Next Term – Autumn 2026

Eligible Date of Birth ranges for the term

9 month + olds – Children born between 1st September 2024 – 30th November 2025

2 year olds – Children born between 1st September 2023 – 31st August 2024

3 and 4 year olds – Children born between 1st September 2021 – 31st August 2023

Claim period and full entitlement

Funding information for Schools 

Schools are funded in termly blocks rather than actual weeks attended.

This is to ensure the full 38 weeks funding is received each academic year regardless of when inset days are taken. Please ensure standard weeks are entered on the Portal when claiming a full term.

The Funding Block for Autumn 2026 is 14 weeks.

Please Note: the correct number of weeks should be entered for late starters and early leavers.

If you are offering the funded hours (2 year old funding additional support or 3&4 year old universal entitlement) to eligible children, you should claim a maximum of:

• 15 hours / week x 14 weeks = 210 hours

If you are offering the expanded entitlement (9 month old funding or 2 year old funding working families) or extended entitlement (3&4 year old funding working families) to eligible children, you should claim a maximum of:

• 30 hours / week x 14 weeks = 420 hours

Funding Rates

The rates that funding will be paid at can be found on the Forms and Guidance section.

Key deadlines and payment dates

Statutory Compliance

In order to receive funding you must abide by the Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance and the SMBC Provider Agreement.

For information on the claiming process for this term please click here.