The Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE)

About this guide

This is information for childcare providers.

If you're a parent or carer, find information about childcare funding options and eligibility.

All local authorities and childcare providers have to deliver Early Years Free Entitlement (EYFE) in accordance with statutory guidance issued by the Department for Education.

Provider agreement

All childcare providers in Brighton & Hove must sign up to our provider agreement to be funded to provide EYFE.

View the current EYFE provider agreement.

About Early Years Free Entitlements (EYFE)

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 EYFE hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term-time only) or if the child attends all year round, 570 hours stretched over the year.

Some 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for up to 30 EYFE hours a week (term-time only) or up to 1,140 hours stretched over the year. This is the ‘working parent entitlement’. Three and 4 year olds are eligible for EYFE hours from the term after their third birthday.

Younger children (from the age of 9 months) can also access the 30 hour working parent entitlement if their parent or parents are working and meet the government’s eligibility criteria. 

Go to the Childcare Choices website for more information. 

Some 2 year olds, whose families are in receipt of government support are eligible for 15 EYFE hours per week term-time only (or 570 stretched over the year), this is known as the ‘disadvantaged’ 2 year entitlement.

Families can apply for a place. These children are eligible for EYFE hours from the term after their second birthday.

Eligible birthday dates

Autumn

EYFE starts at the beginning of term on or after 1 September if the:

• child's birthday falls on or between 1 April and 31 August
• child turns 9 months on or between 1 April and 31 August

Spring

EYFE starts at the beginning of term on or after 1 January if the:

• child's birthday falls on or between 1 September and 31 December
• child turns 9 months on or between 1 September and 31 December

Summer

EYFE starts at the beginning of term on or after 1 April if the:

• child's birthday falls on or between 1 January and 31 March
• child turns 9 months on or between 1 January and 31 March

Information and updates about the EYFE expansion are available on the government’s Childcare Choices website

Academic year 2025 to 2026 eligible birth dates

Starting in in the autumn term (September 2025):

• 9 to 23 months, born between 1 September 2023 to 30 November 2024 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 2 year olds, born between 1 September 2022 to 31 August 2023 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 3 year olds, born between 1 September 2021 to 30 August 2022
• 4 year olds, born between 1 September 2020 to 31 August 2021

Starting in the spring term (January 2026):

• 9 to 23 months, born between 1 January 2024 to 31 March 2025 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 2 year olds, born between 1 January 2023 to 31 December 2023 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 3 year olds, born between 1 January 2022 to 31 December 2022
• 4 year olds, born between 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2021

Starting in the summer term (April 2026):

• 9 to 23 months, born between 1 April 2024 to 30 June 2025 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 2 year olds, born between 1 April 2023 to 31 March 2024 - who have confirmed eligibility for EYFE funding
• 3 year olds, born between 1 April 2022 to 31 March 2023
• 4 year olds, born between 1 April 2021 to 31 March 2022

Detailed information regarding eligibility criteria for all the entitlements can be found in Appendix 1 of the provider agreement.

Contact the Early Years Finance team