EYFS: funding entitlements for 2025-26

Get to grips with the funding you'll receive for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), including the new entitlements for children aged between 9 months and 2 years. Understand the difference between universal and additional entitlements when it comes to the early years national funding formula (EYNFF).

Updated
on 25 April 2025
See updates
School types: AllSchool phases: Nursery, PrimaryRef: 31916
Contents
  1. What's the early years national funding formula (EYNFF)? 
  2. How your funding is allocated
  3. SEN inclusion fund (SENIF) 
  4. Maintained nursery school supplementary funding
  5. Disability access fund (DAF) 
  6. The early years pupil premium (EYPP)

This article is based on the DfE's operational guide for local authority (LA) funding of Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) providers for the 2025-26 financial year.

What's the early years national funding formula (EYNFF)? 

The EYNFF sets the hourly funding rates that each LA is paid to deliver the universal and additional entitlements for children aged between 9 months and 4 years.

The early years entitlements for 2025-26 are:

  • 15 hours for eligible working parents of children from 9 months to 2 years old (increasing to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
  • 15 hours for eligible working parents of 2-year-old children (increasing to 30 hours from 1 September 2025)
  • 15 hours for families of 2-year-olds receiving additional support (formerly known as the 2-year-old disadvantaged entitlement)
  • 15 hours for all 3 and 4 year-olds
  • 15 hours for eligible working parents of 3 and 4 year-olds

How