Education – Early Years Grants Programme 2026-2030
Education – Early Years Grants Programme 2026-2030
Following our initial two-year partnership, the Leathersellers’ Foundation and Merchant Taylors’ Foundation are delighted to launch a new joint grants programme.
Applications Close: 6pm Thursday 8th January 2026
Grants of up to £12,000 for year one, and £10,000 for subsequent years (up to four years with annual review) will be available as restricted project funding to enable primary schools to develop a programme of activities that support families as their children move into school, particularly for young children from low-income households.
We welcome applications from Primary Schools that wish to implement activities (based on the PEEPs Learning Together programme or an equivalent framework), involving parents/carers and young children, supporting early development and preparing children from the local community for a successful start in school.
Both of our Foundations appreciate the time and effort that fundraising takes. We aim to be as clear as possible about what we do and do not fund, how to apply for a grant and how long the process usually takes. Please look at the information in each of the tabs below before you apply.
Criteria and Eligibility
To be eligible to apply
– the organisation much be a State Mainstream Primary School based in the London Borough of Lewisham
– the project must have the primary aim of helping young children from low-income families to progress developmentally as they transition to school
– be able to demonstrate a high need in their school for this (potential indicators suggested below)
– commit to measuring impact and sharing the outcomes of this work (which we would support you with).
Assessment Criteria / Priorities
We are looking to support primary schools and their incoming pupils with high levels of need but appreciate these can be evidenced in different ways. Some suggested measures include:
– Socio-economic indicators such as Free School Meals eligibility, Pupil Premium eligibility, Index of Multiple Deprivation Scores, or Housing Instability levels.
– Educational or safeguarding indicators such as attainment on entry (assessments showing numeracy/literacy gaps), % of pupils with SEN support, % of pupils with English as an additional language, attendance rates, or child protection plans/referrals.
Process and Timing
Applications open 10am, Monday 24th November 2025
Applications close 6pm, Thursday 8th January 2026
Initial shortlisting decision by 16th January 2026
Potential school visits Monday 26th / Wednesday 28th January 2026
(for those shortlisted) Monday 2nd / Wednesday 4th February 2026
Final grant decision end March 2026
Applying online
You must make your application via our online form here.
You can download an offline version of the form in Word by clicking here to prepare and save your answers in advance.
Please note:
- We ask you to supply a budget for the project in excel in simple table format (uploaded as a separate document).
- Once you have submitted the form you will receive an immediate email acknowledgement from charityapp@leathersellers.org letting you know it has been received safely (please check your junk/spam folder as this is an automated email and so may get caught).
- We notify all applicants via email on the outcome of their application.
FAQs
Unfortunately, as we have only small Grants teams at both Foundations it is not possible for us to provide feedback to all applicants. Applicants that have been shortlisted and taken part in a meeting will be offered feedback.
No, this grants programme has an open application process and you do not need to have an introduction to be able to apply. If you do have a particular connection to either the Leathersellers’ or the Merchant Taylors’ Company, you can note that in your application.
This is the first time this programme is being run so we don’t have a previous success rate to share. At present we expect to award 5 or 6 grants to different schools.
When you receive confirmation of the success of your application you will be asked to complete an acceptance form. Your grant payment will be received 3-4 weeks after the completion of this form.