How payments are made
Hourly rate funding is paid monthly.
Payments are split over each month in the term, except for August in the summer term. In summer, the final monthly payment is made in July.
Payment dates will be confirmed at the start of each academic year or as soon as possible once the headcount dates are released by the Department for Education.
Exact payment dates are available on the provider timeline.
Payment confirmation
You will get an automatic remittance email each time a payment is made through Trafford’s system. You also get a separate payment confirmation email from the Early Education Team with more details.
Both emails should be kept on file for reference.
Payment details and references
| Term | Payment (by) second Friday of | Payment details | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn | September | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 1) | EP 1 |
| October | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 2) | EP 2 | |
| November | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 3) | EP 3 | |
| December | Balance from headcount claim and mid-term joiners minus payments received (balancing payment) | BP | |
| Spring | January | 33% of estimate claim (estimate payment 1) | EP 1 |
| February | 33% of estimate claim (estimate payment 2) | EP 2 | |
| March | Balance from headcount claim and mid-term joiners minus payments received (balancing payment) | BP | |
| Summer | April | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 1) | EP 1 |
| May | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 2) | EP 2 | |
| June | 25% of estimate claim (estimate payment 3) | EP 3 | |
| July | Balance from headcount claim and mid-term joiners minus payments received (balancing payment) | BP |
Funding payment threshold
To help manage funding payments, monthly payments are limited to £50,000 for each funding stream.
If a provider is due more than £50,000 from a funding stream, the extra amount will be paid later through a balancing or reconciliation payment.
This limit applies to each funding stream separately and does not reduce the total amount of funding the provider will receive.
Not submitting an estimate
If you don't submit an estimate by the deadline, no payments will be made until the final monthly payment of that term, provided a headcount is submitted and approved.
Not submitting a headcount
If you don't submit a headcount claim by the deadline, no further payments will be made. An invoice will be sent to take back the estimated payments.