FEES & FUNDING

The 2-year-olds’ scheme offers 15 hours of childcare for children whose parents or carers are on a low income. You are entitled to government funded childcare if you are receiving one of the following benefits:

• Working Tax Credits and annual gross earnings of no more than £16,190 per year 
• Child Tax Credit and an annual income of no more than £16,190
• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act

Families that do not meet the above criteria will still be eligible any of the following apply. The child:

• has a current statement of special educational needs (SEN) or an education, health and care plan
• is entitled to Disability Living Allowance
• is looked after by the council
• has left care through special guardianship or through an adoption or residence order

If you meet the above criteria you can get 15 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks of the year.

Check Eligibility Here

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of government funded early education for 38 weeks of the year.

Some children are also entitled to 30-hours funding – details in next section. 

The following tells you when you can claim the 15 hours:

• Born between 1 January and 31 March -eligible from the summer term (after the Easter holidays)
• Born between 1 April and 31 August -eligible from the autumn term (September)
• Born between 1 September and 31 December -eligible from the spring term (January)

Contact the team to find out more, if you need childcare on top of the funded hours the team will be happy to give you a cost breakdown.

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education for 38 weeks of the year. However working parent(s) or those on certain benefits can be entitled for 30 Hour of childcare.

Please visit the Governments 30-hour funding page to find out more and apply.

If you are unsure of your eligibility we recommend you apply anyway.

If eligible you need to login to your account every 12 weeks to reconfirm eligibility failure to do so may mean you are no longer entitled to the additional 15 hours.

The following tells you when you can claim the 15/30 hours:

• Born between 1 January and 31 March -eligible from the summer term (after the Easter holidays)
• Born between 1 April and 31 August -eligible from the autumn term (September)
• Born between 1 September and 31 December -eligible from the spring term (January)

Check Eligibility Here

If you are a student there are various options to help pay for childcare.

Under 20’s can apply for Care to Learn

If over 19 and in further education (college) you can apply for help via Learner Support

If you are in Full time Higher Education (university) you can apply for a Childcare Grant: Overview

It’s always worth having a chat with your learning/training provider

If you are on Universal Credit and working or starting a job and need help with childcare you can reclaim 85% of what you pay (upto £646 a month/child). You will need to pay for the childcare and then claim it back separately.

For further information please visit Universal Credit & childcare 

We have a couple of spaces each year where we provide childcare free of charge for families going through challenges but not eligible for funding.