Early Entitlement Updates - July 2025

Late Claims now open for Summer Term 2025

Providers can submit late claims for children who were not added to your initial headcount. Please ensure all eligibility codes are checked before allowing the child to take up a place, codes must have been received by 31^st March to claim funding in the summer term. Please return late claim form, along with the parental declaration. Please ensure all documents are fully completed. Deadline for late claims for the summer term is 30^th September.  

Under 2’s Age Criteria:

A child will be entitled to the funded hours from the term after the following conditions are satisfied:

• The child has attained the relevant age (Please see DOB criteria below)
• The child’s parent has a current positive determination of eligibility from HMRC.

The relevant dates (in relation to the age criterion) are as follows:

 2 Year Old Age Criteria:

A child will be entitled to the funded hours from the term after the following conditions are satisfied:

                (1) The child has attained the relevant age (Please see DOB criteria below)

                (2) The child’s parent has a current positive determination of eligibility from HMRC.

The relevant dates (in relation to the age criterion) are as follows:

 3&4 Year Old Ag Criteria:

All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to 570 hours a year over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year and up to 52 weeks of the year, from the relevant date, as set out below, until the child reaches compulsory school age (the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday).

Provider Agreement Updates – September 2025

Lewisham’s Provider Agreement for September 2025 is being updated to reflect the latest guidance issued on 1 April 2025.

The changes are part of the broader preparations for the expansion of funded childcare spaces coming into effect in September 2025, including the rollout of 30 hours of government-funded childcare for eligible working parents of children aged nine months and older.

It’s a good time to:

• Review the updated agreement and ensure compliance with new expectations
• Contact the Lewisham Early Entitlement team for tailored support or clarification

Reconfirmation of Working Parent Eligibility Code

Here’s a ready-to-use reminder message that you can send to parents ahead of the 31 August 2025 deadline:

📣 Important Reminder for Parents

To continue receiving funded childcare from September 2025, please reconfirm your eligibility code by Saturday, 31 August 2025.

✅ Reconfirmation is quick and easy — just log into your Childcare Account on GOV.UK
⏳ If you don’t reconfirm by the deadline, your code will become invalid and you may lose access to funded hours
📅 This applies to all working parents using 15 or 30 hours of funded childcare, including children aged 9 months to 4 years

Let’s make sure your child’s place is secure for the autumn term!