EYPP
What is the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)?
The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is additional funding paid to early years providers to improve outcomes for disadvantaged children from 9 months upwards. Its purpose is to ensure that a child’s early learning, development and wellbeing are not limited by family income. The early years are a critical foundation for later education, health, employment, and life chances. From April 2026, the EYPP rate increased to £1.15 per hour.
Ensuring children eligible for EYPP are included in headcount
To enable an economic assessment for EYPP:
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Providers must enter the parent/carer details in the correct tab within the headcount task.
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The EY Funding Team then checks eligibility through a Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) online system.
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Parent/carer details must match exactly what is registered with the DWP (e.g., use “Rebecca” not “Becky”).
The Gloucestershire Virtual Schools team sends monthly registration details for Early Years Children in Care. Any eligible children not picked up through the automated process will be included in the end of ‑term‑ manual payment.
For adopted children not registered with Gloucestershire Virtual Schools, EYPP can be issued if parent/carers share the relevant information with their provider.
How to find out which children are in receipt of EYPP
You can identify eligible children by reviewing your termly payment breakdown statements in the Portal under “Funding Documents.”
Please note:
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EYPP is paid on the first 15 hours only for children aged 2 and under.
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For 3- and 4-year-olds, EYPP applies to up to 15 universal hours.
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The EYPP symbol appears next to each eligible child’s name within the headcount task:
= Eligible for EYPP.
How EYPP must be used
National guidance is clear that EYPP must be spent on evidence informed‑ approaches that directly improve outcomes for the individual children who attract the funding.
Providers must ensure that EYPP is not used as general setting funding. It must clearly and demonstrably benefit the child or children for whom it is awarded.
EYPP should be used to:
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Enhance the quality of practice through targeted staff training linked to the needs of eligible children.
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Provide tailored support, interventions, or key‑worker time for the individual children receiving EYPP.
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Invest in resources or approaches that are specifically chosen to support the development and progress of those children.
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Embed improvements through strong leadership, planning and reflective practice so that children’s outcomes improve.
Recording and evidencing EYPP use
Providers are strongly advised to record:
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the EYPP amount received for each eligible child.
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how EYPP has been allocated for each individual child.
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the measured impact of the EYPP spend on each child’s progress and development.
This evidence helps demonstrate effective use of public funding and supports Ofsted inspection discussions.
EYPP record templates:
Useful Resources: