Funding for 3 and 4 year olds

Three- and Four-Year-Old Children (universal entitlement).

Access to a funded place for three- and four-year-old children is universal and is available from the start of the next funding period that begins following their 3rd birthday.

Three- and Four-Year-Old Children of Working Parents (extended entitlement)

From September 2017, the DfE rolled out a new policy of extended entitlement of up to 30 hours funded childcare for eligible children aged three and four. A child is eligible from the funding period that begins following their 3rd birthday if the child’s parent(s) meets the eligibility criteria set out below:

the parent (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the funded childcare to enable them to work
the parent of the child (and their partner where applicable) should also be in qualifying paid work. Each parent or the single parent in a lone parent household will need to expect to earn the equivalent of 16 hours at the national living wage or their national minimum wage rate over the forthcoming quarter;
where one or both parents are in receipt of benefits in connection with sickness or parenting, they are treated as though they are in paid work;
where one parent (in a couple household) is in receipt or could be entitled to be in receipt of specific benefits related to caring, incapacity for work or limited capability for work that they are treated as though they are in paid work;
where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’, (i.e., they are newly self-employed), they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months to qualify for the extended entitlement.
If a child is in Foster Care.
If either or both parents’ income exceeds £100,000, they will not be eligible for the extended entitlement.

Child’s birthday falls their funded place begins

1 January - 31 March

The start of the funding period beginning on or following 1 April after the child's birthday (Summer)

1 April - 31 August

The start of the funding period beginning on or following 1 September after the child's birthday (Autumn)

1 September - 31 December

The start of the funding period beginning on or following 1 January after the child's birthday (Spring).

Children who are aged 4 and are a Summer Term born child and are choosing to defer or delay their place in Reception Class, can receive up to an extra year’s Early Education funding. Please contact the Early Years Funding Team (EYFunding@durham.gov.uk or 03000 262789) for further details.