…learning through play
Early Years Funded Entitlement policy
Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) is Government funding allowing all eligible children to access funded early years education and childcare. It is available regardless of their individual needs. EYFE is up to 1,140 hours per year of flexible free childcare from September 2025.
This is available to:
- some 2 year olds (2 year old LA Issued EYFE – find out more and apply at westsussex.gov.uk/FundedChildcare);
- all 3 and 4 year olds (Universal EYFE); and
- children from as early as 9 months old who meet the eligibility criteria for EYFE for Working Families. From September 2025, all children eligible for EYFE for Working Families can access up to 1,140 hours per year.
See the tables before for information on when children become age eligible for the various entitlements:
| A child born on or between: | Will be of eligible age for the 9 month old EYFE* from the start of term beginning in: |
| 1 April and 30 June | April after turning 9 months old |
| 1 July and 30 November | September after turning 9 months old |
| 1 December and 31 March | January after turning 9 months old |
| A child born on or between: | Will become eligible for 2 year old EYFE for Working Families* or 2 year old LA Issued EYFE** from the start of term beginning in: | Will become eligible for Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds from the start of term beginning in: |
| 1 January and 31 March | April following their second birthday* | April following their third birthday |
| 1 April and 31 August | September following their second birthday* | September following their third birthday |
| 1 September and 31 December | January following their second birthday* | January following their third birthday |
*Subject to approval of application at childcarechoices.gov.uk **Subject to approval by their Local Authority.
You can find out more about the above entitlements, including eligibility criteria and how to apply (if required) by visiting www.westsussex.gov.uk/fundedchildcare.
Apply online at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk before the term you wish your child to start. You will need to re-confirm your eligibility every 12 weeks.
You will be required to give at least 4 weeks notice period for leaving or changing of hours.
Funded places and waitlist (Admissions)
Any spaces are subject to availability.
No child is guaranteed a place until the written contract has been completed and signed by all parties. Further, an Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) place is not guaranteed until completion of the Parent Declaration form.
We ask for parents/carers to let us know as soon as possible if a place is no longer required prior to child’s scheduled start date. If you have paid a deposit, you will not receive this back if as per contract 4 weeks notice has not been given, if 4 weeks notice full deposit returned as per signed contract.
All admissions to the setting will ensure fair access to educational opportunity for all and will comply with all equality’s legislation.
Early Years Funded Entitlement at Stacey Roberts Childminding.
Stacey Roberts Childminding is registered with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to provide Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) hours under the following schemes:
- Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds
- Extended EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds under the Working Families Entitlement
- LA Issued EYFE for 2 year olds
- EYFE for 2 year olds under the Working Families Entitlement
- EYFE for 9 months and older under the Working Families Entitlement
We are also in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Fund for eligible children.
Parents/carers are advised to retain a copy of this policy for future reference and to review it in conjunction with the contract you have signed.
Stacey Roberts Childminding also offers EYFE over 38 weeks, commonly referred to as “term time only”. Open in the school holidays for non-funded hours if necessary.
I am also now able to offer stretched hours for 45 weeks per year rather than 38 (this could have a potential loss in free hours).
Children eligible for up to 30 hours per week can access up to 1140 hours per year. See the table below for details on the number of hours you can claim per week at Stacey Roberts Childminding:
| Number of weeks per year | Hours per week | Total hours across the year |
| 38 (Term time only) | 30 | 1,140 |
| Stretched over 45 weeks | 25 | 1,125* |
*Potential loss in free hours
Funded hours are only available between the hours of 08:00 and 18:00
There is one week in Summer Term that is not funded, due to INSET days from school, this week will be charged at my hourly rate.
Funding can be accessed at a maximum of two different sites per day and split their funding between more than one provider.
Lunch and Dinner Rates
You can choose to either have a lunch and or dinner here, payment rates are below, or you can provide your own packed lunch free of charge.
Lunch and pudding £2.50
Dinner and pudding £2.50
Pattern of Delivery
I am to be as flexible as possible so over 5 days a week, Monday to Friday:
For non-stretched funding over 38 weeks – up to 10 hours a day between 08:00 and 18:00
For stretched funding over 45 weeks up – up to 10 hours per day between 08:00-18:00
Any hours of care over the funding will be charged at my normal hourly rate.
Accessing Early Years Funded Entitlement at Stacey Roberts Childminding The provision of Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) includes the delivery of early years education and childcare, and we deliver this in line with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Parents/carers will be required to complete a Parent Declaration form before they begin accessing their EYFE sessions at Stacey Roberts Childminding. A new copy will need to be completed if your personal details or your child’s EYFE hours change.
