Register to deliver funded childcare
If you would like to offer free education places, you must register with us.
Register to deliver funded childcare
What happens next?
- We will review your registration within five working days
- We will send you a contract and further guidance by email
- You must complete the contract, including your bank details, and return to us by email or post
- If approved, we will countersign the contract and confirm your registration by email
You should not start delivering funded places until you receive an approval email with the countersigned contract.
If we do not approve your application, we will tell you why. We may ask for further information.
Existing providers must contact us to update details about their management, banking or governance.
Guidance to deliver Early Years Entitlements
The Early Years Entitlement team are here to support providers delivering EYE in Lincolnshire. Please email them with any questions: EYE@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Monthly claims
If you are registered to deliver the Early Years Entitlements (EYE), you can access the EYE Hub. This is an online software that allows you to:
- check working parent eligibility codes
- Add child(ren) to your claim for funded childcare
- Maintain child and parent records to maximise use of Early Years Entitlements
Visit the Early Years Provider Hub
Each user will need a secure login and password.
Claims and payments
Providers are sent a claims and payment calendar. This confirms for providers:
- the dates during which providers can add/remove children from their claim
- the dates during which providers can make temporary adjustments to the previous claim
- the number of weeks payable each month and term
This is not a delivery calendar.
| Model | Delivery |
|---|---|
| Standard | Term time only (38 weeks per year) |
| Standard | Term time and most holidays (47.5 weeks per year) |
Delivery model
Providers must be clear and communicate to Parents' details about the days and times that they offer EYE, along with their services and charges.
If you cannot meet the needs of the parent, you should signpost parents to the Family Services Directory to find other providers.
Parent declaration forms
Providers must have a signed and completed parent declaration form in place for every child on their EYE claim. Providers should add this information to the EYE hub, including the parent details.
Funding terms
| Term | Dates |
|---|---|
| Spring | 1 January to 31 March |
| Summer | 1 April to 31 August |
| Autumn | 1 September to 31 December |
When funding can start
| When a child reaches the age of eligibility | When you can get your hours from |
|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January |
| 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April |
| 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September |
Returning to work or starting a new job
If parents plan to return to work following leave or start a new job, they can apply for their eligibility code 31 days before they start work. This may affect their planned date of return to work and that date they will apply for the code.
| Date of returning to work | When a child reaches the age of eligibility | When you can get your hours from |
|---|---|---|
| 1 October to 31 January | 1 September to 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January |
| 1 February to 30 April | 1 January to 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April |
| 1 May to 30 September | 1 April to 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September |
Additional charges
Providers can charge for additional hours purchased, meals and snacks if theses are offered in addition to the Early Years Entitlements. You can also charge for consumables such as nappies or sun cream and for services such as trips and musical tuition. Invoices must be clear and transparent.
Tax Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare is available for eligible working parents to save money on their childcare costs. Eligible working parents with children 11 or under can get up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards their childcare costs (or up to £4,000 for disabled children 16 or under).
Parents using the scheme open an online childcare account which they use to pay you directly for childcare. Payments work just as they do through an online bank account. Each payment is accompanied by a reference number for each child so you can identify their payments.
You will only be able to receive Tax-Free Childcare payments from your customers if you’ve signed up to Tax-Free Childcare. Sign up to Tax-Free Childcare if you’re a childcare provider - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Early Years Provider Training
There are 2 EYE training courses available:
- Using the EYE HUB
- Roles and Responsibilities of being an EYE Provider
These can be booked on Eventbrite. Please contact EYworkforceDevelopment@lincolnshire.gov.uk for the latest training brochure.
Early years provider short training videos
Providers can access a range of short guidance videos to help them deliver the Early Years Entitlements. These can be access on You Tube using the link below.
Useful links:
- Childcare Choices
- How to apply for working parent entitlements
- Apply here for a code for 2-year-old in receipt of government support
- Family Services Directory
- EYE Hub (provider portal)
- Childcare helpline
- Office for Standards in Education, Children’s Services and Skills (Ofsted)
- EYE Statutory Guidance
Training directory
Practitioners should attend training to keep up-to-date with legislation and develop their skills and knowledge.
Our training directory provides courses that focus on key themes and national initiatives. They aim to support the county workforce to improve outcomes for children.
To find out more about subsidised training on offer, email eyworkforcedevelopment@lincolnshire.gov.uk for a list of available courses, now booked through Eventbrite.
You can also follow us on Facebook to keep up-to-date with the latest training available.
If you would like advice, guidance and support from us complete the self-referral form.
Inclusion
As an early years provider, you must plan for every child’s care and learning requirements. You must address under achievement and overcome barriers for children where they exist.
To get help with this, your special educational needs coordinator can fill in our online form.
Inclusion support request form
To find out about inclusion funding, contact your local early years specialist teacher or read our funding guidance.
