Support with domestic abuse
If you are experiencing domestic abuse, help is available. Major sporting events can be a difficult time for some people. If you are worried about your own safety, or that of someone you know, confidential support and advice are available on our domestic abuse page.
Provider requirements
Childcare providers on the Early Years Register can apply to offer early education funding (EEF) for children aged 9 months to 4 years.
By registering, early years providers agree to comply with:
- The Department for Education's Early education and childcare: statutory guidance for local authorities and
- The Herefordshire Provider Agreement.
Providers must be registered with one of the following:
- Ofsted (Early Years Register)
- Ofsted and the Department for Education (schools)
- Independent Schools Inspectorate (ISI)
- A registered childminder agency
Quality requirements
Providers receiving an Ofsted judgement of 'Urgent Improvement' or 'Needs Attention' may not be eligible to deliver early education funding (EEF) in Herefordshire. Eligibility will be determined in accordance with national guidance and local authority requirements.
How to register
Before applying, you must read the Provider Agreement, which sets out the terms, conditions and requirements for delivering early education funding (EEF).
Complete the registration forms
- Request a Herefordshire Secure File Transfer (Anycomms) user account
- Early years funding payment details form
- Provider Portal registration form
What happens next?
After we receive your registration and payment details, we will process your application and create your Synergy account. We will provide your login details and information to help you deliver funded places, including access to the Synergy Early Years Portal, parent declaration forms, funding schedules, payment information, and guidance on claiming funding and validating entitlement codes.
Parental declaration and privacy notice form
Parents accessing funded early education hours must complete the relevant sections of the parental declaration and privacy notice form and sign the declaration. This is a legal requirement and is necessary to support data protection compliance.
Providers are responsible for ensuring that parents are informed about the funded hours available at their setting and complete the required documentation.
To request copies of the parental declaration and privacy notice form, please email eef@herefordshire.gov.uk
Important: It is the provider's responsibility to retain completed parental declarations and store them securely. Completed forms should not be returned to Herefordshire Council unless specifically requested.
Contact details
Early education funding (EEF)
For queries about the early education funding (EEF) claims process or provider payments, please contact:
Telephone: 01432 260021
Email: eef@herefordshire.gov.uk
Synergy access
For queries regarding access to the Synergy Early Years Portal, contact:
Email: cypdata@herefordshire.gov.uk
Claiming funding after registration
Early Education Funding (EEF) claims process
The EEF Finance Team will notify providers when it is time to log in to the Early Years (EY) Portal to submit claims, complete required tasks and receive other important information relating to funding claims.
Validating eligibility codes
Providers must not offer a funded place to a parent until the child's eligibility code has been validated using the eligibility checker within the Early Years Portal.
Submit claims on time
It is the provider's responsibility to submit all funding claims by the deadlines provided by the EEF Finance Team.
Important: Failure to submit claims by the published deadlines may result in delays to funding payments for children.