What is Early Years Funded Entitlement?
All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible to access up to 15 hours Universal Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) a week (up to a maximum of 570 hours per year)
At Forest Park Preparatory School eligible working parents can apply for EYFE for Working Families, providing access to:
- Up to 15 hours per week (or up to 570 hours annually) EYFE for Working Families of 3&4 year olds
- Up to 30 hours per week (or 1140 hours annually) EYFE for Working Families of 2 year olds
- Some 2 year olds can access a maximum of 15 hours of EYFE per week (or up to 570 hours per year) if their families meet specific criteria under the Local Authority (LA) Issued Free Childcare for 2 year olds.
| A child born on or between: | Will become eligible for 2 year old EYFE for Working Families* or 2 year old LA Issued EYFE** from the start of term beginning in: | Will become eligible for Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds and Extended EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* from the start of term beginning in: |
| 1 January and 31 March | April following their second birthday* | April following their third birthday |
| 1 April and 31 August | September following their second birthday* | September following their third birthday |
|
1 September and 31 December |
January following their second birthday* | January following their third birthday |
*Subject to approval of application at childcarechoices.gov.uk
**Subject to approval by their Local Authority.
You can find out more about the above entitlements, including eligibility criteria and how to apply (if required) by visiting HERE
Funded places and waitlist
A waitlist will be kept of any children who would like a funded place, with priority of places offered in the following order:
- Siblings of existing pupils
- Non-siblings, who are registered to attend
- Children of Alumni
- Non-siblings, who wish to attend another school setting for Reception.
- Full Time children
- Children who are attending for the whole all day sessions
- Funded only hours children
No child is guaranteed a place until the written contract has been completed and signed by all parties. Further, an Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) place is not guaranteed until completion of the Parental Contract for the Early Years Free Entitlement Form.
We ask for parents/carers to let us know as soon as possible if a place is no longer required prior to the child’s scheduled start date. If a pupil for whom a vacancy has been reserved, is withdrawn before the agreed starting date, the deposit will be forfeited.
All admissions to the setting will ensure fair access to educational opportunity for all and will comply with all equalities legislation.
Early Years Funded Entitlement at Forest Park
Forest Park is registered with Trafford Council to provide Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) hours under the following schemes:
- Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds
- EYFE for 2,3&4 year olds under the Working Families Entitlement
Parents/carers are advised to retain a copy of this policy for future reference and to review it in conjunction with our Fees Policy.
Pattern of delivery
At Forest Park, children can access their Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) in the following pattern:
| Day |
Opening Hours |
Times EYFE can be accessed | Maximum number of EYFE hours that can be claimed per day for children eligible for up to 15 hours |
Maximum number of EYFE hours that can be claimed per day for children eligible for up to 30 hours (3 and 4 year olds only) |
| Monday | 7.30-18.00 | 12:00 – 18:00 | 4 | 6 |
| Tuesday | 7.30-18.00 | 12:00 – 18:00 | 4 | 6 |
| Wednesday | 7.30-18.00 | 12:00 – 18:00 | 4 | 6 |
| Thursday | 7.30-18.00 | 12:00 – 18:00 | 4 | 6 |
| Friday | 7.30-18.00 | 12:00 – 18:00 | 4 | 6 |
| Saturday and Sunday | Closed | |||
Forest Park offers EYFE for 48 weeks per year and is open 48 weeks per year.
Stretch-funding
At Forest Park we offer Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) over 48 weeks per year. Children accessing over 48 weeks will be able to stretch their funding across the additional weeks of attendance at a lower number of hours claimed per week.
Children eligible for up to 15 hours per week can access up to 570 hours per year. At Forest Park we stretch this to 11.8 hours of funding a week over 48 weeks a year (this will be 23.75 hours of funding a week over 48 weeks for 2-4 year olds eligible for 30 hours of EYFE).
Accessing Early Years Funded Entitlement at Forest Park
The provision of Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) includes the delivery of early years education and childcare, and we deliver this in line with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Parents/carers will be required to complete a Parental Contract for the Early Years Free Entitlement Form before they begin accessing their EYFE sessions at Forest Park. A new copy will need to be completed if your personal details or your child’s EYFE hours change. Children are required to attend their EYFE sessions prior to and at headcount for Forest Park to claim EYFE funding from Trafford Council for them.
Forest Park’s recommended provision model is that children attend three days a week minimum. This way, they get the most out of the learning and activities we offer, and we can be more flexible in planning the day to meet their needs.
Should you choose to withdraw your child, Forest Park requires one term’s notice for paid hours. Notice periods are inclusive of holidays and periods of closure.
If your child misses EYFE sessions due to illness, holidays or any planned or unplanned absence, these hours will not be available at a later date. If Forest Park is unexpectedly closed during your child’s regularly scheduled EYFE sessions, due to illness or other unforeseen reason, Forest Park will offer these hours at an alternative time subject to availability and where reasonable.
Deposits
We charge a deposit of £500.00 upon registration. This will be refunded against your final Forest Park bill upon leaving the School as long as you have adhered to the terms and conditions of admission.
Additional Services
Forest Park provides extra-services for the most effective provision and support of all children. Government funding does not pay for all the things that make Forest Park a special place. From our outside environments, on-site chefs who prepare freshly cooked meals, as well as our Education specialists including Spanish, PE, Computing, Phonics, Numeracy, Literacy and Dance.
Additional service charges include charges for
- Food services, such as tea and snacks.
- Daily consumables.
- Education specialists including Spanish, PE, Computing, Phonics, Numeracy, Literacy and Dance.
Parents are free to provide their own food and consumables instead, and none of the above services must be provided as a condition of your child accessing their EYFE place. If you wish to provide your own, please be aware that: food must adhere to Forest Park’s healthy eating and allergy policy. If children attend their EYFE session without sufficient food or consumables (i.e food that does not adhere to our policy), then these will be provided by Forest Park at a cost to the parent.
For more information on charges for additional hours and services, please see our fee policy.
For children that are attending for the full day and in receipt of the 2, 3 & 4 yrs EYFE funding, parents have the option to pay for the additional services. You will be asked when you begin to use funding at Forest Park which option you would like to have in place. If at any point you would like to change your mind please provide us 4 weeks notice of the change. This will then take effect from the beginning of the next clear calendar month.
Please see below the charges per day for additional services for children who are accessing the 2, 3 & 4 year old EYFE funding hours.
Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds
| Additional services * | 6 hrs of funding used per day | 5 hrs of funding used per day | 4 hrs of funding used per day |
| Food consumables | 2.00 | 2.00 | 2.00 |
| Disposable consumables | 1.00 | 1.00 | 1.00 |
| Specialist education | 9.00 | 7.00 | 5.00 |
| Total cost per day for additional services | 12.00 | 10.00 | 8.00 |
*Charges for additional services between September 2025 & April 2026
Support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
Forest Park is welcoming of all children and will work with parents and carers to ensure the needs of their children are met, this is established during a pre entry meeting.To best support your child, Forest Park will assess their needs during their Taster Sessions and will consult with you about any needs you or Forest Park identify.
Targeted Setting Support
Should any additional needs be identified, support may be available from Trafford Local Authority via Targeted Setting Support. Forest Park will consult with parents and carers before seeking this support.
