Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

The purpose of EYPP is to improve the educational outcomes of socio-economically disadvantaged children who are eligible for free early years entitlements in an early years setting.  

Local authorities are responsible for paying EYPP to early years settings. Most require a parent or carer to inform them if they think their child is eligible. Local authorities are responsible for checking eligibility and should use the eligibility checking service to do this.

If your child attends any of the following childcare settings they can claim this extra funding to support your child's needs in their setting:

• childminder
• childcare on domestic premises
• pre school/playgroup
• day nursery
• nursery class or sessions at a school
• nursery school.

Last updated : 12 March 2025

Children are eligible for EYPP if they receive at least one hour of free early years entitlements provision and their parent or carer receives one or more of the following benefits: 

• Income Support 
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance 
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance 
• support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999 
• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit 
• Child Tax Credit if the parent or carer is not also entitled to Working Tax Credit and has an annual gross income of less than £16,190 
• Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after a claimant stops qualifying for Working Tax Credit 
• Universal Credit, if the parent or carer’s annual net household income is less than £7,400, not including any benefits.

If the child was formerly looked after by a local authority in England or Wales through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order, they are also eligible.

Last updated : 12 March 2025

How do I apply? 

The funding, known as Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) will be provided directly by us and is available to children who meet the eligibility criteria.

Download the EYPP application form for pupil premium (.pdf Size: 392Kb)

You can hand this form to your childcare provider and we will let them know if your child is eligible for the extra funding, you do not need to do anything else.

Last updated : 12 March 2025

Use of EYPP funding

Settings should use EYPP alongside any other available funding streams or support to deliver interventions that improve outcomes for disadvantaged children. 

Early years settings should ensure EYPP funding is used to improve educational outcomes for disadvantaged children by spending on activities, staff training and resources that specifically impact educational outcomes for disadvantaged children. They should plan EYPP spending based on consideration of well-evidenced approaches such as professional development for staff, which may benefit all children while providing the greatest benefit to disadvantaged children.

Recommended spending approaches are set out in the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium. This offers practical, evidence-informed advice for setting leaders on maximising the use of EYPP in their context.

Early years settings should spend EYPP funding in full within the academic year for which it has been allocated. 

Visit the GOV.UK website to view the guidance.

Last updated : 12 March 2025