The Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE)
Information for childcare professionals about delivering the Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE) for children from the age of 9 months.
About this guide
This is information for childcare providers.
If you're a parent or carer, find information about childcare funding options and eligibility.
All local authorities and childcare providers have to deliver Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) in accordance with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education.
Provider agreement
All childcare providers in Brighton & Hove must sign up to our provider agreement to be funded to provide EYFE.
Download the current EYFE provider agreement.
About Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE)
All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 EYFE hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term-time only) or if the child attends all year round, 570 hours stretched over the year.
Some three and four year olds are eligible for up to 30 EYFE hours a week (term-time only) or up to 1140 hours stretched over the year. This is the ‘working parent entitlement’. Three and four year olds are eligible for EYFE hours from the term after their third birthday.
Some two year olds, whose families are in receipt of government support are eligible for 15 EYFE hours per week term-time only (or 570 stretched over the year), this is known as the ‘disadvantaged’ two year entitlement. Families can apply via Brighton and Hove City Council. These children are eligible for EYFE hours from the term after their second birthday.
| Birthday falls between | EYFE starts beginning of term on or after |
|---|---|
| 1 April and 31 August | 1 September (Autumn) |
| 1 September and 31 December | 1 January (Spring) |
| 1 January and 31 March | 1 April (Summer) |
The government is currently expanding the working parent entitlement; from April 2024 some two year olds are eligible for 15 EYFE hours term time only (570 stretched). From September 2024 this will extend to eligible children from the term after they are nine months old.
Information and updates about the EYFE expansion are available on the government’s Childcare Choices website
EYFE eligible birthdates - Academic year 2024 to 2025
| Autumn term | Spring term | Summer term | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 9 to 23 months old who have confirmed eligibility for funding | 1 September 2022 to 30 November 2023 | 1 December 2023 to 31 March 2024 | 1 April 2023 to 30 June 2024 |
| 2 year olds who have confirmed eligibility for funding | 1 September 2021 to 31 August 2022 | 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022 | 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023 |
| 3 year olds | 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021 | 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021 | 1 Apr 2021 to 31 March 2022 |
| 4 year olds | 1 September 2019 to 31 August 2020 | 1 January 2020 to 31 December 2020 | 1 Apr 2020 to 31 March 2021 |
Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria for all the entitlements can be found in Appendix 1 of the provider agreement.
Contact the Early Years Finance team
If you have any further questions send an email to earlyyearsfinance@brighton-hove.gov.uk.