Early Years: The Pathway Fund 2025/26 and 2026/27
Overview
The Pathway Fund is delighted to announce the opening of three funding streams on 25th November 2024.
Stream A and B of the Pathway Fund will support registered providers or facilitators of early years (0-4) education and learning provision and Stream C, a NEW stream specifically to support registered childminders and Approved Home Childcarers.
- Stream A for awards between £20,001 and £40,000
- Stream B for awards up to £20,000
- Stream C for awards up to £500
The Pathway Fund is one the Department of Education’s (DE) supports for the early years sector. In support of the DE vision “Every child and young person is happy, learning and succeeding”.
The outcomes of the Pathway Fund are:
- Improved development of children who are at risk of not reaching their full educational potential ; and
- An enhanced, more sustainable Early Years sector.
Who can apply
The Pathway Fund Stream A & Stream B is open to all registered providers or facilitators of Early Years (0-4) education and learning provision such as:
- Registered Sessional Daycare Settings (including Out of Schools, Summer Schemes, Playgroups, Crèches).
- Registered Full Daycare Providers (Day Nurseries).
- Registered Childminders / Approved Home Childcarers.
The Pathway Fund Stream C is open to all Registered Childminders and Approved Home Childcarers (AHCs) from 2025/26
You will need to provide evidence of your eligibility.
- Date of your most recent safeguarding training, this should be within the last 3 years.
- Date of most recent Health and Social Care Trust inspection / Approval.
- Provide breakdown of the ages of the children your supporting between 0-4 years from 1st April 2025 – 31st March 2026 Childminders and Approved Home Childcarers (AHCs) will need to provide detail of the total number of children being supported via the Pathway funding for children aged 0-4 year