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    General

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    Kinship Care

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    Early Years Funding

    Pupil Premium Plus Funding – From Reception Year

    Pupil Premium Plus (PP+) is additional funding provided to schools to help support the education of children who are previously looked after.  Children in kinship care may receive PP+ if they are also a previously looked after child. (For more information please look at our early years PLAC section.) This funding is designed to help close the attainment gap and ensure that previously looked after children have the best possible opportunities to succeed in school. The decision on use of PP+ spending sits with the school and it must be focused on education; however, the views of parents/carers should be considered.

    Once a school is ‘satisfied’ with the child’s status and they qualify as PLAC, they can amend their school census record. Ultimately, a headteacher takes responsibility for a school census, registers and DfE returns. PLAC status must be recorded on schools’ Autumn (October) Census in order to receive pupil premium plus (PP+) funding for the following financial year. Each child recorded as PLAC on the Autumn Census currently generates £2690 (2026-2027).
     

    Early Years Pupil Premium Funding – Preschools/Nurseries/Childminders
    The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) aims to support early years settings in narrowing the achievement gap between children from potentially vulnerable groups, including previously looked after children living under Adoption Orders, Child Arrangements Orders or Special Guardianship Orders, and their peers. Its purpose is to enhance children's progress through focused and strategic interventions and support, encouraging practitioners to give particular attention to their development.

    Children aged 3 and 4 who are previously looked after and in kinship care arrangements under a Special Guardianship Order or Child Arrangements Order may be eligible for EYPP. Settings should work with parents and guardians to identify eligible children and claim the funding. Please see our Early Years PLAC section for further information.

    Early Years Funded Hours – Preschools/Nurseries/Childminders
    Early Years funded hours are government-funded hours for children to attend early years education (preschools, nurseries or childminders) before they begin formal schooling. Depending on the child's age and family circumstances, different amounts of funded childcare are available.

    Children in kinship care are not automatically entitled to additional funded hours because of their legal status. However, they may be eligible through the disadvantaged 2-year-old offer, if they have an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP), receive Disability Living Allowance, or meet other eligibility criteria. All children are entitled to the universal 15 hours of funded early education from the term after their third birthday, with some families eligible for up to 30 hours through the working parent entitlement.

    • All 3 and 4 year olds, including children in kinship care, are entitled to 15 hours per week of universal funded early education for 38 weeks of the year.
    • Eligible 3 and 4 year olds may receive an additional 15 hours per week (30 hours in total) if they meet the working parent eligibility criteria.
    • Children aged 2 who have been adopted from care are entitled to a funded early education place, regardless of family income, through the disadvantaged 2-year-old entitlement.

    Term time hours are calculated on the child attending for 38 weeks per year.