Early Years Disadvantage (VCS) Grants 2018-20

See 'Attachments' for further information.

Please note that this is a grant opportunity through the Early Years Disadvantage VCS Grant Programme to help develop and further our strategic aims to support two early years disadvantage delivery priorities:

Priority 1: Closing the Disadvantage Gap at age 5

Priority 2: Early Years Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (EYSEND)

We are making available up to a maximum of £6.5 million in early years grant funding to VCS organisations for an 18-month period (up to £2.8m from Oct'18- Mar'19 and up to £3.7m from Apr'19 - Mar'20) to help deliver activities in support of one or more of the above early years disadvantage targeted priorities.

Grants will be awarded across each of these two priority themes. The exact number and size of individual grants will depend on the range and quality of bids received but we are expecting to award fewer grants than in previous rounds.

VCS organisations may submit bids related to one or more priority area but no more than two applications per organisation. A separate application form must be completed for each priority area.

Applications will be assessed and prioritised according to the extent to which they meet the assessment criteria described in the application form.

Any questions related to points of clarification or process must be submitted by 5pm Friday 13th July 2018 to: EnquiriesEarlyYears.VCSGRANTS@education.gov.uk

To note: We are not seeking to fund research related activity, pilots, small scale local innovation/delivery projects, services or activities which we would expect to be commissioned locally.

Additional information: E-mail for queries: EnquiriesEarlyYears.VCSGRANTS@education.gov.uk

Email for application forms to be sent: EarlyYears.VCSGRANTS@education.gov.uk