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 |
Early education funding (EEF) rates for 2026-2027
| 9-23 months olds | 2 year olds Working Parents | 2 year old with Best Start support ** | 3 and 4 year olds Universal | 3 and 4 year olds - Extended | When funding is paid | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Funding base rate per hour | £10.12 | £7.51 | £7.51 | £5.74 | £5.74 | Estimates |
| 2 year old Best Start in Life uplift | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/a | n/s | n/a |
| EYPP (Paid on the first 15 funded hours) |
£1.15 | £1.15 | £1.15 | £1.15 | £1.15 | Final payment |
| Deprivation (Paid over all hours claimed) |
£0.87 | £0.61 | £0.78 | £0.51 | £0.51 | Final payment |
| DAF Annual Rate (Disability Access Fund) | £975 | £975 | £975 | £975 | £975 | 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.
| 3 estimate payments at 80% | Spring term 2026 - 11 weeks TTO/14 weeks STR |
|---|---|
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 1st estimate payment - 7 January 2026 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 2nd estimate payment - 7 February 2026 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 3rd estimate payment - 7 March 2026 |
| Estimates to be recorded on Synergy | 8 December 2025 |
| Estimate deadline | 19 December 2025 |
| Actuals window opens | 12 January 2026 |
| Actuals window closes | 18 January 2026 |
| Adjustment window opens | 23 February 2026 |
| Adjustment window closes | 17 April 2026 |
| Final payment including adjustments input up to 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | w/c 23 March 2026 |
| Payment of adjustments entered after 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | Paid within 3 weeks of summer term |
| 3 estimate payments at 80% | Summer term 2026 - 13 weeks TTO/20 weeks STR |
|---|---|
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 1st estimate payment - 7 May 2026 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 2nd estimate payment - 7 June 2026 |
| Estimate payments to be received by setting | 3rd estimate payment - 7 July 2026 |
| Estimates to be recorded on Synergy | 16 March 2026 |
| Estimate deadline | 27 March 2026 |
| Actuals window opens | 27 April 2026 |
| Actuals window closes | 3 May 2026 |
| Adjustment window opens | 1 June 2026 |
| Adjustment window closes | 4 September 2026 |
| Final payment including adjustments input up to 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | w/c 3 August 2026 |
| Payment of adjustments entered after 24 November 2025 (date subject to change) | Paid within 3 weeks of autumn term |