Enhancing Education for Disadvantaged 3- & 4-Year-Olds
If your child is aged 3 or 4 and meets the eligibility criteria, they could receive up to £342 per year* in additional support through the Early Years Pupil Premium (‘EYPP’). This scheme aims to provide equal opportunities in early years education for children who are disadvantaged in various ways.
What is the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)?
The Early Years Pupil Premium is a UK Government initiative that offers extra funding to early years providers for the benefit of 3- and 4-year-olds from low-income families and those from other disadvantaged backgrounds. This funding is supplementary to the standard financial assistance available for children of this age.
How is the EYPP Funding Utilised?
The primary aim of EYPP funding is to bridge the developmental and school readiness gap between children from low-income families and their more affluent peers. Early years providers will utilise these funds to offer additional support and resources that enhance the learning and development of the disadvantaged children in their care. The funding may be allocated for individual children or pooled to assist a group of eligible children with similar needs.
Providers may employ the funding in various ways to support these children. Examples include:
- Hiring additional staff for one-to-one support;
- Covering extra hours for existing staff dedicated to helping eligible children;
- Providing extra resources (such as books, loan libraries, and specific equipment) to enrich learning;
- Organising additional activities or outings to expand children’s experiences where beneficial;
- Supporting children with additional needs or disabilities;
- Offering improved training and professional development to staff involved with these children;
- Assisting children as they transition to school;
- Conducting home visits, where understanding the child’s home environment may help with their adjustment to the childcare setting;
- Providing information resources (such as leaflets, diagrams, or videos) for the parents of supported children.
Early years providers must demonstrate that the extra support has been appropriately utilised for the benefit of the intended child(ren). This will be assessed by Ofsted during their inspections.
How is the EYPP Funding Distributed?
The EYPP funding is distributed by local authorities directly to early years providers such as nurseries, pre-schools, and childminders. This funding is allocated on behalf of eligible children and can only be granted to effective providers registered with Ofsted. Notably, if a child transfers to a different early years provider, the funding will continue to follow them, provided that the new provider is also eligible.
Eligibility Requirements for EYPP Funding
To qualify for the EYPP funding, a child must meet specific criteria:
- The child should be aged 3 or 4;
- The provider must be an Ofsted-registered early years provider;
- The family must be receiving at least one of a list of specified benefits or tax credits, or must have a low income or …
- Alternatively, the child may be in the care of a local authority in England or Wales, or have exited that care via an Adoption Order, Special Guardianship Order, or Child Arrangements Order.
Eligibility must be reassessed annually to ensure the criteria continue to be met.
How to Apply for the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
After verifying eligibility, families or guardians can either reach out to their local authority or consult an eligible childcare provider. (If you are in Streatham, contact Little Cedars Nursery using one of the buttons below.) In either case, inquire about the EYPP funding and the application process. You will be guided through the necessary steps, including any documentation required. Please note that the approval process may take some time, so patience is recommended. Once the application is approved, the provider will commence using the EYPP funding to deliver additional support and resources to the child.
In Summary:
The EYPP plays a vital role in providing targeted assistance to disadvantaged children, contributing to closing the gap in learning, development, and school readiness.