eligible working families in England |
When funding is paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding base rate | £9.71/hour | £6.98/hour | £6.98/hour | £5.47/hour | £5.47/hour | Estimates |
| 2 year old Best Start in Life uplift | n/a | n/a | £0.49/hour | n/a | n/s | Final payment |
| EYPP (Paid on the first 15 funded hours |
£1/hour | £1/hour | £1/hour | £1/hour | £1/hour | Final payment |
| Deprivation (Paid over all hours claimed) |
£0.76/hour | £0.53/hour | £0.53/hour | £0.44/hour | £0.44/hour | Final payment |
| DAF (Disability Access Fund) | £938/year | £938/year | £938/year | £938/year | £938/year | Final payment |
* Each funding group is accessible to children from the term after they become eligible.
** Best Start funding can be combined with Working family funding to total 30 hours. The 15 hours of Best Start funding attracts the higher rate of pay for settings.
Early education funding calendar
- Breaks down the academic year for claiming early education funding
- Numbers the funding weeks throughout the year
- Highlights holidays, term-time only weeks, and stretched weeks
- Shows term periods and the maximum number of claimable weeks per term
- Aligns with the Herefordshire provider agreement
Early education funding calendar 2025-26
Early education funding schedule
This table lists the significant dates and deadlines that early education settings need to follow over an academic year for claiming early education funding.
| 4 estimate payments at 80% | Autumn term 2025 - 14 weeks TTO/17 weeks STR |
|---|---|
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 1st estimate payment - 7 September 2025 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 2nd estimate payment - 7 October 2025 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 3rd estimate payment - 7 November 2025 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 4th estimate payment - 7 December 2025 |
| Estimates to be recorded on Synergy | 7 July 2025 |
| Estimate deadline | 18 July 2025 |
| Actuals window opens | 15 September 2025 |
| Actuals window closes | 21 September 2025 |
| Adjustment window opens | 3 November 2025 |
| Adjustment window closes | 9 January 2026 |
| Final payment including adjustments input up to 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | w/c 15 December 2025 |
| Payment of adjustments entered after 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | Paid within 3 weeks of spring term |