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Funded early education useful dates 2025 to 2026

Funded early education useful dates

Introduction of Monthly Payment Option for Early Years Funded Entitlements – September 2026

From September 2026, we will be introducing a monthly payment option for Early Years funded entitlements. This change is being implemented in line with the updated Early Years statutory requirements and aims to provide greater flexibility for providers.

Please read the guidance and payment schedule documents at the bottom of this page for more information. You can opt in here by 5 July 2026 Funded Early Education - Enquiry - Surrey County Council

Please note when opting in to monthly payments you will not receive a 60% estimate payment in advance.

If you are:

An Ofsted-registered group provider or school, or

An Ofsted or agency-registered childminder and you have registered with Surrey County Council to offer funded early education entitlements

you can find your key payment and submission dates below.

Funded periods

1 September to 31 December

1 January to 31 March

1 April to 31 August

Funded dates

Please see the PDF calendar available at the bottom of this page for the early years funded dates.

Final dates for submitting claims

From 1 September 2026 the 6-week grace period for late claims for the previous term will be removed

The new final deadline for submitting claims will be the Monday of the final funded week of each term:

Autumn term 2026 : Monday 14 December 2026

Spring term 2027: Monday 22 March 2027

Summer term 2027: Monday 19 July 2027

Estimate submissions

Providers on a monthly payment schedule must submit an estimate.
For Providers on a termly payment schedule, an estimate is optional,

The estimate submission windows for the 2026 to 2027 academic year are as follows:

Autumn Term estimate 2026: 1 June to 5 July 2026

Spring term estimate: 2 November to 6 December 2026

Summer term estimate: 2 February to 14 March 2027

These windows will always open the Monday after half term. This allows the Funded Early Education (FEE) team sufficient time to process estimates and make payment.

Find out more about submitting an estimate on Early Years and Education System (EYES) - Funding

Headcount submissions

All providers must submit a headcount every term.

The headcount submission windows for the 2026 to 2027 academic year are as follows:

Autumn Term 2026: 16 to 22 September 2026

Spring Term 2027: 16 to 22 January 2027

Summer Term 2026: 16 to 22 April 2027

Find out more about submitting a headcount on Early Years and Education System (EYES) - Funding

Estimate and Headcount payment dates

Check the Provider Agreement to see exactly what this means.

Estimate payment dates

These payment dates are for providers on a termly payment schedule only.

For information on monthly payments please see the payment schedule documents at the bottom of this page.

By 31 August for autumn

By 31 December for spring

By 31 March for summer

Headcount payment dates

By 10 October for autumn

By 10 February for spring

By 10 May for summer

Payments will only be made by these dates for those who have submitted a headcount by the published deadline.

Follow on payment dates

For more information on when you can submit claims outside of headcount see Early Years and Education System (EYES) - Funding

Any claims submitted after your headcount or mid term joiners will be paid according to the payment schedules at the bottom of this page.

Key reminders for providers

Please ensure you are aware of all the key dates for the upcoming year, including estimate and headcount submission windows.

It will not be possible to extend submission deadlines. Missing a deadline will result in late payment or no payment.

All dates are available in the Establishment Portal Calendar under "Key Dates" and are pre-populated for the academic year. Please see  Early Years and Education System (EYES) - Funding

A PDF calendar version of the key dates is also available at the bottom of this page to help you keep track of deadlines.

Files available to download

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