Local Authority funding agreement

In Norfolk, all providers are required to sign a funding agreement to offer Early Education funding to families. The agreement is based on the model agreement issued by the Department for Education (DfE), together with local requirements.

From September 2025, an agreement will be automatically renewed for each Approved Provider offering Early Education to families.

Approved Providers must keep up to date Parts A-D of the agreement via the Microsoft form and ensure that the Local Authority has the latest copy of the additional documents (listed below).

The agreement consists of two documents -

• Part A - D https://forms.office.com/e/fRzcz1XPNn
• Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (PDF, 347 KB) 

plus, the following additional documents (provider policies) -

• Charging Policy (Word doc, 81 KB)
• Sample Invoice (Word doc, 209 KB) issued to a Parent/Carer
• Admission Policy (Word doc, 60 KB)
• Complaints Procedure (Word doc, 65 KB)

These documents should enable families to make an informed decision about their childcare arrangement and ability to pay additional fees before committing to a childcare contract.

A provider may choose to combine policies for Early Education to reduce the admin burden.

The following guidance is also available -

• Funding Weeks Calculator (Excel doc, 31 KB)
• Chargeable Extras Guidance (Word doc, 66 KB)
• Compliance Checks Guidance (Word doc, 62 KB)

Once complete, documents must be emailed to earlyyearsfinance@norfolk.gov.uk

The funding agreement will be returned signed once any submitted documentation have been reviewed and verified as meeting the agreement criteria.  Upon receipt of the signed agreement, the provider must display it as information for your parents/carers.

Part A-D

Part A-D must be completed via a forms.office.com template.  There are a series of questions to answer which will be used to populate the agreement before it is returned.

• Part A: Your Provider Details
• Part B: Your Early Education Offer to Families
  • Availability
  • The Funding Entitlements
  • Charges
• Part C: Documentation
• Part D: Declaration

Part E

This is the Terms and Conditions of the Agreement.  This should be read prior to completing the Microsoft template.

Additional documents

The additional documents are required so that the Local Authority can be assured that the provider has systems in place to meet the statutory guidance and the Funding Agreement Terms and Conditions (PDF, 347 KB) when offering the Early Education entitlement to families.

Your policies must clearly articulate compliance. It is therefore important that as a minimum these documents clearly prove the following are being met -

• Charging Policy
  • Fees and Chargeable Extras
  • Deposit
  • Registration
• Admissions Policy
  • Eligibility (DOB, Working Parent Entitlement, DAF & EYPP)
  • Funding Offer (times)
• Complaints Policy
  • Early Education Concerns
• Sample Invoice (itemised from January 2026)

When submitted the Early Years Finance team will complete a compliance check.  Providers will be notified where it is necessary to make any amendments as soon as possible.  New providers should allow at least 6 weeks for the documentation to be checked.

Please ensure all policies are re-submitted if one policy has been updated.  It is important that the Local Authority holds your current versions on file as these are a source of reference should we receive a complaint.