Early Education Partnerships Grant
Department for Education
What it funds
The Best Start in Life strategy emphasises the importance of improving quality in early years settings and enhancing alignment between early education provision and schools to drive better developmental outcomes and support social and emotional development and school readiness. In this strategy, we committed to: “…funding new partnerships between schools and local nurseries to strengthen transitions into school – so children feel confident, prepared and supported when they start school, and scho
Who can apply
To apply for year 1 funding, the proposed partnership must meet the following eligibility criteria: • all partner organisations must either be (a) a registered early years provider or (b) a school-based early years provider1 in England • all partnerships must contain a minimum of one primary school with a reception cohort and a minimum of one other type of early years provider (for example, a group-based provider, a school-based nursery, a maintained nursery school, a childminder). A partnership cannot solely be between a primary school and their own school-based nursery or any other which is managed by the school due to conflict of interest requirements • the partnership grant administrator must be a state-funded primary school. There is no limit to the number of partnerships a state-funded primary school may belong to but they can only be the partnership grant administrator for one partnership • if the partnership grant administrator has an overall Ofsted effectiveness rating below ‘good’, one or more key judgements rated below ‘good’ or any evaluation areas below ‘expected standard’, they will need to confirm that they can deliver partnership activities alongside activities to s
How to apply
The partnership grant administrator must complete the application form in the link provided on behalf of the purposed partnership.In the application form, the partnership grant administrator must:Confirm the partnership meets the eligibility criteria and agrees to the minimum requirementsProvide relevant details of all purposed partner organisations (including the number of children that will be reached by partnership)Answer 3 substantive questionsSubmit the application by 17th July 2026Further application guidance is available in the year 1 guidance linkhttps://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-education-partnerships-funding
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