Manage eligibility for childcare support: using the service
Manage eligibility for childcare support is one of two services replacing the eligibility checking system (ECS). Local authorities can use this new service to manage and check eligibility for:
- early learning for 2-year-olds
- early years pupil premium
This guidance explains how to use the new service.
We are still developing this service. Your feedback will help us improve it.
We will be adding childcare for working families to this new service. Until then, use the Eligibility Checking System (ECS) to check eligibility for childcare for working families and to manage foster families claiming childcare for working families.
1. How to access the service
Users at local authorities will need a DfE Sign-in account to use this service. If you do not have an account, go to the DfE Sign in page and then:
- select ‘create a DfE Sign-in account‘
- enter your details and email address
- add the verification code
- create a password (at least 14 characters)
- request access to your organisation
When you have a DfE Sign-in account and are logged in, you can select the:
- ‘Request access to a service’ link on the ‘My services’ page
- organisation you want access to the service for
- service from the options: 'Manage eligibility for childcare support'
- sub-service: ‘MEFCS – Local Authority Role’
When you have added the service, you can use DfE Sign-in to access it in future.
2. What you can use the service for
You can use the service to:
- run an eligibility check for one parent or guardian
- run batch checks for multiple parents or guardians
- view guidance on running checks
3. Running checks for one parent or guardian
To run a check for one parent or guardian, choose the eligibility you want to run a check for from:
- early learning for 2-year-olds
- early years pupil premium
To run a check for early learning for 2-year-olds or for early years pupil premium, you’ll need to enter the parent’s:
- last name in full
- date of birth
- National Insurance number
Last names must be entered in full and exactly match how they appear on Universal Credit statements. This is because of the way the Department for Work and Pensions authenticate citizens, which requires a full last name, date of birth and National Insurance number for accuracy.
There is guidance within the service if the parent or guardian is an asylum seeker.
The result of the check will tell you whether the children of a parent or guardian are eligible.
A result of ‘may not be eligible’ means that the children of the parent or guardian are not eligible at the time of the check. If the parent or guardian thinks that they are eligible, they can provide supporting evidence for you to review. There is guidance in the service on reviewing supporting evidence.
4. Running batch checks
To run a batch check for multiple parents or guardians, choose the eligibility you want to run a check for from:
- early learning for 2-year-olds
- early years pupil premium
For all batch checks, download the batch check template provided within the service after you have chosen the eligibility type.
For each parent you want to check for early learning for 2-year-olds and early years pupil premium, you’ll need to add their last name, date of birth and National Insurance number.
When you have run a batch check, you’ll be able to see the status of any checks and download results for completed checks.
There is guidance in the service explaining what the results of batch checks mean.
5. Viewing guidance
Within the service you can read guidance on:
- reviewing evidence for early years pupil premium and early learning for 2-year-olds
- batch check results
- outcome pages for childcare for working families checks