Early Years and childcare grants

Funding to ensure there are enough places for children in Oxfordshire.

Apply for a grant

We would like to hear from schools, settings and Academy Trusts interested in expanding their early years
and childcare offer with potential revenue or grant funding.

Early Years Revenue Grants

Providers must meet at least two of the following criteria:

  • The project will pay for additional resources to support a child with SEND.
  • The project will build capacity to deliver the entitlements to children with SEND.
  • The provider is offering a place a term before a refugee child is eligible under the 2 year old, universal or extended entitlements
  • The project will provide additional places for universal/extended 3 – 4 year olds in areas where there is an identified shortfall.
  • The project will provide additional places for the new working parent entitlements 9 – 3 year olds in areas where there is an identified shortfall.
  • Start up funding for out of school provision where a provider can demonstrate a need.
  • Provider at risk of closure invited to apply for sustainability funding.
  • Is newly registered or judged good or outstanding by Ofsted.

Providers that meet the key criteria in areas where a sufficiency gap has been identified will be prioritised. 

Email a brief outline of your proposal to earlyeducationupdates@oxfordshire.gov.uk 

Early Years and Childcare Capital Grants 21 May – 21 June 2024

Oxfordshire has received new government capital grant funding to support the expansion of the childcare entitlements for working parents.  We are now seeking expressions of interest from settings, schools and Academy Trusts interested in applying for a grant.   Projects will need to meet at least one of criteria 1-6 below. 

  1. Creates additional funded places for 9–23-month-old children
  2. Creates additional funded places for 2-year-olds 
  3. Secures existing funded places which would otherwise be lost due to building failure
  4. Expands your funded offer: length of day/weeks per year
  5. Creates additional funded places for 3 and 4-year-olds
  6. Facilitates new out of school childcare provision for children attending an Oxfordshire primary school. 

Providers that meet the key criteria in areas where a sufficiency gap has been identified will be prioritised. Projects costing less than £20,000 should apply via the Revenue Grant above. 

Contact us