Term tasks and Payment dates to 28 March 2025

The above are proposed task and payment dates and are subject to change, dependent on external factors that are outside of the Local Authority's control. 

Payment Option 1:  Following completion of Interim Forecast Task, payment is calculated as 75% of the total claim and payment is made in one lump sum at the start of the term.  The balancing payment for the term is payable on completion of the Actual Task.  

Payment Option 2 (monthly payments): Following completion of Interim Forecast Task, payment is calculated as 75% of the total claim and payment is made by three monthly instalments.  The balancing payment for the term is payable on completion of the Actual Task.  Monthly payment dates are scheduled to be paid the week ending the third Friday of each month. 

Amendment tasks: There are two amendment tasks available for each term following the Actual headcount.

The initial amendment task is issued to all Providers.  

The final amendment task is available following the production of the term's final funding statement.  Should providers require a final amendment task, they must email their request to eefportal@staffordshire.gov.uk, quoting their Provider ID.

It is the Authority’s intention to close the term after the Final Amendment. However, any Provider requesting any further amendments to their claim will be subject to the funding panel approval.

Funding Periods are paid as follows:

• Spring term (1 January to 31 March) - '38 week' offer 11 Weeks / 'Stretch' offer 12 Weeks
• Summer term (1 April to 31 August) - '38 week' offer 13 Weeks / 'Stretch' offer 20 Weeks
• Autumn term (1 September to 31 December) - '38 week' offer 14 Weeks / 'Stretch' offer 16 Weeks

Funded offers:

• The standard offer is calculated over 38 weeks with the maximum of 30 hours per week that can be claimed (i.e., up to 15 hours universal and 15 hours extended). 

• The stretch offer is calculated over 48 weeks with the maximum of 23.75 hours per week that can be claimed (i.e., up to 11.88 hours Universal and 11.87 hours Extended).

Childcare settings can determine their own funded weeks within the periods shown above, subject to the maximum allowable weeks per term.  

However, providers must take into consideration of the child's start date if the child starts mid-term and count down the remaining weeks of the term offer. 

For children who leave at any point during a term or did not start their placement, it is the Provider's responsibility to update their relevant term task with the date the child left and reduce the weeks accordingly. 

Providers cannot claim for any notice period that the parents have breached.  This is because funding will always follow the child.  Breaches of contract is a private matter between the Provider and parent to resolve. 

For more information, visit our Early education funding - headcount tasks and payments explained - Staffordshire County Council.