Early Years funding for schools and academies
Free Early Education funding for 9 months, 2, 3 and 4-year olds (FEE 2,3,4)
Barnet funds the Free Early Education for all eligible 9 months, 2, 3 and 4-year olds in the maintained, private voluntary and independent (PVI) sectors, registered childminders and children’s centres.
The Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities from the Department for Education applies to the free entitlements for 9 months, two, three and four-year olds for both the universal and extended entitlement.
FEE providers will be paid monthly but will need to submit their estimates termly in line with the Department for Education’s ‘Early education and childcare – statutory guidance for local authorities’.
The offer
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The offer |
All three- and four-year-olds (the term after they turn 3) up to 15 hours a week or 30 hours for those eligible. Two-year-olds up to 15 hours a week for families receiving some additional forms of support or 30 hours for those eligible. Nine months to two-year-olds up to 30 hours for those eligible. |
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Length of offer |
38 weeks per financial year (570 or 1140 hours per annum) |
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Minimum hours per day |
No minimum session length (subject to the requirements of registration on the Ofsted Early Years Register) |
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Maximum hours per day |
No session to be longer than 10 hours |
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Number of providers |
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Times |
Not before 6am or after 8pm |
Important dates and information for the Free Early Education Funding
Free Early Education Funding for 9 months, 2, 3, and 4-year olds funding claims must be submitted via Early Years Provider Portal
If you require support with logging into the portal, please contact FIS (Customer service) on 0800 389 8312
If you have any Free Early Education queries, please continue to contact the Early Years Team - EarlyYears@Barnet.gov.uk
Free Early Years Education Funding Autumn Term 2025/ 2026
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Estimate submission |
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Headcount Submission |
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Adjustment submission |
9-March-2026- 9-March-2026 (1 Day) |
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FEE payment |
30 January 2026 |
Early Years Team Contact
2 Bristol Avenue
Colindale
London
NW9 4EW
PVI email: eyfunding@barnet.gov.uk
School email: eyschoolsfunding@barnet.gov.uk