Early Years Funding 2026-27 - outcome of consultation and final proposals

December 8, 2025 Approved View on council website
Full council record
Content

RESOLVED:

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to pass all the increase on 3&4
year old funding through the base rate for universal and extended
hours.
 

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to increase the pass through to
providers to 97% of total budget for 3-and-4-year-old funding which
will be paid to providers with 3% retained centrally.
 

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to continue to pass through 97% of
the total budget for under 2’s and 2-year-old funding which
will be paid to providers and with 3% retained
centrally.
 

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to continue the deprivation
supplement for 3&4-year-olds, as set out in the DfE
guidance.
 

•        
That Schools Forum did not agree with the introduction of a
deprivation supplement for under 2’s and 2 year old working
and disadvantaged, based on the existing 3&4-year-olds funding
rate.
 

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to increase the existing SENIF
hourly rate by £2.00, resulting in the new hourly rate of
£12.00 for providers eligible for the funding.
 

•        
That Schools Forum agreed to continue the current
distribution of the ring fenced part of the Maintained Nursery
Schools grant in order to fund 5% based on numbers of children from
Income Deprivation Affecting Children Index (IDACI) 30% postcodes
and the remainder on January census hours.

 

Supporting Documents

Early Years Funding 2026-27 - outcome of consultation and final proposals.pdf

Details

OutcomeRecommendations Approved
Decision date8 Dec 2025