Early Years Funding

 

The government will fund 15 hours a week, for 38 weeks of the year free nursery education which is paid directly to the nursery.

In order to claim this funding you will need to provide a copy of your child's birth certificate and complete a declaration stating where you are claiming the free entitlement.

At Little Learners we will spread the funding over the 12 months and reduce your fees accordingly. We will provide you with a breakdown of your early years funding entitlement.

There are different funding offers available to children aged from 9 months up to 4 years. Funding is paid for 38 weeks of the year (term time). At Little Learners we offer our funding ‘stretched’ across 51 weeks of the year, a total of 11 hours per week. Please see our fee info for further information. We have a few limited term time only options at our West Croydon Branch.

 

In order for the nursery to claim this funding you will need to provide a copy of your child’s birth certificate, proof of address and complete a declaration stating where you are claiming the free entitlement.

 

Working parents may be able to get free childcare for a child aged 9 months to 4 years old. If your child is:

• 9 months to 2 years old, you can get 15 hours per week of free childcare
• 3 to 4 years old, you can get 30 hours per week of free childcare

 

All children aged 3 and 4 are also entitled to 15 hours of free early education or childcare per week.

 

You may be able to get free childcare if you have a 2 year old and get certain benefits. Please see Disadvantaged 2 Year Old Funding section for more information.

 

9 Month Old Funding

From September 2024 eligible parents of children aged 9 months can access 15 hours of childcare funding per week.

From September 2025, eligible working parents of children aged 9 months and above will be able to access 30 hours of childcare funding per week.

 

2 Year Old - Disadvantaged 2 Year Old Funding

2 year olds are entitled to 15 hours free early education and childcare if all or some of the following criteria are met:

• You receive Income Support, Income based Jobseekers Allowance, Income related Employment and Support Allowance, support under part  lV of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999, State Pension Credit, Child Tax Credit, providing you are not entitled to Working Tax Credits and have an annual income as assessed by HMRC that does not exceed £16,190.
• You receive Working Tax Credits and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190.
• The child is entitled to Disability Living Allowance.
• The child is looked after by the local authority.
• The child is no longer looked after by the local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a residence order.

 

2 Year Old - Working Family 2 Year Funding

Eligible parents of 2 year olds can access 15 hours of funding per week. This is called working family 2 year funding.

 

3 & 4 Year Old Funding

All 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to free early education and childcare from the term after he/she reaches 3 years of age.

 

 When will my child receive funding?

You can claim your place the term after your child turns the relevant age. This gives local authorities and childcare providers enough time to prepare.

 

• A child born on or between 1 April and 31 August will become eligible for a place from 1 September.
• A child born on or between 1 September and 31 December will become eligible for a place from 1 January.
• A child born on or between 1 January and 31 March will become eligible for a place from 1 April.

 

9 month old, 2 year old, 3&4 year old (30 hours), How do I get my code for working parents? 

 

Apply for free childcare if you’re working – 9 month old, 2 year old, 3&4 year old (30 hours)

 

Visit: https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working

 

It’s important to remember that if you are accessing working funding or 30 hours, codes need to be renewed every three months. To do this, you’ll need to log into your childcare account to check when your reconfirmation dates are, so that you can renew your code on time. If you don’t renew it on time, you will need to reapply.

 

Once you receive your funding code, please email this to enquiries@little-learners.net along with child name, child branch, National Insurance Number and funding code.

 

Disadvantaged 2 year old funding:

 

To check eligibility for 2 year old Early Years Funding (15 hours)

Visit:https://croydon.cloud.servelec-synergy.com/synergy/

 

Please also click here for guidance document for 2 Year Old Funding 

 

Upon completing the information on the online form, you will be issued with a 6 character code  that you will need to give to nursery as a screenshot or the email you received from Croydon council either of it will do. Nursery will then double check your eligibility and confirm the outcome. Please email your code to enquiries@little-learners.net

 

9 months old, 2 year old and Early Years funded children whom attend all year (funding amount already deducted):

 

You will receive 11 hours per week funding based on our daily rate, there will be an additional charge of £9.50 or £4.75 on half day sessions on your funded day for meals, extra curricular activities and sundries.

