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Funding
How Funding Works
Funded hours are intended to support your child's early education and development. Depending on your child's attendance pattern, there may be additional charges for sessions or services outside the funded entitlement.These may include:Additional childcare hours beyond funded sessions, Extra sessions requested outside your agreed pattern, Optional activities or additional services, We will always provide clear information about any additional costs before your child starts nursery.
Types of funding
•Two-year-olds (EL2) Some two-year-olds may be eligible for up to 15 hours under the Early Learning for two-year olds scheme. Early Learning for 2 year olds - Best Start in Life
•Three- and Four-Year-olds – The 15 hours universal element is available to all children the term after their third birthday. 15 hours childcare for all families in England - Best Start in Life
•For children aged 9 months to 4 years. Eligible working families can apply for up to 30 hours of childcare for 38 weeks per year, to use from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age. 30 hours childcare - Best Start in Life
We choose stretched funding
Stretched funding allows you to use your child's funded hours across the whole year, including school holidays, instead of only during term time.
Some of the benefits include:
•A consistent routine: Your child can continue attending nursery throughout the year, including the summer holidays. Keeping a familiar routine and spending time with friends supports their confidence, learning, and overall development.
•Easier budgeting: Rather than paying higher nursery fees during the school holidays, the cost is spread more evenly across the year, making childcare expenses easier to manage.
•Greater flexibility: You can use some of your funded hours during school holidays, helping childcare fit around your family's needs and work commitments.
•Year-round childcare: Your child can benefit from their government-funded hours throughout the year, rather than only during term time.
•Supporting your child's development: Regular attendance helps children build strong relationships, develop new skills, and settle into nursery more confidently.
If eligible, our government funding is offered for 50 weeks of the year (stretched) and no more than 6 hours a day from 11:30am-5:30pm. We do not offer alterations to our funding pattern and we use Funding Loop, the digital platform for parents and providers.
How our funded hours work
We stretch funded childcare hours across 50 weeks of the year. To ensure that every child can access their full funded entitlement, regardless of which weekdays they attend, we make 50 Mondays, 50 Tuesdays, 50 Wednesdays, 50 Thursdays and 50 Fridays available for funding.There are 256 weekdays (Monday to Friday) available during the year.
However, the nursery is closed:
•Between Christmas and New Year
•On Bank Holidays
After allowing for these planned closures, we still have sufficient days available to provide 250 funded days (50 of each weekday) across the year, however we need to offer replacement sessions for three Monday bank holidays and one Friday bank holiday.
Bank Holiday Replacement Arrangements
Four of the 50 weekday sessions are affected by bank holiday closures:
Total Funded Sessions Available
By offering replacement sessions for the four bank holiday closures, we ensure that all children can access their full funded entitlement, regardless of which days of the week they usually attend. No funded hours are lost because of bank holiday closures. This does mean that children who usually attend on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays do not access their funding on Tue 22nd, Wed 23rd, Thu 24th December and Tue 31st August as this would total 51 funded weeks per year.
Stretched funding means you'll receive fewer funded hours each week, however, you'll still receive your full annual entitlement of up to 1,140 funded hours or 570 funded hours. Spreading the hours this way helps make childcare costs more consistent throughout the year, so you're less likely to face higher fees during the holidays.
If you are eligible for 30 hours funded childcare (1,140 hours), you can receive up to 22.8 funded hours each week when funding is stretched across 50 weeks of the year. This is offered as three 6-hour sessions (11:30am–5:30pm) and one 4-hour 48-minute session (11:30am–4:18pm).
If you are eligible for 15 hours funded childcare (570 hours), you can receive up to 11.4 funded hours each week when funding is stretched across 50 weeks of the year. This is offered as one 6-hour session (11:30am–5:30pm) and one 5-hour 24-minute session (11:30am–4:54pm).
Your funded hours will be deducted from your monthly nursery fees. If your child attends for more hours than your funded entitlement covers, the additional hours will be charged at the nursery's usual hourly rate.
How our funding works
Sample bill 15 hours
Example bill 30 hours
Any discounts or surcharges are applied after taking into account the funded hours. For children who are not eligible for government funding, all hours will be charged at the nursery’s daily rate.
A child is entitled to Free Early Education & Care at the start of the term after they reach 9 months (if eligible), or second or third birthday in line with the Department for Education table below:
Tax-Free Childcare
The Government offers a top up scheme of 20% towards the cost of childcare up to £2,000 per child per year up to the age of 12 or 17 for children with disabilities. If you believe you may be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, you can find out more about it and other Government support for childcare costs on the Tax-Free Childcare - Best Start in Life
Universal Credit Childcare
For working families claiming Universal Credit with children under 17. Claim back up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. Upfront childcare costs may be available to eligible parents moving in to work or increasing hours. More information can be found on the Universal Credit Childcare - Best Start in Life
Extras
Breakfast (8am-8:30am) and late pick up (5:30-6:00pm) will appear as an additional itemised charge on your invoice and includes food. These sessions are required to be booked and paid for in advance to ensure we have sufficient staffing. Sessions are charged at £5.50 per session per child. Discounts do not apply to extra sessions.
Please do not hesitate to contact us should you have any questions regarding our fees and funding pattern.
Updated July 2026.