This page is for childcare providers who offer funded early education and want to understand how Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) works.
If you're a parent or carer, read the Early Years Pupil Premium for families.
What Early Years Pupil Premium is
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is extra funding from the government for early years providers. You must use the funding to improve the quality of education for eligible children accessing funded early education.
Who can claim EYPP
All early years providers offering funded early education can claim EYPP, including:
- Working Parents Entitlement (WPE)
- Early Learning for 2 year olds (previously known as Funded Early Education for Two year olds (FEET)
- Universal funded hours for 3 and 4 year olds
Children must meet the eligibility criteria.
Eligibility criteria
A child must be using funded early education (age 9 months to 4 years) and their parent or carer must receive one of these benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Jobseekers Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part 6 (VI) of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Universal Credit, with annual earned income of £7,400 or less after tax (not including benefits)
A child may also be eligible if they are looked after by the local authority or have left care through:
- adoption
- a special guardianship order
- a child arrangements order
How much you will be paid
From April 2026, EYPP is paid at a national rate of £1.15 per funded hour, for up to 15 hours a week.
If a child attends their full funded hours (15 hours a week for 38 weeks), the yearly amount is:
| Number of children | Amount each year |
|---|---|
| 1 child | £655.50 |
| 5 children | £3,277.50 |
| 10 children | £6,555 |
| 15 children | £9,832.50 |
Providers are paid pro rata if a child attends fewer hours.
How to apply for EYPP
Step 1: Tell parents and collect forms
Explain EYPP and ask parents to complete the EYPP section on page 4 of the funded entitlements declaration form.
The form can be updated at any point during the year.
Step 2: Check evidence if needed
If a parent indicates their child:
· has been adopted from care
· has left care under a special guardianship order
· has left care under a child arrangements order
You must see the relevant court order as evidence.
The Funded Early Education (FEE) Team will verify eligibility for children looked after by Surrey County Council and EYPP will be automatically applied. If you feel a child looked after by Surrey County Council has had their check missed, please contact the FEE team.
Please also contact the team to confirm eligibility for a child who is currently or previously looked after by another local authority. Send a signed parent declaration form and supporting evidence to fundedearlyeducation@surreycc.gov.uk.
The FEE team will manually add EYPP to applicable children for you. You will see this on your Live register and payment screens. If you hover over the EYPP icon next to the child on the register, you will see ‘EYPP override’. This means EYPP has been applied manually for that child.
Step 3: What happens next
Once funded hours claims are added, you can complete economic EYPP checks through the Establishment Portal.
Children confirmed as eligible will then appear in your EYPP funded list. Payments are made directly to you within that funded period.
Your role in promoting EYPP
You should promote EYPP to all parents and carers and encourage them to let you know if they think they might qualify. Many eligible families do not realise they can access EYPP. Registration is voluntary but you can make it easier for parents by:
· Promote EYPP on your website and social media channels
· Discuss EYPP during enrolment and home visits
· Use the declaration form as an opportunity to start conversations about eligibility
How you can spend EYPP
You can decide how to spend EYPP, but spending must be based on evidence of what improves children’s outcomes.
You could use EYPP to:
- pool funding to buy shared services such as an Early Years Graduate or Speech and Language Therapist
- buy services from teaching school alliances
- fund staff training or qualifications
- provide extra staff to support specific strategies
The Education Endowment Foundation provides:
These summarise research and effective strategies to help you decide how to use your funding.