Bolton Provider Funding Agreement 2025

On Thursday 16th October you will have received an email from Start Well, referenced For Action – Revised Bolton Provider Funding Agreement 2025, with an updated Bolton Provider Agreement attached. The email also contained the guidance as stated below.

Bolton Council has updated the Provider Funding agreement in line with the changes made to the Statutory guidance Early Years and Childcare and the expansion of the early years funding streams. This guidance applies from April 2025, and providers must have everything in place from January 2026.

To support you we have outline some further guidance below.

It is essential that providers read the agreement carefully and in full before signing to ensure you understand the terms, responsibilities, and requirements it sets out. Signing the agreement confirms your acceptance of these conditions, which will apply from January 1st, 2026.

Please note, from January 2026, early years funding will be paid to providers who have signed and returned their Bolton Provider Funding Agreement.  Any provider who does not return a signed agreement will be at risk of not being paid.

We kindly ask that you complete and return two copies of the full agreement by the deadline as follows:

• Funding agreements sent to all providers week beginning 13th October 2025
• Providers return TWO wet ink copies (by pen and not electronic) to council by week ending 21th November 2025
• Council sign and return ONE copy to provider, ONE copy retained and sealed by council by week ending 12th December 2025

Sections to complete within the agreement attached:

• Schedule 1

 

Signature of the authorised signatory

 

On page 3 you will see a space for a date to be added. This will be completed by Bolton Council on the day the final signatory has signed to ‘complete’ the agreement. Please note that the date of commencement of agreement with be January 1st, 2026.

Returning the signed agreements

You may return two copies of the completed agreements in one of the following ways:

1. Drop-off: at Harvey Family Hub, Shaw Street Bolton BL3 6HU, open 9:00am-6:00pm Monday - Friday
2. Post: to Start Well Service, Harvey Family Hub, Shaw Street, Bolton, BL3 6HU. We strongly recommend using tracked and signed-for delivery if posting.

Unsigned or incomplete agreements may result in delays to funding. Please check carefully before returning.

Please note we cannot accept copies of signed agreements by email. 

Start Well Service will arrange for signature by the council and will return ONE signed agreement to your setting.

If you have any further questions, please email StartWell@bolton.gov.uk.

Thank you for your help with this matter.