Dear Service Provider,
The application process for the Core Funding 2025/2026 programme year is now available. Before submitting a 2025/2026 Core Funding Application, Partner Services must make sure their Service Profile is up to date, and that they have completed the 2024/2025 Annual Early Years Sector Profile Survey.
Please note, Partner Services need to maintain their 2024/2025 Core Funding Application information until the end of the programme year. Partner Services are advised to keep their Core Funding 2024/2025 information up to date before updating their Service Profile, ahead of applying to Core Funding for 2025/2026.
Key Update to the Core Funding Application Module 2025/2026
Partner Services who have completed the May Review and Confirm process and are at an ‘Approved’ status will have the option to auto-populate their new Core Funding Application Module for the 2025/2026 programme year using the information from the most recently ‘Approved’ Core Funding Application 2024/2025.
All retrospective Update Due Dates’s (UDD) on the previous programme year Core Funding Application Module 2024/2025 must be actioned before starting the Core Funding Application Module for 2025/2026 programme year.
Submitting a 2025/2026 Core Funding Application
You can submit a Core Funding application for the 2025/2026 programme year on the Core Funding Application page under the Programme menu.
Once the 2025/2026 application has been submitted, you will have a 21-day window to activate the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026 on the All Programme Applications under the Programmes menu.
If your service needs support completing an application, resources are available on the Core Funding Documents page. Your local City/County Childcare Committee (CCC) can also provide support with completing your Core Funding Application Module.
Guidance
- Copies of the Core Funding Partner Service Funding Agreement 2025/2026 and Core Funding Rules Document 2025/2026 can be found on the Core Funding Documents page.
- Guidance on completing the programme readiness steps and activating a funding agreement for Core Funding can be found under the relevant headings on the Help and support page.
Supports
Training: Training on programme readiness, the Fee Table and the Parent Statement is being held on 9 and 10 June. Training invites were posted on the Announcement page on 30 May.
A pre-recorded training webinar is available here.
The PowerPoint slides and a questions and answers document will be available once both training sessions have been completed.
Checklists: A programme readiness checklist can be found here.
Help and support: If you have any questions about programme readiness, contact the Early Years Provider Centre (EYPC). Simply raise a Request on the Early Years Hive by selecting the Core Funding programme and your request type from the dropdown menu.
Regards,
The Early Years Team