FAQ for parents and carers
What is Early Years pupil premium (EYPP)?
It’s extra funding available for eligible children aged 2 to 4 years old that will go to the childcare setting. It should be used to support children’s progress and development.
Which children can get the funding?
Economic criteria
- Income support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Park VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit - Provided parents 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 - paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax, not including any benefits - this is assessed on up to three of the parent’s most recent universal credit assessment periods.
Non-economic criteria
In addition, a child could be eligible if they:
- are being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales
- Child has left through:
- an adoption order
- a special guardianship order
- a child arrangement order
Which childcare providers can get the funding?
If your child attends and claims the funded the first 15 hours of the applicable entitlement hours at a childcare setting that is graded by Ofsted as Outstanding, Good or Requires Improvement, the provider can claim this extra funding for your child.
4 year olds attending a primary school reception are not entitled to EYPP but might be eligible for Pupil Premium. Parents should discuss this with their child's school/
What do I have to do as a parent?
Your childcare setting will need your permission and details (National Insurance number, your date of birth and full name) to apply for this extra funding against the economic criteria. This information should be recorded on the parent declaration and privacy notice your childcare setting should present to you.
The provider will then submit the EYPP application on your behalf, and they will be advised of the outcome and if successful the provider will claim EYPP on your behalf.
Parents should speak to their childcare provider about how the funding from EYPP will be used in the best interests of your child.
Will childcare settings need anything else from parents to aid the application for EYPP?
For the economic criteria, the information as stated above such as national insurance details will normally suffice. However, there could be circumstances where the application outcome is as not eligible and your childcare setting may request further evidence from you in relation to earnings or proof of Universal Credit, tax credits awards and so on.
Parents would be able to obtain this information via their online government gateway account.