Children are required to attend their EYFE sessions prior to and at headcount for Stacey Roberts Childminding to claim EYFE funding from WSCC for them. Note there are no conditions to accessing EYFE places at Stacey Roberts Childminding, including:
- No requirement to access a minimum number of hours or sessions.
- No requirement to access additional paid-for hours.
- No requirement to take up additional paid services, such as lunch, consumables, extra classes, and trips etc.
- No non-refundable administration fees for children accessing only EYFE.
- No requirement for children to use all their EYFE solely at Stacey Roberts Childminding. Children may access EYFE sessions at a maximum of two different sites per day.
Should you choose to withdraw your child, Stacey Roberts
Childminding requires four weeks (as stated in your general contract you sign) written notice for EYFE sessions, inclusive of holidays and periods of closure. If you move to another provider within West Sussex after the notice period, your new provider can contact us to request transfer of any remaining funding we have claimed on your child’s behalf.
If your child misses EYFE sessions due to illness, holidays or any planned or unplanned absence, these hours will not be available at a later date. If Stacey Roberts Childminding is unexpectedly closed during your child’s regularly scheduled EYFE sessions, due to illness or other unforeseen reason, Stacey Roberts Childminding will offer these hours at an alternative time subject to availability and where reasonable.
Deposits
Please see general contract for details – deposit is refunded if 4 weeks notice given, as per contract, no administrative fees are charged. Support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) Stacey Roberts Childminding is welcoming of all children and will work with parents and carers to ensure the needs of their children are met. To best support your child, Stacey Roberts Childminding will assess their needs during their settling in period and their regular attendance and consult with you about any needs you or Stacey Roberts Childminding identify.
Targeted Setting Support
Should any additional needs be identified, support is available from West Sussex
County Council via Targeted Setting Support. Stacey Roberts
Childminding will consult with parents and carers before seeking this support. Inclusion Funding
Inclusion Funding can be applied for by providers signed up to offer Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) to support them in allowing children with additional needs to access their EYFE. Stacey Roberts Childminding will consult parents and carers before applying and seek their input into the action plan for the child. Stacey Roberts Childminding will share this action plan with West Sussex County Council, who will then determine if Inclusion Funding can be provided and how much. Note that if your child has already been approved for Inclusion Funding at another West Sussex provider, some or all of this funding may be made available for use at Stacey Roberts Childminding. In this case, we will consult with you further regarding best use of this funding.
Local Offer
You can find information about our Local Offer Special Educational Needs and
Disabilities (SEND) Local Offer Policy. – SR Stacey Roberts Childminder /
Childminding Shoreham–by–Sea (staceyroberts–childminding.com)
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
EYPP is additional funding for early years settings to improve the education they provide for eligible children claiming Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE). EYPP is paid to settings alongside EYFE (Extended hours for 3 and 4 year olds are exempt). Children do not need to take up their full entitlement to receive it. EYPP will be paid in proportion to the child’s actual EYFE hours.
For Stacey Roberts Childminding to be able to claim for your child, you will need to provide the following information:
- Parent/carer’s full legal name.
- Parent/carer’s date of birth.
- Parent/carer’s National Insurance (NI) number or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number.
- Evidence that the child has been in local authority care for one day or more in England or Wales (if applicable).
- Evidence proving the child has been adopted from local authority care, left care through a special guardianship order or is subject to a child arrangements order (if applicable).
Stacey Roberts Childminding will determine best use of the funding by assessing the needs of eligible children, and in consultation with parents. We may also seek advice from West Sussex County Council for best use.
You can find out more about EYPP by viewing West Sussex County Council’s EYPP guidance for more information, including funding amounts at westsussex.gov.uk/eypp.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
DAF is a measure which aids access to early years places by, for example, supporting providers in making reasonable adjustments to their settings and/or helping with building capacity, be that for the child in question or for the benefit of children attending the setting. DAF is a fund that can be paid once per year.
Children will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:
- the child is in receipt of child Disability Living Allowance (DLA); and
- the child receives Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE).
For Stacey Roberts Childminding to be able to claim DAF for your child, you will need to provide the following:
- A newly completed Parent Declaration, completed to confirm you would like Stacey Roberts Childminding to apply for DAF on behalf of your child; and
- A copy of a letter confirming your child’s current eligibility for Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
To determine best use of the funding, Stacey Roberts Childminding will assess the needs of the child, consult with parents, and seek support from West Sussex County Council where required.
You can find out more information by reading West Sussex County Council’s DAF guidance for more information, including funding amounts at westussex.gov.uk/daf.
If you have any concerns regarding this policy please discuss them with me.
SR Stacey Roberts Childminder / Childminding Shoreham-by-Sea 