Nursery School Fees and Free Funding Entitlements

FUNDING

We aim to offer parents the flexibility to use their FREE early year’s entitlement to suit their individual needs and wherever possible protect them from additional costs. Parents can use their FREE funding between the hours of 8.00 and 15.00 Mondays and Fridays and 8.00 to 16.00 Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays. Each session should be for a minimum of 3 hours, up to a maximum of 8 hours per day. The latest drop off for the morning session is 10.00 and the earliest pick up is 12.00. If this does not fit with your specific needs then please speak to us directly.

Funding can be divided between providers for example the nursery and childminders or 2 early years’ providers.

WHEN CAN I CLAIM MY FREE ENTITLEMENT?

The point at which FREE early years education and childcare depends on your Child’s birthday. This is the same for ALL FREE FUNDING.

• If your child was born in January, February or March, then you can claim from the beginning of the term that begins on or after the 1^st
• If your child was born in April, May, June, July or August, then you can claim from the beginning of the term that starts on or after the 1^st September
• If your child was born in September, October, November or December, then you can claim from the beginning of the term that starts on or after the 1^st

FREE CHILDCARE FOR 2 YEAR OLDS

Some 2 year olds in England are eligible for 15 hours of FREE early education and childcare for 38 weeks per year, the term after their 2^nd birthday. In order to qualify for this FREE entitlement you must be in receipt of and can provide evidence of one or more of the following:

• Income Support
• Income based Job Seeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• Income based Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• Child Tax Credit and/or Working Tax Credit
• The Guarantee element of State pension Credit
• The Working Tax Credit four week-run on
• Universal credit

There are also a number of criteria that apply to your child and if any of the following apply then they would be eligible for 2 year old funding:

• They are looked after by the Local Authority
• They get Disability Living Allowance
• They have a Statement of Special Educational Needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan
• They have left care under a Special Guardianship Order, Child Arrangement Order or an Adoption Order.

Parents of a child aged two and living and working in England may qualify for 15 hours FREE entitlement if both parents or in the case of a single parent meet the following criteria;

• Both parents must be working, or the sole parent must be working in a lone parent family
• Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the National Minimum Wage or Living Wage (£9518 per year or £183 per week)
• Both parents must NOT be earning more than £10,000.00 per year.
• If either parent is on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or is unable to work because of a disability, or has caring responsibilities they may still be eligible.

If you believe that you meet the criteria above and are eligible for the FREE entitlement, you can apply via the Government’s Childcare Choices.

FREE CHILDCARE FOR 3 and 4 YEAR OLDS (15 hours per week for 38 weeks or 570 hours per year)

• All 3 and 4 year olds living in England are entitled to 570 hours of FREE early education and childcare a year following their third birthday, normally taken as 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year.

FREE ADDITIONAL HOURS CHILDCARE FOR 3 and 4 YEAR OLDS (15 additional hours per week or 570 hours per year)

Parents living and working in England may be entitled to receive an additional 570 hours FREE per year. The FREE entitlement is conditional on the following factors:

• Both parents must be working, or the sole parent must be working in a lone parent family.
• Each parent must earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at the national minimum wage or living wage (£9518 per year or £183 per week)
• Both parents must NOT be earning more than £100,000 per year each
• If either parent is on maternity, paternity or adoption leave or have caring responsibilities they may still be eligible.

If you believe that you meet the criteria above and are eligible for the additional FREE entitlement, you can apply via the Government’s Childcare Choices.

Nursery School Fees

Currently the nursery fee structure for the School year 2024 to 2025 is as follows:

If you have any questions about funding, free entitlement or additional hours fees please contact the nursery office either by email office@sandhurstnursery.com or by phoning 01344 761414 or 07778 334813 and we will be more than happy to help.