Funding and Prices
Government Funding
Universal 15 Hour Funding 3 and 4 Year Olds
​
15 hours of free childcare is available for all families in England with children aged 3 and 4. Your child can start their funded place the term after they turn 3 years old. Terms start in September, January and April.
​
We will apply for funding on your behalf. We will give you a funding claim form to complete and return to us. We will then claim the funding for your child for the hours they attend once they start.
​
​Extra Consumables Charge:
​​​​​
Due to the increasing costs related to wages, rent, food and supplies, we ask for a voluntary contribution of 75p per funded-only session towards our consumables. This helps us to provide healthy and nutritious snacks, and carry on with extra activities such as Sports Coaching with Jack and Music & Movement with Becky, along with extra staff for Little Explorer sessions. You will receive an invoice for this each half term.
​
You have the choice to opt out of the consumables charge. However, we will expect you to provide your own snack, which is equal or equivalent to our current menu. No child will be excluded from activities.
Eligible Working Parents - up to 30 hours funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds:
​
If both parents are in paid work, and earn at least £183 a week, but less than £100,000 per year each, you should be able to claim extended funding up to 30 hours per week.
If you’re earning less than £183 a week but are under 25, or you’re an apprentice, you may still be eligible.
You will need to apply online yourself for this funding at: https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education/ or search for Best Start In Life
You will be given a code to verify your eligibility. Once you have this code and you have completed our funding claim form, which gives us consent to claim, we can process this. The cut-off date for applications for the following terms are strictly: 31st August, 31st January and 31st March.
​
Funding can be split (shared) between 2 settings.
​
​From September 2025, the extended 30-hour funding for working families was available for children aged over 9 months.
Not working but have a 2 year old?
​
You may still be entitled to access 15 hours of free early education for your two-year-old. However, you must meet the eligibility criteria below.
Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:
-
Income Support
-
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
-
income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
-
Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
-
the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
-
Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
-
the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
In this case, Nottinghamshire County Council will usually write to you or send you an email. If they do, please let us have a copy and we can claim the funding for your child.
​Other Eligibility
​
Some 2 year olds qualify for Government Funding if they:
-
are looked after by a local authority
-
have an education, health and care (EHC) plan
-
get Disability Living Allowance
-
have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
Not claiming Government Funding?
​
Your child is still welcome to join us at any time from the term after their 2nd birthday. Our current fees are:
​
£20 per 3 hour session - 9am till 12 noon or 12 noon till 3pm
​
£40 for a full day - 9am till 3pm
​
Our consumables charge of 75p per session does not apply if you pay for your own fees and do not claim funding.
​
Fees are invoiced each half-term and can be paid via bank transfer, cheque or Tax-Free Childcare
Other funding sources
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
​
Pre-School (and then primary school) could get extra funding to help with your child’s education. This will be paid direct to us and enables us to work 1:1 with your child on their specific learning needs, buy certain resources or extra activities.
We can apply for early years pupil premium if your child gets up to 15 hours free childcare per week.
You must also get at least one of the following:
-
Income Support
-
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
-
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
-
support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
-
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
-
Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
-
Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
-
Universal Credit – your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get
You may also get early years pupil premium if your child is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales or if your child has left care in England or Wales through:
-
adoption
-
special guardianship order
-
a child arrangements order
Disability Access Funding (DAF)
​
Pre-School could get £900 or more per academic year to help with your child’s education and support. We can then buy toys/equipment/resources tailored to your child's needs.
We can apply to get DAF if your child is receiving both:
-
Funded Childcare
-
Disability living allowance (DLA) for children
​
Inclusion Funding
If your child needs support accessing the setting due to a learning or disability need, we can apply for inclusion funding on your behalf. This enables the setting to provide 1:1 support for your child for a set amount of hours per week.
To be eligible for this there needs to be a specific need, and you will need to be claiming funded hours.
​
Our SENCO, Sam, will be able to advise on both DAF and Inclusion funding.
