ℹ️ We’ve collated this information based on publicly available data and will review this article regularly.
🎯 Overview of Entitlements
Manchester offers funded early education entitlements for children aged 9 months to 4 years. The following entitlements are available:
Age Group | Entitlement Type | Max Hours per Year | Max Hours per Week |
9-23 Month olds | Working Parent Entitlement | 1140 | 30 |
2-Year-Olds | Receiving additional government support | 570 | 15 |
2-Year-Olds | Working Parent Entitlement | 1140 | 30 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Universal Entitlement | 570 | 15 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Extended (Working Parent) | +570 | +15 |
👶 Eligibility & Types of Funding
Children can start using funding the term after they turn the relevant age. Here are the eligible date of birth ranges for the current and upcoming terms:
Term | 9 - 23 month olds | 2 year olds | 3 - 4 year olds | School eligible 4 year olds |
Autumn 2025 | 01/09/2023 to 30/11/2024 | 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2023 | 01/09/2021 to 31/08/2022 | 01/09/2020 to 31/08/2021 |
Spring 2026 | 01/01/2024 to 31/03/2025 | 01/01/2023 to 31/12/2023 | 01/09/2021 to 31/12/2022 | 01/01/2021 to 31/08/2021 |
Summer 2026 | 01/04/2024 to 30/06/2025 | 01/04/2023 to 31/03/2024 | 01/09/2021 to 31/03/2023 | 01/04/2021 to 31/08/2021 |
Eligibility & Application Process
Process depends on age and household income
Parents should use the Best Start in Life eligibility checker
For full eligibility criteria and links to apply, see our Eligibility article here
For 2 year olds receiving additional government support, see eligibility and application form on the Manchester website here
📝 How to Register for Funding
How to apply
Childminders delivering funded hours with tiney will be registered via tiney and approved by Manchester
Sign up with tiney and complete onboarding
Fill in a childminder agency registration form and tiney will process the funding application
Once approved, you will receive confirmation from tiney. You must not confirm any funded placements with parents until you have received this confirmation from tiney.
🏦 Funding Rates
Funding rates (effective April 2025)
Age Group | Entitlement Type | Base Hourly Rate |
9-23 Month olds | Working Parent Entitlement | £12.07 |
2-Year-Olds | Families receiving additional support | £8.72 |
2-Year-Olds | Working Parent Entitlement | £8.72 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Universal Entitlement | £5.42 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Extended (Working Parent) | £5.42 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Deprivation Supplements | £ variable based on eligibility |
All | EYPP (capped at 15 hours) | £1.00 |
📅 Term Dates & Key Dates
Term Dates and Funded Weeks
Term Dates and Funded Weeks
Term | Full term dates | Funded weeks (term time only) | Actual headcount dates |
Autumn 2025 | 01/09/2025 - 31/12/2025 | 13 | 01/09/2025 - 11/09/2025 |
Spring 2026 | 01/01/2026 - 31/03/2026 | 12 | 01/01/2026 - 12/01/2026 |
Summer 2026 | 01/04/2026 - 31/08/2026 | 13 | 01/04/2026 - 10/04/2026 |
Headcount Weeks and Payment Dates
Headcount Weeks and Payment Dates
Autumn term:
Actual headcount - 01/09/2025 - 11/09/2025
Payments are monthly with monthly amendment deadlines to change the payments
Date of payment | % of termly payment | Midterm deadline to be paid |
30/09/2025 | 25% | - |
17/10/2025 | 25% + midterm changes | 01/10/2025 |
14/11/2025 | 25% + midterm changes | 03/11/2025 |
31/12/2025 | 25% + midterm changes | 12/12/2025 |
Spring term:
Actual headcount - 01/01/2026 - 12/01/2026
Payments are monthly with monthly amendment deadlines to change the payments
Date of payment | % of termly payment | Midterm deadline to be paid |
30/01/2026 | 33.3% | - |
16/02/2026 | 33.3% + midterm changes | 02/02/2026 |
31/03/2026 | 33.3% + midterm changes | 12/03/2025 |
Summer term:
Actual headcount - 01/04/2026 - 10/04/2026
Payments are monthly with monthly amendment deadlines to change the payments
Date of payment | % of termly payment | Midterm deadline to be paid |
30/04/2026 | 25% | - |
15/05/2026 | 25% + midterm changes | 01/05/2026 |
15/06/2026 | 25% + midterm changes | 03/06/2026 |
31/07/2026 | 25% + midterm changes | 10/07/2026 |
📤 Headcount Submissions
Headcount submissions are required termly, for funding claims within each term. There are three main headcount types that can be completed each term.
Tiney will submit the headcount information on behalf of all tiney childminders in Manchester, using the contract and schedule information for all enrolled funded children.
We will contact providers before the headcount deadlines to confirm details of claims, and request any missing information (such as funding codes, parent National Insurance numbers, etc). All information is required in order for a claim to be processed for a child.
Payments will be made based on when the claims are submitted. If a contract is submitted after the headcount deadline, the child will be included on the next headcount task possible.
💷 Payments
Payments will be made based on which headcount tasks are completed, and the number of children claimed in them.
📚 Key Documents & Guidance
Parent declaration form: here
🔗 Contacts
If you have questions about funding in Manchester, please contact the tiney payments team via your app, or at payments@tiney.co, and we will coordinate with Manchester as necessary.