Dear Service Provider,
As we approach the October mid-term break, we want to remind Partner Services of the importance of reviewing and ensuring that their Service Profile and Core Funding application information, which is used to calculate Core Funding allocations for Core Funding Programme Year 5 (2026/2027), is accurate and up to date.
Please note in particular that if there are changes to the Operating Weeks at a room or service level, a Partner Service must submit an Application Change to reflect the reduction in weeks. Any change to the Operating Weeks per Year alters the level of operations which the Partner Service originally committed to delivering in their original approved Application Module. Therefore, the Change Effective Date associated with any change to the Operating Weeks per Year must be set as the date of submission of the original Core Funding Application Module.
Partner Services are reminded that the Agreement for the Provision of Core Funding Programme year 5(2026/2027) states that “All information about a Partner Service and its Service Profile together with the relevant information about their Core Funding Application on the Early Years Hive must be kept up to date throughout the Programme Year. Failure to update the information may result in their Core Funding allocation being placed on hold or terminated in the manner set out at Clause 7 and 8”.
As per the announcement posted on 19 October, a guidance document, created by the Department of Children, Disability and Equality’s (DCDE), is available on the Early Years Hive to support Partner Services.
This should be read and used alongside the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement, Core Funding Programme Rules, and other guidance documents available on the Early Years Hive.
Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) also remain available to assist you in completing your Core Funding application record.
If you require any further assistance or clarification on any of the above, please contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC) by raising a Service Request.
Regards,
The Early Years Team