Next Term – Spring 2027
Eligible Date of Birth ranges for the term
9 month + olds – Children born between 1st January 2025 – 31st March 2026
2 year olds – Children born between 1st January 2024 – 31st December 2024
3 and 4 year olds – Children born between 1st January 2022 – 31st December 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 Spring 2027 is 11 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 11 weeks = 165 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 11 weeks = 330 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
| Task/Payment | Deadline/Date |
|---|---|
| Spring Term available on Provider Portal | Friday 27th November 2026 |
| Estimate Deadline for Monthly Payments | Wednesday 9th December 2026 |
| HMRC Eligibility Code Parent Application Deadline | Thursday 31st December 2026 |
| Estimate Deadline for 75% Advance Payment | Wednesday 6th January 2027 |
| 75% Advance Payments Received | Wednesday 20th January 2027 |
| Headcount Day | Thursday 21st January 2027 |
| Headcount Deadline | Friday 29th January 2027 |
| Summer Term Information Published | Week commencing 15th February 2027 |
| Late Advance Payments Received | Wednesday 17th February 2027 |
| Portal closes for Spring Term | Friday 5th March 2027 |
| Early Years Census Local Authority Deadline | Friday 5th March 2027 |
| Headcount Payments Received | Wednesday 24th March 2027 |
| Late Starter Payments Received | Wednesday 7th April 2027 |
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.