 

8.00am until 6.00pm

Full week                                            £1250.50  per month or    £294.25 per week

4 full days a week                               £940.25   per month or     £221.25 per week

3 full days a week                               £630.00   per month or     £148.25  per week

2 full days a week                               £319.75 per month or       £75.25 per week

1 full day a week                                 £40.25   per month or       £9.50 per week

 

Please note that part time sessions are not available for under 22 month olds at our West Croydon branch and we have limited availability at our South Croydon branch, so early booking is advised.

 

8.00am until 1.30pm

5 mornings a week                             £575.75 per month or      £135.50 per week

4 mornings a week                             £397.25 per month or      £93.50 per week

3 mornings a week                             £218.75 per month or      £51.50 per week

 

7:30am until 1:00PM

2 mornings a week                             £40.25   per month or      £9.50 per week

 

1.30pm until 6.00pm  

5 afternoons a week                           £524.75 per month or      £123.50 per week

4 afternoons a week                           £363.25 per month or      £85.50 per week

3 afternoons a week                           £201.75 per month or      £47.50 per week

 

1:00pm until 6:30 pm
2 afternoons a week                           £40.25   per month or      £9.50 per week

 Please note that we do not offer any single half day slots for any funded sessions, the minimum attendance is two half day sessions per week for funded sessions.

 

For disadvantaged 2 years old funding and early years funding 15 hours, 3 years old funding only, please discuss alternative options and availability direct with the admissions team.

 

30 hours funding for 3 and 4 year olds

The government is offering working parents of 3 and 4 year olds 30 hours free nursery education. Parents need to apply for the funding online at HMRC/Childcare choices. If your application is successful then you will be given a reference number which needs to be given to the nursery.

In order to receive the funding the code needs to be given to nursery the term before funding begins and will be subject to eligibility checking via Croydon Early Years.

• September to December – code needs to be given to the nursery by the middle of August
• January to March – code needs to be given to the nursery by the middle of November
• April to July – code needs to be given to the nursery by the middle of March

You will receive an acceptance letter regarding the 30 hours which will give the fees, once we have received and verified your code.

We offer 30 hours in the following ways:

Option 1:

3 days attendance all year around (you will receive 22 hours free and pay for 8 hours of our daily rate, not our hourly rate. You will be required to pay £9.50 per day for 2 days towards meals, extra curricular activities and sundries. So at our current daily rate including additional costs would be £77.50 per week).

 

Option 2:

5 mornings attendance all year around (you will receive 22 hours free and pay for one morning at £39.50 and £4.75 per day for 4 days towards meals, extra curricular activities and sundries. So at our current rate including additional costs would be £61 per week).

 

Option 3:

5 afternoons attendance all year around (you will receive 22 hours free and pay for one afternoon at £35.50 and £4.75 per day for 4 days towards meals, extra curricular activities and sundries. So at our current rate including additional costs would be £57 per week).

 

Fees including 30 hours - Option 1 (8:00AM to 6:00PM)

 

Full week                                 £949.75 per month or   £223.50 per week 

4 full days a week                    £639.50 per month or   £150.50 per week

3 full days a week                    £329.25 per month or   £77.50 per week 

 

Fees including 30 hours - Option 2 (7:30AM to 1:00PM) , subject to availability

 

5 Mornings a week £259.25 per month or £61.00 per week

 

Fees including 30 hours - Option 3 (1:00PM to 6:30PM) , subject to availability

 

5 Afternoons a week £242.25 per month or £57.00 per week

 

Any extra sessions that you wish to add on top of these sessions will be charged at our normal rates.

 

Should you wish to book your 30 hours please let us know as soon as possible as spaces are limited.