Other funding for early years providers

Early years and childcare funding opportunities

There are a number of funding sources available to childcare providers in Norfolk who have signed the Local Agreement to offer the Early Education entitlements or offer Wraparound Childcare. The purpose of this funding is to support the Local Authority to improve outcomes for children and meet its childcare sufficiency duty by assisting in the costs to provide high quality affordable childcare in Norfolk.

To apply, it will be necessary to comply with specific criteria. When an application is received, applicants are reminded that -

there is no guarantee that funding will be awarded by the panel
unless stated, the funding is revenue and cannot be used for capital works
panel may award funding with conditions
where an award is agreed, a contract or email offer will be issued
the payment of an award will not be actioned without the return of a signed contract or confirmation that the conditions will be met
awards may be paid in instalments
all awards are subject to monitoring

Funding and grants available -

Childminder Grants

Start Up (£600)
Contributes towards the cost of opening a new provision
To apply for this grant, please download the application and submit via email to [email protected]

Start Up Grant Application for Childminders (Word doc, 56 KB)

Development (£1000)
Contributes towards the cost of increasing number of places offered to families
To apply for this grant, please download the application and submit via email to [email protected]

Development Grant Application for Childminders (Word doc, 63 KB)

Quality and Inclusion (£500)
Contributes towards the purchase of resources and equipment
To apply for this grant, please download the application and submit via email to [email protected]

Quality and Inclusion Grant Application for Childminders (Word doc, 63 KB)

Sustainability
Provides financial help when the childcare business has lost early education funding income due to exceptional circumstances. Please email an initial enquiry to [email protected] with the following details

reason for the application
impact to the business
whether an insurance is held to cover the loss of income

upon receipt, the detail will be considered for a full application.

Please note:

Funding support is not guaranteed
An application cannot be considered where the terms and conditions of the funding agreement have not been followed or the charging policy has not been implemented.

Provider Grants (offering Early Education and Wraparound childcare)

Subject to funding availability, the following revenue grants are offered -

Sustainability (up to £10,000) Provides short-term financial help where a loss in operating costs has occurred or is anticipated
Quality and Inclusion (£5,000) Contributes towards the purchase of resources and equipment. This is revenue funding

Priority will be given to providers who -

plan to create new or additional places where demand cannot be met in their area and can partially self fund the project's revenue costs
face short term financial loss, demand cannot be met in their area and a financial recovery plan is in place
received Ofsted actions following an inspection in relation to the environment and/or children's learning and development
received a less than "Good" or "Expected Standard" at the most recent inspection

Register your interest -

Please read the guidance below and submit an Expression of Interest (EOI) for panel to review

(The EOI template can be downloaded via the link in the Guidance)

Please note: This process can take up to 8 weeks or more.

Wraparound Quality and Inclusion (up to £1,000) Contributes towards small purchases of resources / equipment and / or staff training which do not exceed £1,000.00 in total EYFP-01b QandI WRAP (Word doc, 62 KB)

Specialist Equipment

Provides opportunity for providers to request specialist equipment via a referral for children with SEND. Please refer to the guidance link below for more information.

Specialist Equipment EY Providers June 2025 (PDF, 212 KB)

SEN Funding

This funding is available to support providers to meet the identified need of children that is "additional to and different from".

More information can be found on our SEND Funding webpage.

Disability Access Fund (DAF)

This fund is available to early years providers to support children with special educational needs and disability (SEND) by removing barriers which prevent children from accessing their free early education entitlement.

To claim this funding, a child must meet certain national criteria. Providers can claim the funding once the parent/carer has nominated them as the main provider of their child's early education entitlement, and demonstrated their child is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance.

More information can be found on our Disability Access Fund (DAF) webpage.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

This premium is additional funding to enhance the experience of the child by improving the teaching and learning, facilities, and/or resources, so that there is a positive impact to their progress and development. More information can be found on our EYPP webpage.

Early Education Funding

This funding is available to all early year's providers that meet the statutory guidance for Early Education funding issued by the Department for Education (DfE) and have a local authority funding agreement in place. It is claimed on behalf of parent/carers for their funded early years entitlement.

Other local and national funding schemes and information

Next : Early years and childcare funding panel

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