The purpose of Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is to improve the educational outcomes of socio-economically disadvantaged children who are eligible for funded early years entitlements in an early years setting.
Eligibility
Children are eligible for EYPP if they receive at least one hour of free early years entitlements provision and their parent or carer receives one or more of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
- Universal Credit, if the parent or carer’s annual net household income is less than £7,400, not including any benefits
Looked after children
A child who is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales and receives at least one hour of free early years entitlement provision is also eligible for EYPP.
For these children, local authorities are required to pay EYPP for the full 570 hours per year, regardless of the number of hours of free early years entitlements the child receives.
If the child was formerly looked after by a local authority in England or Wales through adoption, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order, they are also eligible.
Entitlement per age group
| Age | EYPP Entitlement |
|---|---|
| 9 months to 2 years | Payable on the working parent entitlement |
| 2 years | Payable on either the entitlement for families in receipt of additional support or the working parent entitlement. Should be paid against the former first, if the child is eligible. |
| 3 and 4 years | Payable on the universal 15 hours’ entitlement only |
EYPP guide for local authorities
Early Years Pupil Premium Guide for Local Authorities states that Early Years settings “should plan (EYPP) spending based on consideration of well-evidenced approaches such as professional development for staff, which may benefit all children while providing the greatest benefit to disadvantaged children”.
Recommended spending approaches are set out in the Education Endowment Foundation (EEF) Guide to the Early Years Pupil Premium with an emphasis on a ‘Balanced Approach’. The EEF also have the Early Years Evidence Store.
By combining research with your knowledge of children and your community, you can develop effective, evidence-informed practice. Above all every EYPP investment should be purposeful, targeted, informed, and directly contribute to improving outcomes for socio-economically disadvantaged children.