What if a family wants to start a funded place when they are already in their grace period?

Children would not be eligible for funding through the Working Parent Entitlements at a Provider if the family are already in the grace period. This includes the following scenarios:

• Where a Parent falls into their grace period before the child starts their place/ their funded hours.
• Where a Parent falls into their grace period whilst their child is attending a Provider for their entitlement, and the parent then moves the child to a different provider whilst in their grace period.

These scenarios are also applicable when a Provider submits a claim for a child who was eligible at the time, but the child entered the grace period later and before starting their funded hours.

In exceptional circumstances, The Council has the discretion to extend the “grace period” for a short time, i.e.

• if the provider closes or receives an Ofsted inspection judgement of inadequate and the local authority withdraws funding - for state funded schools inspected after 2 September 2024 this means an Ofsted inspection judgement of requiring significant improvement or special measures
• the parent(s) moves home as a result of domestic abuse or any other emergency situation.

Providers should advise the EEF Finance team in such cases.