Capital Funding - Expansion of the Early Years Entitlements
Childcare Expansion Funding
As part of the government's transformative reforms to childcare, from September 2025 working parents will be able to access 30 hours of funded provision, for 38 weeks a year, from the term after their child is 9 months old to when they start school. As a Local Authority, Nottingham City Council has a statutory duty under The Childcare Act (2006) to ensure there are high quality, sufficient and sustainable childcare places. The Department for Education (DfE) has allocated funding to local authorities to support the local delivery of these reforms.
In Nottingham City, capital funding is being made available to schools and childcare providers through a grant allocation programme to support the creation of new or additional early years entitlements places. The DfE estimates that there will be a shortfall of approximately 1,570 places for children under the age of 3, based on the number of registered places currently available and population estimates.
Nottingham City Council received a capital allocation of £490,743 to support the expansion of provision for children under 3 with the introduction of the new early years entitlements and to support wraparound childcare for primary school aged children. National guidance suggested an approximate allocation split of 80% for Early Years Entitlements place creation and 20% for Wraparound Childcare place creation. As such, Nottingham City has allocated £423,900 capital available to support the expansion of the early years entitlements for children under 3 in identified priority wards.
For full information on this funding opportunity please refer to:
Completed applications and supporting documentation must be submitted by the deadline dates in the Guidance Notes to earlyyearsexpansion@nottinghamcity.gov.uk
Potential applicants are invited to attend a free, online Briefing Session on applying for Childcare Expansion Funding. For more information, please click here.
For any questions, please speak to your EYFS Support Worker in the first instance or email the above contact email.
