Issue - meetings

Cabinet Member: Children & Young People

Forward Plan Ref: 2026/015

Contact: Jane Billington, Strategic Finance Business Partner (Jane.Billington@oxfordshire.gov.uk)

Report by Director of Children’s Services (CMDCEYP6). 

The Cabinet Member is RECOMMENDED to

a)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers (after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 3- and 4-year-old provision with an underlying hourly rate of £6.04 (excluding the supplements, SEN Inclusion Fund and Contingency).

b)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers (after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 2-year-old working parent provision at an hourly rate of £8.29.

c)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers (after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 2-year-olds of families receiving additional support at an hourly rate of £8.29.

d)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers (after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 9 Months to 2-year-old provision at an hourly rate of £11.33.

The Cabinet Member considered the report which indicated that Early Years Providers and Schools Forum were consulted on the Early Years

Funding Formula, and the overwhelming response was to pass on the increase in hourly rate in full to providers.

Resolved to:

a)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers

(after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 3- and 4-year-old provision with an underlying hourly rate of £6.04 (excluding the supplements, SEN Inclusion Fund and Contingency).

b)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers

(after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding Formula for 2-year-old working parent provision at an hourly rate of £8.29.

c)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers

(after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 2-year-olds of families receiving additional support at an hourly rate of £8.29.

d)    Pass the funding increase received by Oxfordshire onto providers (after allowing for centrally retained funding per Department of Education (DfE) criteria) and approve the 2026-27 Early Years funding formula for 9 Months to 2-year-old provision at an hourly rate of £11.33.