Early Years Education Providers such as nurseries, pre-schools, schools and childminders can claim extra funding through the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) to help support children.

It’s for three and four year old’s whose parents are in receipt of certain qualifying benefits, or who are in care or have been adopted.

Providers can directly receive up to £300 extra per year to help with children’s development, learning and care. This could include additional training and support for staff working on specialised areas such as speech and language, investing in partnership working with colleagues in the area to learn from each other or resources to help raise the quality education.

Who can apply

You can apply for early years pupil premium if your child is aged 3 or 4 and you get 15 hours free childcare.

You must also get at least one of the following:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
• Universal Credit – your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get

You can also apply for if your child is currently being looked after by the local authority or if your child has left care through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.

How to apply

To apply for early years pupil premium speak to your childcare provider. They will give you a form you need to fill in and return to them.