Free school meals and early years pupil premium

Early years pupil premium (EYPP)

The early years pupil premium is additional funding for early years settings to improve the education they provide for eligible children. An early years provider or setting is any organisation that offers education for children under 5 years old, including nurseries and childminders.

The early years setting must be registered with usl to deliver early education entitlements (EEE).

Children aged 9 months to 4 years must be accessing an early education entitlement (EEE) place to attract EYPP funding.

They do not have to take up their full early years entitlement to get EYPP.

Free school meals

Eligible children aged 2 to 4 years old are entitled to a free school meal if they attend a childcare provider that delivers their funded session for a minimum of 5 hours between 9am and 3pm.

How to apply

The eligibility criteria for both the early years pupil premium and free school meals are available on the government website.

Each application generates a code. You need to take the code to your childcare provider so that they can claim the funding.

If the application says it cannot confirm your eligibility, take evidence of your eligibility to your childcare provider, and they will let us know you are eligible. An example of evidence could be a benefits letter or statement.

If you would like support with completing the application, you can ask your childcare provider to do it for you.

If you have any queries about your free school meal or EYPP application, and your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old, email earlyeducation@birmingham.gov.uk

Check eligibility and apply for additional funding with a private nursery or childminder.

Check eligibility and apply for additional funding for a school nursery.

If you are a private nursery or childminder, check a child's eligibility.

If you are a school nursery and need to check a child's eligibility.

Page last updated: 28 January 2025