Online headcount and provider portal
Log in to the provider portal
Access the provider portal, submit details of your childcare service to the Family Information Service and Early Education Funding claims for children aged 9 months+.
Register for access to the provider portal
If you have not yet registered for access to the portal please contact the team via email at fee234@lancashire.gov.uk to request a username and password which will then be emailed to you.
Guidance notes and support
Please see the latest guidance notes which will help you to complete an online headcount and supplementary headcount claim. The guidance notes are the first place you should look for help with completing the claim.
If you have any issues logging into the online portal or any technical issues with the online claim process then please email fee234@lancashire.gov.uk.
Headcount dates and deadlines
| Term | Headcount Week | Submission Deadline Dates |
|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 30 September - 6 October 2024 | 6 October 2024 |
| Spring | 13 January - 19 January 2025 | 19 January 2025 |
| Summer | 12 May - 18 May 2025 | 18 May 2025 |
If you do not submit your headcount claim by the deadline your payment will be significantly delayed.
Supplementary claims
As per clause 14.17 of the EEF Funding Agreement, providers can submit a supplementary claim for the following children:
- Three and four year old children who take up a universal place after the headcount week;
- Disadvantaged two year old children who take up a place after the headcount week;
- Children who take up working families entitlement after the headcount week providing the child's parent was found to be eligible by HMRC prior to the beginning of the term the child became age eligible;
- Eligible children who increase their hours of attendance after the headcount week.
Payment dates
Providers will have the option of receiving 12 monthly payments or 1 interim payment in the first month of each term followed by a final balance in the last month of each term as detailed below. Options 1 & 2 below outlines the two options, along with the payment terms and dates.
Option 1 - Monthly Payments September to August
| Term | Interim Payment Dates | Interim Payment Period | Interim Payment Amount | Balancing Payment Date | Balancing Payment Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 7 September | September | 25% of provider estimate | 7 December | December |
| 7 October | October | 25% of provider estimate | |||
| 7 November | November | 25% of provider estimate | |||
| Spring | 7 January | January | 35% of provider estimate | 7 March | March |
| 7 February | February | 35% of provider estimate | |||
| Summer | 7 April | April | 20% of provider estimate | 7 August | August |
| 7 May | May | 20% of provider estimate | |||
| 7 June | June | 20% of provider estimate | |||
| 7 July | July | 20% of provider estimate |
Option 2 - One Interim and One Final Balance Payment Each Term
| Term | Interim Payment Dates | Interim Payment Period | Interim Payment Amount | Balancing Payment Date | Balancing Payment Period |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | 07 September | September to November | 75% of provider estimate | 07 December | December |
| Spring | 07 January | January to February | 70% of provider estimate | 07 March | March |
| Summer | 07 April | April to July | 80% of provider estimate | 07 August | August |
Claiming Early Years Pupil Premium
Please submit the EYPP information as part of the on-line headcount or supplementary claims. Detailed information about how to do this can be found in the provider portal guidance notes.