Early Years Funding Consultation 2027-28 Questionnaire

West Northamptonshire Council is undertaking a consultation on the proposed Early Years Funding arrangements for the 2027-28 financial year.

This consultation is for early years providers only. The purpose is to seek the views of early years providers on the proposed funding arrangements for government-funded early education and childcare entitlements in West Northamptonshire. Feedback from early years providers will help inform the Council's approach to setting local funding rates and funding supplements for 2027-28.

Thank you

Your consultation response has been submitted successfully. Your feedback will help inform the Council's approach to setting local funding rates and funding supplements for 2027-28.

What happens next

The outcome of this consultation will be presented and agreed at Schools Forum on Wednesday 11 December 2026, where responses will be considered as part of the decision-making process.

Educational institution details

1. Ofsted Number (URN), School DfE Number or academy trust group ID: *

2. Name of provider/childminder, school or academy trust: *

3. Your role/position: *

Views on proposals

4. Do you agree or disagree with the proposal to increase the proportion of Early Years funding passed directly to providers?

Agree

Disagree

No opinion

5. Do you agree or disagree that providers offering places for children accessing the Early Learning for 2-Year-Olds (EL2) entitlement should receive a higher hourly funding rate to reflect the additional support often required by eligible children and their families?

Agree

Disagree

No opinion

6. Do you agree or disagree to introduce a deprivation supplement for funded 2-year-olds from 2027-28?

Agree

Disagree

No opinion

7. If a future Inclusion Early Years Fund (IEYF) grant is provided, which approach would you prefer the LA to use to distribute the grant?

Continue with current methodology

Remove the £1,000 minimum threshold

Allocate a lump sum of equal value across all eligible providers

Other (please specify)

8. Do you agree or disagree with the Maintained Nursery Supplement (MNS) proposal to continue the current distribution methodology?

Agree

Disagree

No opinion

9. Please use this space to provide any comments you would like to make to WNC and Schools Forum in setting the early years rates and budgets for 2027-28: Maximum 500 words 0 of 500 words