Annex E - Timelines and payment dates
Headcount timeline
| Term | Portal open | Portal close (23:59hr) |
Notes |
|
Autumn |
1 September 2025 |
27 October |
Children who start after 27 October 2025 CANNOT be added to the headcount. |
| Spring 2026 |
24 December 2025 |
9 February 2026 |
Exception, for this term only, due to DfE census submission: New children who are enrolled to start after the submission date and will start attending by Friday 27 February 2026 can be added to the headcount (which must still be submitted by the deadline date). Children who start on or after Monday 2 March 2026 CANNOT be added to the Spring 2026 headcount. |
| Summer 2026 |
13 April 2026 |
22 May 2026 |
Children who start after Friday 22 May 2026 CANNOT be added to the headcount |
Childminders to submit data for Estimate payment claims for all funded children (all cohorts)
| Term | Submit on or after | Submission deadline (23:59 hr) |
| Autumn 2025 | 7 July 2025 | 11 August 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 3 November 2025 | 8 December 2025 |
| Summer 2026 | 23 February 2026 | 16 March 2026 |
PVI group care additional data submission (new cohorts)
PVI group care providers to submit data for additional Estimate payments for new cohorts:
|
Data submission for New Cohorts Only |
Submission deadline 23:59hrs |
| Autumn 2025 | 15 September 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 12 January 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | 20 April 2026 |
Other submissions
PVI group care providers to submit data for additional Estimate payments for new cohorts:
| Activity | Submission deadline |
|
Actual Census Day |
15 January 2026 |
|
Census data to be submitted. This is a mandatory requirement for all FEEE providers |
31 January 2026 23:59hrs |
|
Evidence for Early Years Professional (EYP) or Qualified Teacher Status (QTS) Which must be submitted to qualify for the additional quality related supplement as from the Summer Term 2026 |
13 February2026 23:59hrs |
Payment schedule 2025/26 - PVI group care
Please note:
- All payment dates are week commencing
| Term |
Estimate payments For 2 Year Olds (TYF) and 3 and 4 Year Olds Universal and Extended
|
Additional Estimate payments for new cohorts For 9 to 23 month olds and 2 year olds Working Parent Entitlements |
Adjustment payment and EYPP payment (All Cohorts) |
| Autumn 2025 | 1 September 2025 | 26 September 2025 | 8 December 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 5 January 2026 | 23 January 2026 | 23 March 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | 13 April 2026 | 1 May 2026 | 6 July 2026 |
Payment schedule 2025/26 - Childminders
Please note:
- Estimate payments for childminders will be paid in two equal instalments
- All payment dates are week commencing
| Term | Estimate payment 1 (All cohorts) |
Estimate payment 2 |
Adjustment payment and EYPP payment (All cohorts) |
| Autumn 2025 | 1 September 2025 | 6 October 2025 | 8 December 2025 |
| Spring 2026 | 5 January 2026 | 2 February 2026 | 23 March 2026 |
| Summer 2026 | 13 April 2026 | 25 May 2026 | 6 July 2026 |