Methodology for calculating PTE places

Explains the methodology used by DfE to calculate  part-time equivalent (PTE) children on the early years census.

The total number of funded children aged 9 months up to and including 4-year-olds on the early years census will be used in the calculation of the dedicated schools grant (DSG) allocations, based on their PTE:

Spring 2026 (age at 31 December 2025):

  • a child eligible after reaching 9 months old has a date of birth between 1 January 2025 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive)
  • a 1-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 (inclusive)
  • a 2-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 (inclusive)
  • a 3-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 (inclusive)
  • a 4-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2021 and 31 December 2021 (inclusive)

Summer 2026 (age at 31 March 2026):

  • a child eligible after reaching 9 months old has a date of birth between 1 April 2025 and 2025-06-30 (inclusive)
  • a 1-year-old has a date of birth between 1 April 2024 and 31 March 2025 (inclusive)
  • a 2-year-old has a date of birth between 1 April 2023 and 31 March 2024 (inclusive)
  • a 3-year-old has a date of birth between 1 April 2022 and 31 March 2023 (inclusive)
  • a 4-year-old has a date of birth between 1 April 2021 and 31 March 2022 (inclusive)

Autumn 2026 (age at 31 August 2026):

  • a child eligible after reaching 9 months old has a date of birth between 1 September 2025 and 30 November 2025 (inclusive)
  • a 1-year-old has a date of birth between 1 September 2024 and 31 August 2025 (inclusive)
  • a 2-year-old has a date of birth between 1 September 2023 and 31 August 2024 (inclusive)
  • a 3-year-old has a date of birth between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023 (inclusive)
  • a 4-year-old has a date of birth between 1 September 2021 and 31 August 2022(inclusive)

Spring 2027 (age at 31 December 2026):

  • a child eligible after reaching 9 months old has a date of birth between 1 January 2026 and 31 March 2026 (inclusive)
  • a 1-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2025 and 31 December 2025 (inclusive)
  • a 2-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2024 and 31 December 2024 (inclusive)
  • a 3-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2023 and 31 December 2023 (inclusive)
  • a 4-year-old has a date of birth between 1 January 2022 and 31 December 2022 (inclusive)

Methodology for PTE calculation

This methodology applies to all the early years entitlements. In calculating the part-time equivalent number of children, a child attending 15 hours a week is calculated to be the equivalent of one part-time child (1.0 PTE).

We calculate the part-time equivalents (PTEs) used in the funding allocations to account for stretching the early years entitlements.

To calculate a child’s PTE for each of the entitlements, we use:

  • entitlement hours fields:
    • funded hours
    • extended hours
    • expanded hours
  • entitlement weeks:
    • funded entitlement weeks
    • extended entitlement weeks
    • expanded entitlement weeks

PTE = (entitlement hours x entitlement weeks) / 570

The following examples demonstrate how different scenarios should be recorded. The same calculations apply for extended hours/weeks and expanded hours/weeks.

Example 1 – child taking full entitlement term time only

A child taking their full funded entitlement term time only would be recorded as 15 funded hours and 38 funded entitlement weeks. Their PTE for the funded entitlement would be calculated as:

(15 funded entitlement hours x 38 funded entitlement weeks) / 570 = 1.0 PTE

Example 2 – child stretching their full entitlement

A child stretching their funded entitlement as 11.4 hours over 50 weeks would be recorded as 11.4 funded entitlement hours and 50 funded entitlement weeks. Their PTE for the funded entitlement would be calculated as:

(11.4 funded hours x 50 funded entitlement weeks) / 570 = 1.0 PTE

Example 3 – child taking less than their full entitlement term time only

A child taking 10 funded hours per week term time only would be recorded as 10 funded hours and 38 funded entitlement weeks. Their PTE for the funded entitlement would be calculated as:

(10 funded hours x 38 funded entitlement weeks) / 570 = 0.67 PTE

Example 4 – child is stretching less than their full entitlement

A child stretching their funded entitlement as 9 hours over 52 weeks would be recorded as 9 funded hours and 52 funded entitlement weeks. Their PTE for the funded entitlement would be calculated as:

(9 funded hours x 52 funded entitlement weeks) / 570 = 0.82 PTE