Administering the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE)
Resources for childcare providers
The Early Years and Childcare Team support providers commissioned by Cheshire East to deliver the FEEE for two, three and four-year-olds.
Data collection and submission
Parental declaration form – 2, 3 and 4 year olds
Parents must complete the parental declaration form (MS Word 606, KB) before claiming the free entitlement for 2, 3 and 4 year olds.
Parents should sign the form each subsequent term under step 6 (continuation of free entitlement funding claim), confirming there are no changes to the claim for example the number of hours to be claimed remains the same. If any of the details change, including the child’s address, parents need to complete a new form.
Parents can split the funding between providers; providing the hours claimed do not exceed the permitted hours. Step 2 (parent/carer details) should be completed for children claiming up to 30 hours free childcare and/or Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
Step 4 obtains parental consent enabling settings to claim Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and the Disability Access Fund (DAF).
EYPP is available to improve teaching and learning facilities and resources to impact positively on an eligible child’s progress and development. This is an additional amount paid directly to the provider with the FEEE payment.
3 and 4 year old children receiving Disability Living Allowance and accessing the free entitlement are eligible for the Disability Access Fund (DAF). The purpose of DAF is to support providers to make reasonable adjustments and build the capacity of their setting to support children with disabilities.
Provider portal
To claim funding childcare providers are required to submit their data online, using Cheshire East’s Provider Portal. Prior to the start of the term providers submit each funded child’s data via the Portal to receive an interim payment, 70% of final payment paid prior to the start of term. During the term the funding data is maintained, adding new starters, amending the leaving date and funded weeks of leavers to receive the remaining 30% of the final payment at the end of the term. To submit your data online:
Provider portal
Additional FEEE documents
- Early Years Pupil Premium tracking grid (MS Word, 54KB)
- Early Years Census - section 3 guidance notes (MS Word, 70KB)
- Charging information for parents (MS Word, 58KB)
- Invoicing guidance (MS Word, 56KB)
- FEEE 2023-24 Eligible Birth Dates and Funded Weeks (MS Excel, 43KB)
- Payment remittance advice guidance (MS Word, 672KB)
- DocuSign Signing Guidance (PDF, 230KB)
- Provider Portal - Staff contact details guidance (MS Word, 572KB)
- Sufficiency submission guidance notes (MS Word, 171KB)
- Tax free childcare poster (PDF, 209KB)
- Privacy notice - how we use pupil information (MS Word, 49KB)
- Video showing how to complete the Provider Portal
- Video showing how to respond to 'Registered Interests'
- Important dates to remember for FEEE Autumn term 2023 (MS Excel, 51KB)
Data protection
Free early education and childcare for 2 year olds
Two year old children from families meeting a strict economic criteria, or children who are cared for, can apply for free early education and childcare.
Further information can be found on our free childcare for 2 year olds page, including leaflets for parents. Alternatively, parents can phone our Family Information Service on 0300 123 5033.
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