Entitlement to early education funding
If you have a child aged between 9 months and 4 years, you may be eligible for early years education and childcare funding.
| Child's third birthday | When you can claim 3 and 4 year old funding |
|---|---|
| 1 January to 31 March | The beginning of term on or after 1 April |
| 1 April to 31 August | The beginning of term on or after 1 September |
| 1 September to 31 December | The beginning of term on or after 1 January |
Where can your child access funded places?
Funded places are available at Ofsted-registered:
- childminders, including those working through an Ofsted-registered agency (check with your childminder if they offer funded sessions)
- daycare nurseries
- maintained nurseries (in schools)
- pre-schools
What does the funding cover?
Your child is entitled to up to 570 hours of early education funding per year. This is typically taken as 15 hours per week over 38 term-time weeks.
Individual providers may offer different levels of flexibility, including options to 'stretch' funded hours over school holidays. For example:
- the minimum session length is 2.5 hours
- the maximum session length is 10 hours
- funded hours may start as early as 6.00am and finish as late as 8.00pm. Some providers may also offer funded hours at weekends.
You can split funded hours between two providers, but you must inform both providers and ensure the total does not exceed the yearly entitlement.
Charges and additional costs
Government funding provides 15 or 30 hours per week of high-quality, flexible childcare. It does not cover:
- consumables (for example, nappies)
- additional hours or activities (for example, trips)
- meals
Providers may charge for these, but must offer alternatives, such as allowing parents to bring packed lunches or supply their own consumables.
- Key points
- Providers may request a refundable deposit, which must be refunded within a reasonable timeframe if the place is taken
- Providers may make optional charges for additional services, which are a private matter between the parent and provider
What you’ll need to provide
When signing a parental contract with your chosen provider, you will need to produce your child’s birth certificate or passport.
The Department for Education will be informed of the name, address and date of birth of children receiving this funding. Providers must give parents a Privacy Notice to explain how this information will be used.
Further information
Information on arranging funding, submitting applications and accessing other forms of childcare financial support can be found on the Childcare Choices website.
For further assistance, email: EY&CBrokerage@swindon.gov.uk.