Early Years

From 9 months old

From September 2025, If you live and work in England you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare support from the term after the child you care for turns 9 months old, until they start school. This means that children in care may be eligible for up to 30 hrs if the foster carers are employed outside of fostering.

From 2 years old

Two-year-old children in care are eligible for up to 15 hours of early education and childcare funded by the government each week for 38 weeks a year regardless if the foster carers are employed outside fostering. This can be taken with registered early years providers (including childminders), schools and nursery schools. The child becomes eligible the term after their 2^nd birthday (see table below):

🧒 Funded Early Learning & Childcare Eligibility (Age 2)

Child's Date of Birth	Funding Starts	Funding Period
1 January – 31 March	1 April	🌞 Summer
1 April – 31 August	1 September	🍂 Autumn
1 September – 31 December	1 January (next year)	❄️ Spring

From 3 years old - Universal Funding

All three and four-year-old children in England are currently entitled to 15 hours of early education and childcare funded by the government each week for 38 weeks a year (known as universal funding). In addition to the universal 15 hours of government funding, some families may be entitled to claim an extra 15 hours of childcare per week bringing the total to 30 hours.

Early Years Pupil Premium Funding

When the child turns three and they start receiving universal funding, they then also become eligible for Early Year Pupil Premium (EYPP)

To receive EYPP, the child must be 3 or 4 years old and be receiving government funded early education with an Early Years provider (including childminders) or school. The funding goes direct to the Early Years provider. The Early Years provider will use this funding to support and help improve outcomes for that child and foster carers are welcome to make suggestions.

How to get your free childcare

To access any of the childcare options above and check if you are eligible, first speak to your social worker and contact us at the Virtual School to process your free childcare codes.

Our Early Years lead will be able to support with any queries. You can phone: 01223 699883 or email: virtualschool@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

Applying for a primary school place

Most children start school full-time in the September after their fourth birthday. This means they’ll turn 5 during their first school year. Applications for school places are managed centrally by the Admissions team and follow a nationally agreed timescale.

If your child has had extra support in their nursery, pre-school or early years setting but does not have an Education, Health, and Care Plan, or is undergoing assessment, you will need to follow the primary school admissions process. If your child has an Education, Health, and Care (EHC) Plan, your SEN Casework Officer from the Statutory Assessment team (SAT) will contact you to explain the application process for your child.

To apply for a school place you will need to apply the year before they are due to start school. Applications open in September and the deadline is January. You can apply for a Cambridgeshire school place here: Apply for a school place | Cambridgeshire County Council

Preparing for the move to reception

Children make the best start at school when arrangements and plans are made in advance so that they are familiar with their new environment and staff at the school are prepared to receive them. Carers play a vital role in this process. With some planning and preparation the child you care for will make the change and settle into school.

All schools, including special schools, have a visiting programme for new starters which is usually held in the latter part of the summer term before the child you care for is due to start school. Visits help children to get used to their new surroundings, find out where the toilets are and find out how things will be organised for them.

Children in care, previously in care and children with additional needs might need specific arrangements to be planned in order to help them make a successful transition into Reception class. This might involve organising a separate visit instead of, or as well as, the general class visits. Every school has a Designated Teacher who’s role it is to support children in care and children previously in care. If the child you care for, has additional needs then the school’s SENDCo will need to be informed and can also support. You can find out who they are by contacting the school and they will be able to organise extra transition support.

Cambridgeshire & Peterborough Children’s Health have developed a toolkit, Getting Ready for Change, to support you and the child you care for through key transition stages. It consists of a questionnaire relating to child’s development and links you to support and advice to help them prepare for change. You can find it here: Children & Young People's Health Services

School Readiness

It’s important that children start to build independence skills as early as possible as this will help them prepare for their next stage of education. Giving children the opportunity to try new things in a safe and supportive environment will help them develop independence, resilience, and confidence. It is important that we ensure that the independence we are offering them is safe and suitable for their level of development.

The Characteristics of Effective Learning describe behaviours that children use to support them in their play and learning. By developing these behaviours children are starting on the journey to developing independence. Simple steps such as giving children time to carry out tasks for themselves, modelling how to achieve a task rather than completing it for them or using simple language for instructions can all support children’s journey to independence.

Please see the useful documents below on Supporting Independence and Supporting School Readiness to find out more about how to help the child you care for.

Dollywood free books for children in care

The Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a literacy scheme that the Virtual School funds for Cambridgeshire children in care.

All children in care aged between 0 and 5 who are registered on to the scheme will receive a book through the post every month for them to keep. All titles in the Imagination Library are published by Penguin Random House and carefully selected by a panel of experts in early childhood literacy and reading.

Please contact virtualschool@cambridgeshire.gov.uk to access the scheme.

Useful links:

Funded hours for eligible 2 year olds - Cambridgeshire County Council

Free childcare for eligible working parents for children aged from 9 months and above in foster care