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Communications

This webpage holds information sent to providers from the Early Years Funding Team and useful links to documents and websites to support you with early years funding.

Autumn 2025 eligible dates of birth

Nine months plus

Born up to and including 30 November 2024

Two plus years

Born up to and including 31 August 2023

Three plus and four plus years

Born up to and including 31 August 2022

Claim periods and maximum hours available –

Applies to both Universal and Extended/Expanded hours.

Non-stretched claim over 38 weeks

Example of a stretched claim over a maximum of 50 weeks

Funding periods

Maximum number of weeks per funding period

Total hours per funding period

Maximum number of weeks per funding period

Total hours per funding period

15 hours/week

30 hours/week

11.4 hours/week

22.8 hours/week

Autumn period

1 September - 31 December

14

210

420

16

182.4

364.8

Spring period

1 January - 31 March

11

165

330

13

148.2

296.4

Summer period

1 April - 31 August

13

195

390

21

239.4

478.8

Totals

38 weeks

570 hours

1140 hours

50 weeks

570 hours

1140 hours

Tasks

Estimate claim – Monday 2 March 2026 to midnight on Monday 9 March 2026.

The task in the Provider Portal is live for editing, submission, and resubmission between these dates.

Headcount claim – Wednesday 8 April 2026 to midnight Monday 27 April 2026.

The task in the Provider Portal is live for editing, submission, and resubmission between these dates.

If you have a nil claim, please inform us by email eyf@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Payments

Estimate payment for summer – week ending Friday, 10 April 2026.

Headcount payment for summer – week ending Friday, 12 June 2026.

The Interim payment is based on 75% of the hours submitted, and the actual payment is the reconciling 25% with any EYPP and/or deprivation applicable applied.

The summer payments will be made the week ending:

  • Friday, 24 April 2026
  • Friday, 22 May 2026
  • Friday, 19 June 2026
  • Friday, 24 July 2026.

The first three split payments are calculated on the interim claim, if submitted. The fourth payment reconciles the actual claim with any EYPP and/or deprivation applicable.

If you make any significant changes to your claim, actual claim, and require your payments recalculated, please advise the team as soon as possible.

Early years funding newsletters

February. Size: 247KB File format: pdf.

October. Size: 235KB File format: pdf.

If you would like to receive a copy of this newsletter by email, please contact eyf@cambridgeshire.gov.uk.

Cambridgeshire childcare directory: Cambridgeshire Online | Results.

Early years Business and Governance team.

Families Information Service: Childcare and early learning | Cambridgeshire County Council.

Coram PACEY: Professional Association for Childcare and Early Years.

Department for Education - GOV.UK.

Ofsted - GOV.UK.

Childcare & Early Years Education | Best Start in Life, formerly Childcare Choices.

Statutory guidance for local authorities on the provision of early education and childcare - GOV.UK.

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Contact

Email: eyf@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Telephone: 01223 699 805