Funding

Government Funding for Childcare

Many families may be entitled to government-funded childcare to help with the cost of their child’s early education and care. The amount of funded hours available depends on your child’s age and your family’s circumstances.

Information can be found on the following websites:-

https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

Funding for 9-Month-Olds to Three years.

Eligible working parents in England may be able to access funded childcare from the term after their child reaches the relevant age. Subject to meeting the eligibility criteria set by the government, families can receive up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week during term time (up to 38 weeks per year). This is equivalent to 1140 funded hours per year.

Universal Funding for Three and Four-Year-Olds

All children aged three and four years living in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education per week for 38 weeks of the year (a total of 570 hours annually) from the term after their third birthday.

Eligible working families may receive an additional 15 hours, bringing the total to 30 funded hours per week (1,140 hours annually).

Eligibility

Funding eligibility is determined by the government. Working parents applying for the extended funded hours must usually:

Be in employment (including self-employment) and meet the minimum income requirements.

Earn less than the maximum income threshold set by the government.

Reconfirm their eligibility every three months through their childcare account.

Some families may also qualify under specific circumstances, such as if a parent is on certain benefits or leave arrangements.

How to Apply

Parents should apply through the government’s childcare service and obtain their eligibility code before their child becomes eligible for funding.

Childcare Choices website

Applications should be made before the relevant termly deadline to ensure funding can start on time. Parents will need to provide their eligibility code, National Insurance number, and their child’s date of birth to the nursery.

Our Funding Offer

Little Angels are pleased to offer Government-funded childcare places for eligible children in line with current Department for Education guidance.

15 hours funded childcare for all children aged 3 and 4 years.                                                                     15 hours funded childcare for eligible 2-year-olds.                                                                                             30 hours funded childcare for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 4 years.

Funded hours are paid by the Government for up to 38 weeks of the year (term time). As we are not a term time only setting we offer stretched funding where we stretch the total funding across all months of the year so each month’s nursery invoice is similar.

We stretch funded hours across 50 weeks of the year. This means you receive a maximum of 11.4 hours per week for the 15 hours scheme or 22.8 hours per week for the 30 hours scheme. Additional hours attended above this are required to be paid for.

Additional Services Cost

The funded hours cover the cost of providing the basic Early Years Foundation Stage ONLY.    The Department for education (DfE) states:-

‘Government funding is intended to deliver high-quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, consumables, additional hours or additional services’

The government guidance also states:-

 “Providers should be mindful of the impact of charges on families, particularly the most disadvantaged. Providers who choose to offer the free entitlements, are responsible for setting a policy on providing parents with options for alternatives to additional charges. This policy must offer reasonable alternatives that allow parents to access the entitlement for free, including allowing parents to supply their own, or waiving the cost of these items.”

The government funding covers only the basics of the Early Years Foundation Stage and does not cover the enhanced offering we provide.

The funding does not cover  additional services such as meals, enrichment, consumables,  camera access, parties, access to Ey log for observations, celebrations, external visits, forest school and activities provided by external companies such as dancing.

Little Angels therefore provides a two tier offering enabling parents to opt out and receive the Early Years Foundation stage only offering or opt In and receive the enhanced offering together with meals, consumables, camera access, extra curricular activities, special events etc. There is a charge for this which is included within our daily rate.

The opt in and opt out are set offers and parents cannot choose some areas of the opt in package and not others.  Should parents not wish to opt In we  can discuss alternative arrangements with the nursery if they do not wish to access these additional services.

The cost for the opt in offer for a Full Day  (included within the daily rate of £70) is £14.50.  The cost for the opt in offer for a School Day (included within the school day rate of £62) is £11.00.

Please be reassured that your child’s wellbeing is of paramount importance. All the requirements of the EYFS statutory framework will be met each session.  We will always ensure that all learning and development requirements under the EYFS are met.

Applying for Funding

Parents accessing the working parent entitlement must apply through the Government Childcare Service and provide their eligibility code to the nursery before the relevant termly deadline.

Parents are responsible for reconfirming their eligibility every three months through their childcare account to continue receiving funded hours.

Parents accessing funded childcare will be asked to complete a Parent Declaration Form each year to confirm their funding entitlement and the number of hours claimed. A birth certificate will also be required.

For further information regarding childcare funding and eligibility criteria, please speak to our nursery team.