Apply for Early Education Funding (EEF)
Early education providers on the early years register can apply to offer early education funding (EEF) - for children aged from 9 months to 4 years.
How do early education providers register?
Important: providers must read the terms and conditions of the provider agreement. The documents below will advise providers of processes.
Forms you need to complete
Please note: We're currently only accepting documents electronically (i.e. scanned /photo) which must be returned to: eeac@staffordshire.gov.uk Do not return by post as this could delay the processing of the application.
You may need to print off, complete, sign and return the following documents. You must complete all applicable fields on the forms, or the application could be returned to you and therefore funding delayed:
*Providers are responsible for sending sensitive information securely.
Parental declaration and Privacy Notice form - providers complete with parents.
It is a requirement (and GDPR compliant) that the relevant sections of a parent declaration form is completed for children accessing funded hours at the provision and the provider and parent/carers and sign it. Providers will need to liaise and inform parents about how they can access fund hours at the provision.
Please note: Providers have the responsibility to retain and securely store completed parent declarations. Do not return to the local authority unless it is requested.
Guide to register for EEF and what next
How to register to offer early education funding.
- You must read the agreement as this is the conditions and parameters for early education funding (EEF).
- No money must exchange hands with parents. Early years providers claim for funding through their local authority who in turn pay providers for the funded hours they supply and claim on behalf of parents for the funded hours their children will attend for.
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Upon receipt of your completed provider agreement and bank form, our team will process your application and inform the EEF Finance team. The set-up process can take a couple of weeks from when we receive your completed provider agreement, payment options and bank details.
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Once processed the EEF finance team will send out information that will include:
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your EY portal password so access the platform and you can validate working parent entitlement codes and submit claims.
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information on schedule headcounts or payments dates etc.
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guidance on using the portal, claiming funding and how to validate 30 hours codes.
- From then on, the EEF finance team will notify providers when it is time to log in and submit a claim or complete a task as well as other general information related to claims.
Claiming procedure after registration and EEF finance team confirm EY portal access.
Please note: Working Parent Entitlement eligibility codes must first be validated through the ECS checker via the EY portal.
Important: your provision is solely responsible for submitting claims by the deadline date given to you by the EEF finance team otherwise your payment/s for children will be made at a later date.
Frequently Asked Questions
Information and guidance on how early years providers can offer funded hours, flexibility, charges, funded rates providers receive and more care available on the frequently asked questions found at the funding support page.
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