Providers must have an approved Early Years Entitlements Provider Funding Agreement in place before claiming early years funded entitlements.
The agreement sets out:
- the terms and conditions for delivering funded entitlements
- provider responsibilities when receiving public funding
- statutory duties under the Childcare Act 2006 and the Childcare Act 2016
This agreement applies to all providers delivering early years funded entitlement places in Cumberland.
Funding agreements for 2026 to 2027
You must read and agree to the relevant funding agreement before you can claim early years funded entitlement payments.
Parent declaration forms
You must have a fully completed parent declaration form for every child you claim early years funded entitlements for.
The form must be:
- completed by the parent or carer
- signed before the child accesses funded entitlement hours
- kept as part of your funding records
Funding cannot be claimed without a valid parent declaration form.
Provider responsibilities
Providers are responsible for ensuring that:
- agreements and forms are kept up to date
- eligibility evidence is accurate
- records are retained to support funding claims and audit requirements
Failure to meet these requirements may affect eligibility to receive funding.