As per the provider agreement for funding free places for 2, 3 and 4-year-olds, providers should be clear and communicate to parents details about the days, times and weeks they offer free places, along with their services and charges.
Providers delivering a term time only offer
For providers claiming funding over 38 weeks (often referred to as term time only offer), the council suggests the following weeks per term. Usually there are 195 days/39 weeks per academic year with 5 inset days/1 week (not funded).
For providers delivering a term time only offer, the maximum number of weeks to claim is 38.
Therefore, it is important that providers put plans in place for additional days or week.
For example, but not limited to, charging for additional weeks over and above 38 or open for 38 weeks only.
| Term dates | Estimated number of weeks per term |
|---|---|
| Summer term | Usually 12 weeks |
| Autumn term | Usually 14 weeks |
| Spring term | Usually 12 weeks |
Providers offering term time only provision must make allowance for INSET days during school term dates to make sure they do not exceed the maximum allocation.
Providers delivering a stretched offer
For providers offering a stretched offer, where fewer funded hours per week are delivered across more than 38 weeks of the year, the total annual allocation of 570 universal hours and 570 hours extended hours (if eligible), is divided by the providers operating week.
Weeks when providers are closed cannot be used to calculate a stretched free entitlement offer.
Calculate your stretched offer
For providers offering a stretched offer, the number of funded weeks per term will be dependent on when your setting is open. You will need to calculate the number of weeks you are open in each term. An example is listed below:
| Term dates | Maximum number of weeks to claim per term |
|---|---|
| Summer - 1 April to 31 August | Usually 22 |
| Autumn - 1 September to 31 December | Usually 17 |
| Spring - 1 January to 31 March | Usually 13 |
| Total | 52 weeks |
You must make sure that hours claimed, across all providers, do not exceed statutory limits if:
- a child attends more than 1 provider or has moved provider
- either provider stretches funding over more than 38 weeks
The statutory limits are:
- 570 hours for the universal entitlement
- 1140 hours for the 30 hours entitlement
Contact the Early Years Team to check a child’s remaining funded hours.