To find out about speech and language therapy for children read the first call information on the lincolnshire community health services website.
Further resources are available to download and on the Foundation Years website.
Working with professionals
Professionals that may support early years children with special educational needs and/or disability include:
- Community paediatrician
- Educational psychology team
- ESCO
- Health visitors
- Occupational therapy
- Physiotherapy
- Portage
- Speech and language therapy service
- the Virtual School
- the Working Together Team
Support with quality provision
We can support you by providing:
- early years and childcare Facebook page with information and links
- training directory for a range of training opportunities
- information about local childcare markets for prospective childcare providers
- support to register as a provider of early years education funding for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds
- support sessions and surgeries with specialist members of the EYCC team
- access to local briefings and networking opportunities
- specific identified support through our self-referral process
- audit tools to reflect on how you are meeting both the learning and development requirements and safeguarding and welfare requirements of the EYFS
Further support we can offer includes:
- targeted support for providers that receive an 'inadequate' or 'requires improvement' outcome
- support for all newly registered childcare providers up until the point of their first inspection
- consultancy for early years, schools and academies, which can be accessed through Edulincs
- information and guidance on how to create quality early years provision
- effective assessment guidance
Supported childcare funding
Supported Childcare Funding (SCF) is a short-term funding option for a maximum of 12 weeks, whereby a payment is made directly to the childcare provider. This funding is only available to support children and families where all other networks have previously been explored.
SCF applications will only be authorised where it is seen that childcare is necessary to support a wider plan and there is a clear exit strategy in place following the 12 weeks of support. It should not be used to top-up funded hours that the child is already entitled to.
Professionals working with a family can make a referral and this will need to be authorised by the lead advisor before a placement begins.
Make a supported childcare funding referral
Sufficiency of childcare within Lincolnshire
The Childcare Act (2006) places a duty on Local Authorities to take reasonable steps to secure sufficient childcare, so far as is reasonably practicable, for working parents, or parents who are studying or training for employment. This applies to children aged 0-14 (or up to 18 for disabled children).
This is set out within the early years and childcare statutory guidance for local authorities.
We monitor the marketplace to ensure there is sufficient, accessible and affordable provision available to support families. We also support providers to offer additional places where demand is identified. We review the position on an ongoing basis.
We endeavour to take reasonable steps to work with all stakeholders, to secure provision to meet the needs of local families.
It is important to support business expansions, relocations and new provision where needed. As well as encourage providers to take a sustainable business approach to place planning. This includes signposting providers to external resources to support them with future sustainability.
To discuss your new development or business expansion, please contact the early years and childcare team and request support, advice and guidance.
View our sufficiency report for Lincolnshire 2024, and the parental childcare survey engagement report.
Business management and financial sustainability
The resources on this page allow you to take steps to consider your business plans and forecast your finances for the future.
We are available to assist anyone thinking about necessary business decisions, to support business change and sustainability. This includes:
- out-of-school provision
- full-day care
- preschools
- childminders
- schools
Whatever stage you are at, if you would like advice, guidance and support from us complete the self-referral.
The early years and childcare team support all types of childcare with their business development. This includes out-of-school provision, full day care, preschools, childminders and schools.
If you are just opening a childcare provision, growing your existing business, or struggling to sustain your business. Advice, guidance and bespoke support is available from Early Years Childcare. Please complete a self-referral.
Below is a list of tools that might help you develop and ensure sustainability. If you would like any of them, please email: childcaresufficiency@lincolnshire.gov.uk
Business health tool kit
A self-reflective tool, designed to support a childcare provider's business by identifying their strengths and weaknesses. This tool is available in Excel format.
Cash flow template
A basic template with guidance on completing a cash flow. This template is available in Excel format.
Occupancy calculator and breakeven calculator
Finding the point at which your income and expenditure match is essential to business management. It will allow you to identify trends and take action if occupancy starts to impact sustainability. Available upon request, occupancy calculator in Excel format, a break-even Calculator in Excel and a guidance document in PDF.
Business plan template
If you are opening or growing your business, you will need a business plan. The template and guidance will support you develop your business plan. These are available in a Word and PDF format.
Marketing
Marketing your setting is essential for growth and sustainability. Look at the bite-sized tutorial on marketing you’re setting for some inspiration. In addition, we have a marketing plan template in Word format. Marketing your childcare business
Local and national resources
- LCC business and consumer advice
- Business Lincolnshire
- Business Planning Zone
Free resources for business planning to support business sustainability from the DfE Foundation Years website - NDNA Early Years Business Zone
Free resource for pre-schools and nurseries. It brings together good practice in business planning and tools and resources to provide specialist support. - PACEY Business Smart for Childminders
Supports new and established childminders to assess their business sustainability. Looks at whether they could expand their provision of funded childcare.