Funded Childcare
Spring Budget 2023
On 15th March 2023, the Government announced they are helping parents with childcare so they can return to work more easily via a range of new measures.
Increasing Childcare Support
Working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year, from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school.
This will be rolled out in stages:
- From April 2024, all working parents of 2 year olds can access 15 hours per week.
- From September 2024, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 15 hours per week.
- From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 30 hours funded childcare per week.
Fees & Availability
We understand that paying for childcare isn’t always easy which is why we welcome funded children, our nursery fees are dependent on the age of your child and your specific childcare requirements. Funding options are available, including the government’s 15 and 30 hours funded childcare, and we also accept the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme and childcare vouchers.
15 Hours Funded Childcare
2 year olds
For parents with 2 year olds, receiving certain benefits, you may be able to get 15 hours funded childcare depending on whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
Available to:
- Families in England, claiming certain benefits/support with 2 year old children.
- 2 year olds, if they have a Special Education Need (SEND), receive Disability Living Allowance, or if they are being care for by a local authority, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.
What’s available:
- 15 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
- A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider.
Eligibility criteria:
To be able to take up 15 hours of funded childcare for your 2 year old you or your child must meet the eligibility criteria. For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website.
15 Hours Funded Childcare
3 & 4 year olds
For all parents with 3 and 4 year olds, you are entitled to receive 15 hours funded childcare.
Available to:
- All families in England, with 3 and 4 year old children.
What’s available:
- 15 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks.
- A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
30 Hours Funded Childcare
3 & 4 year olds
For working parents with 3 and 4 year olds, you may be able to get 30 hours funded childcare depending on if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Available to:
- Working families in England, with 3 and 4 year old children.
What’s available:
- 30 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks.
- A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme
Tax free childcare is a government scheme to help working parents with the cost of their childcare. Aimed at families with children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled), the scheme can save families up to £2,000 per child per year or £4,000 for a child with a disability.
Available to:
- Working families, including the self-employed, in the UK.
- Those earning under £100k and at least £152 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage) each.
- Those who aren’t receiving Tax Credits, Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.
- Families with children aged 0-11 (or 0-16 if disabled).
What’s available:
- For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2,000 per child per year.
Childcare Vouchers
We accept childcare vouchers, although these are now closed to new applicants. However, if you joined a childcare voucher scheme on or before 4 October 2018, you can keep getting vouchers as long as:
- your wages were adjusted on or before 4 October 2018.
- you stay with the same employer and they continue to run the scheme.
- you do not take an unpaid career break of longer than a year.
For more information on childcare vouchers, please visit the GOV.UK website.
Funded Childcare
The Government funding is for the provision of early years education only and does not over the cost of consumable items such as food, toiletries, additional resources outside of the EYFS, trips and extra curriculum. A consumable charge will be applied against your funded hours only.
A limited number of fully funded spaces are available.
To find out more about funded childcare and how the Government can help with childcare costs, please visit the Childcare Choices website.