The Funding Directory Application Process
The Funding Directory Application Process
Providers who would like to offer the Early Years Funded Entitlement within Buckinghamshire, will need to apply to become a member of Buckinghamshire Council’s Directory of Approved Funded Entitlement Providers.
Providers should contact the Early Years Service if they would like to express their interest in going on the directory by emailing earlyyears@buckinghamshire.gov.uk. The following flow chart shows the directory application process.
Flowchart - The Application Process to Providing Funded Entitlement Childcare
Further information regarding the application process can also be found in Section 2.2: Application Process for Approval to the Directory, in Buckinghamshire Council’s Guidance on: Local Management of the Funded Entitlement for 9 months to 4-year-olds.
To support providers in writing an Admissions and Fees policy for the Funded Entitlement that is compliant with the DfE regulations, we have produced these helpful checklists:
A&Fs checklist for Childminders
FE Contract
The FE Contract is a jointly signed agreement between both Buckinghamshire Council and the provider, relating to the delivery of the Funded Entitlement hours for children aged 9months to 4 years old. Providers and Buckinghamshire Council’s Early Years Service must comply with the terms and conditions in the FE Contract.
FE Contract 2024 (ADD DOCUMENT)
Invoice Template
From January 2026 the DfE require all providers to have fully itemised invoices broken down into:
- Funded Entitlement hours
- Additional private paid hours
- Food charges
- Non-food consumables charges
- Activities charges
An invoice template has been created based on the DfE guidance to support providers when creating an invoice.
Website Template
From January 2026 the DfE require providers to have published clearly on their website or on the Buckinghamshire Family Information Service website, the amounts charged for all chargeable extras listed as well as the pattern of hours that parents can take the Funded Entitlements. The only providers exempt from this are childminders and providers caring for 10 or fewer children at any one time.
A website template created by the DfE to support providers with putting the required charging information onto their website.