15 hours funded childcare (3 and 4-year-old)

Funded early education is available to all three and four-year-old children living in England irrespective of income levels, benefit status, or family circumstances.  The entitlement can be accessed from the claim period following the child's third birthday provided the criteria is met.

The amount of funded hours per week will depend on the providers early education offer, but cannot exceed 15 hours per week (or 570 hours in total per year) They are entitled to a maximum of 570 hours funded childcare per year. 

Please refer to the Best Start in Life website for more information.

To offer this entitlement to parent/carers in Norfolk, registered childcare providers must follow the early year's foundation stage framework and meet the inspection standard detailed in the current Statutory Guidance for Early Education and Childcare.

Need some support to claim?

Parents and Carers
Families should talk to their childcare provider. 

Providers
If you have a query about funding, you can:

• email the Early Years Finance team at [email protected]
• call the Early Years Finance team on 01603 222300 - Option 2
• attend or arrange online training which is offered via Teams sessions

Marketing materials

Leaflets and posters about early education are available. Please contact the Early Years Advice Line on 01603 222300.

Other information

• Early education funding documentation - claim form, calculators, funding agreement
• Early Years Pupil Premium