Information and guidance about FEEE1W and FEEE2W

Childcare reforms expansion - capital expansion funding

FEEE1W and FEEE2W capital funding opportunities available now

Are you an Ofsted rated Good or Outstanding early years and childcare provider?

Are you planning to expand your provision to create new FEEE1W and FEEE2W childcare places OR do you have a building or piece of land that you could use to create FEEE1W and FEEE2W under three's childcare places?

If your answer is 'yes', read the information below to find out about available funding:

In Essex we have 1,811 Ofsted registered childcare providers who provide high-quality funded childcare places to 4,274 children (Spring 2025).

Essex was allocated funding from DfE to create FEEE1W and FEEE2W places in preparation for eligible working families being entitled to 30 hours funded childcare (38 weeks per year) from the term after the child turns 9 months.

This funding has previously been advertised with a number of projects approved and already delivering places, other projects are underway.

There is a remaining £200,000 of this funding still available, which you can now apply for.

Capital funding is used to create buildings and fixed assets.

Fixed assets could include:

refurbishment of an existing space
installation of an additional toilet or partition wall
ramps to improve access for children and parents with disabilities
a project to expand the learning potential of your outside area

Please note:

proposed building projects must comply with building regulations - full details are provided in the guidance documents below in the Resources section
capital funding cannot be used for ongoing revenue costs such as staffing or rent

Examples of past projects

View a gallery of completed projects for inspiration (Word, 4.3MB)

We have an enthusiastic team with a shared passion for supporting families to access the roll-out of 30-hour entitlements from the term after the child turns 9-months-old.

Our team can:

talk through your ideas for potential projects with you
support you with the submission of your funding application

Contacts

Business Management Consultants (BMCs): Email bmc@essex.gov.uk

Community Development Leads (CCDLs): Email CCDL@essex.gov.uk

How to apply

email childcare.expansion@essex.gov.uk to request an application form
download the documents in the Resources section below

Funding opportunities

The table below lists the areas in which funding is available; the Project Scope details where the funding is available. Your project must be within one of these wards. This will be checked by the Childcare Expansion Team on receipt of an application.

This funding is specifically to create FEEE1W and FEEE2W childcare places. If your project is to contribute to the delivery of a large project (for example a 0-5 56 place nursery), the funding will only cover the FEEE1W and FEEE2W places.

District	Wards	District	Wards
Basildon	All wards	Harlow	All wards
Braintree	All with the exception of: Bocking & Blackwater Bocking South Bocking North Braintree Central & Beckers Green Yeldham	Maldon	Only available in: Southminster Tollesbury Wickham Bishops & Woodham
Brentwood	All with the exception of: Ingatestone Fryerning & Mountnessing West Horndon	Rochford	Only available in: Trinity Lodge Wheatley
Castle Point	Only available in: St. Mary's Appleton Tarpots Thunderslety South Thundersley North St. George's	Uttlesford	All with the exception of: Waltham Abbey Honey Newport Clavering Thaxted & the Eastons
Chelmsford	All wards

Timeline

The table below gives key dates for this round of funding:

Launch	19 May 2025
Last date for BMC / CCDL support*	4 August 2025
Closing date	18 August 2025
Quality visit	1-19 September 2025
Site visit to assess build project	1-19 September 2025
Moderation panel	9 October 2025
EY Resource panel	16 October 2025

* If required contact will be made to arrange a visit.

There is also currently S106 Capital Funding available across different areas of Essex. Visit Growing tomorrow's childcare to find out where funding is available and how to apply.