Walmer Bridge Day Nursery is a registered childcare providerwhich offers the government’s funded early education and childcare support entitlement. Early education and childcare entitlement places are funded by the government via the local authority. Our local authority is Lancashire County Council.The hourly rate for funded places is decided by the local authority and rates are below the usual fees nurseries charge for their places.
In England, all parents and carers of 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours a week childcare support, across 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), totaling 570 funded hours per year. Eligible working parents and carers of children aged 3and 4 can also get an additional 15 hours childcare support, bringing their total up to 30 hours a week, across 38 weeks of the year, totaling 1,140 hours per year. Walmer Bridge Day Nursery also offers ‘stretched’ funding, meaning you can use your hours across 52 weeks of the year, by using fewer funded hours per week.
Some eligible parents of 2-year-old children may also be entitled to 15 hours childcare support, if they receive some additional forms of government support.
You can still use Tax-Free Childcare or Universal Credit for childcare whilst claiming your 15 or 30 hours of childcare support.
Government expansion scheme
Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support per week, across 38 weeks of the year (during school term time).
The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that childcare providers can meet the needs of more families.
Phase 1 - From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support, across 38 weeks of the year.
Phase 2 - From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months.
Phase 3 - From September 2025, eligible working parents of all children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week, across 38 weeks of the year.
Like the existing offer, these hours can be used over the 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or ‘stretched’ over 52 weeks by using fewer than your total entitled funded hours per week.
What to Expect
The funded early education and childcare entitlement is intended to provide high-quality and flexible childcare. However, it does not include the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services. In our setting we provide children with 3 balanced and nutritious meals a day. All meals are cooked fresh daily by our cook who creates imaginative meals from locally sourced producers.
Our nursery will charge for meals and snacks, consumables and optional activities, such as trips.
Whilst taking up your child’s funded entitlement place cannot be made conditional on you paying for these additional services, our nursery is free to set its own admissions criteria.
If you wish, you can also choose to provide your child with a packed lunch.
Support with Childcare Costs
You can visit the Childcare Choices website to check the support that may be available to you. This website includes details of the eligibility criteria for funded childcare hours.
Don’t forget you may also be entitled to more help with the cost of childcare, including through Tax-Free Childcare or Tax Credits and Universal Credit.
More information: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
