Funding Periods

Understanding Funding Periods

How funding periods work, key dates, and managing the funding calendar

period term funding calendar deadlines

What is a Funding Period?

A funding period represents a term during which funding claims are made. In the early years sector, funding periods are typically aligned with school terms to match local authority headcount requirements.

Standard Terms

  • Spring Term - January to March (Easter)
  • Summer Term - April to July
  • Autumn Term - September to December

Key Dates

Each funding period has several important dates:

DatePurpose
Start DateFirst day of the funding period
End DateLast day of the funding period
Submission DeadlineLast date for parents to complete declarations (used for reminders)
Acceptance DeadlineLast date staff can approve submissions (optional)

Active vs Inactive Periods

Periods can be marked as active or inactive:

  • Active Period: Used as the default when creating new submissions. Only one period should be active at a time.
  • Inactive Periods: Still visible in reports and filters, but not the default for new submissions.

Period Statistics

The period Details page shows:

  • Total submission count
  • Submissions by status (Draft, In Progress, Approved, Exported)
  • Breakdown by nursery

Best Practice: Create new funding periods 2-3 weeks before the current term ends. This allows time to set up and communicate with staff before the new term begins.

Last updated: January 26, 2026
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