Payment dates for each type of setting
Childminders, childminder agencies and nurseries
Payments will be made monthly based on the data submitted on the Headcount tasks, as follows:
| Term | Headcount task | Headcount collection dates | Payment month | Payment breakdown | Payment date |
| Summer 2025 | Forecast | 17 March - 21 March 2025 | April | 25% of forecast hours | 11 April 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Forecast | 17 March - 21 March 2025 | May | 25% of forecast hours | 13 May 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Actual | 28 April 2025 - 7 May 2025 | June | 33% of remaining balance after forecast payments | 13 June 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Actual | 28 April 2025 - 7 May 2025 | July | 33% of remaining balance after forecast payments | 11 July 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Actual | 28 April 2025 - 7 May 2025 | August | 33% of remaining balance after forecast payments | by 13 August 2025 |
| Summer 2025 | Amendment | 23 June 2025 - 2 July 2025 | - | Any additional hours added after actual | by 31 August 2025 |
| Autumn 2025 | Forecast | 7 July 2025 - 11 July 2025 | September | 25% of forecast hours | 12 September 2025 |
| Autumn 2025 | Forecast | 7 July 2025 - 11 July 2025 | October | 25% of forecast hours | 13 October 2025 |
| Autumn 2025 | Actual | 8 September 2025 - 17 September 2025 | November | 50% of remaining balance after forecast payments | 13 November 2025 |
| Autumn 2025 | Actual | 8 September 2025 - 17 September 2025 | December | 50% of remaining balance after forecast payments | 12 December 2025 |
| Autumn 2025 | Amendment | 17 November 2025 - 26 November 2025 | - | Any additional hours added after actual | by 31 December 2025 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Forecast | 8 December 2025 - 12 December 2025 | January | 25% of forecast hours | 13 January 2026 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Forecast | 8 December 2025 - 12 December 2025 | February | 25% of forecast hours | 13 February 2026 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Actual | 12 January 2026 - 21 January 2026 | March | 100% of remaining balance after forecast payments | 13 March 2026 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Amendment | 23 February 2026 - 4 March 2026 | - | Any additional hours added after actual | by 31 March 2026 |
Preschools, primary school nurseries and maintained nursery schools
An interim payment will be made for 50% of the hours submitted on the Forecast task.
The remaining balance due will then be paid once the hours are confirmed on the Actual Headcount.
| Term | Collection | Contractual payment date |
| Summer 2024/25 | Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Summer 2024/25 | Actual | 12 June 2024 |
| Summer 2024/25 | Amendment | 31 August 2024 |
|
Autumn 2024/25 |
Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Autumn 2024/25 | Actual | 30 October 2024 |
| Autumn 2024/25 | Amendment | 31 December 2024 |
| Spring 2024/25 | Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Spring 2024/25 | Actual | 12 March 2025 |
| Spring 2024/25 | Amendment | 31 March 2025 |
| Summer 2025/26 | Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Summer 2025/26 | Actual | 18 June 2025 |
| Summer 2025/26 | Amendment | 31 August 2025 |
| Autumn 2025/26 | Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Autumn 2025/26 | Actual | 5 November 2025 |
| Autumn 2025/26 | Amendment | 31 December 2025 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Forecast | First 2 weeks of term |
| Spring 2025/26 | Actual | 4 March 2026 |
| Spring 2025/26 | Amendment | 31 March 2026 |
Contact us
For general enquiries, email earlyyearsdata@essex.gov.uk
For contract enquiries, email FEEEQueries@essex.gov.uk