ℹ️ We’ve collated this information based on publicly available data and will review this article regularly.
🎯 Overview of Entitlements
Hampshire 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 |
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 |
Autumn 2026 | 01/09/2024 to 31/11/2025 | 01/09/2023 to 31/08/2024 | 01/09/2022 to 31/08/2023 | 01/09/2021 to 31/08/2022 |
Spring 2027 | 01/01/2025 to 31/03/2026 | 01/01/2024 to 31/12/2024 | 01/09/2022 to 31/12/2023 | 01/01/2022 to 31/08/2022 |
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 eligibility portal
📝 How to Register for Funding
How to apply
Tiney have an agreement with your LA Hampshire where we will process your funding claims for you, however they require you to complete the registration form to get set up for funding. Apply at Next Steps to promote your business and to offer Early Years Education (EYE) funding
🏦 Funding Rates
Funding rates (effective April 2026)
Age Group | Entitlement Type | Base Hourly Rate |
9-23 Month olds | Working Parent Entitlement | £11.12 |
2-Year-Olds | Disadvantaged 2 year old funding | £8.14 |
2-Year-Olds | Working Parent Entitlement | £8.14 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Universal Entitlement | £6.09 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Extended (Working Parent) | £6.09 |
3 & 4-Year-Olds | Deprivation Supplements | £ variable based on eligibility |
All | EYPP (capped at 15 hours) | £1.15 |
📅 Term Dates & Key Dates
Term dates for Hampshire can be found here
Term Dates and Funded Weeks
Term Dates and Funded Weeks
Term | Full term dates | Funded Weeks (Term-Time Only) | Funded Weeks (Stretched) |
Autumn 2025 | 01/09/2025 - 31/12/2025 | 14 | 17 |
Spring 2026 | 01/01/2026 - 31/03/2026 | 12 | 13 |
Summer 2026 | 01/04/2026 - 31/08/2026 | 12 | 22 |
Headcount Weeks and Payment Dates
Headcount Weeks and Payment Dates
Term | Headcount 1 | Headcount 2 | Headcount 3 |
Autumn 2025 | 01/09/2025 - 10/09/2025 | 04/10/2025 - 30/10/2025 | - |
Spring 2026 | 02/01/2026 - 09/01/2026 | 09/02/2026 - 27/02/2026 | - |
Summer 2026 | 02/03/2026 - 12/03/2026 | 01/06/2026 - 14/06/2026 | 02/07/2026 - 31/07/2026 |
Child attendance is required. Children should attend for their full funded hours during the funding return period unless they are ill or on holiday.
Headcounts are twice a term (three time in Summer). These need to be completed within the deadlines to receive the monthly payments
Contact the LA for queries. If you have questions about children leaving, changes to claims, or monthly payments, email childcare@hants.gov.uk
Term | Payment date | % of termly payment |
Autumn 2025 | 30/09/2025 | 25% |
Autumn 2025 | 31/10/2025 | 25% |
Autumn 2025 | 30/11/2025 | 25% |
Autumn 2025 | 31/12/2025 | 25% +/- adjustments |
Spring 2026 | 31/01/2026 | 33% |
Spring 2026 | 28/02/2026 | 33% |
Spring 2026 | 31/03/2026 | 34% +/- adjustments |
Summer 2026 | 30/04/2026 | 20% |
Summer 2026 | 29/05/2026 | 20% |
Summer 2026 | 30/06/2026 | 20% |
Summer 2026 | 31/07/2026 | 20% +/- adjustments (June task) |
Summer 2026 | 28/08/2026 | 20% +/- adjustments (July task) |
📤 Headcount Submissions/Funding return
Headcount submissions are required termly. There are two main headcount types each term and a third one in Summer term.
💷 Payments
Payments will be made based on which funding return tasks are completed, and the number of children claimed in them.
📚 Key Documents & Guidance
Parent declaration form: DfE-ParentalDeclarationForm-2025-2026 (1).docx
🔗 Links & Contacts
Contact type | Email Address |
Link |