Three & Four Year Old Funding

Universal 15 hours of Early Years funding for 3 and 4 year olds

All children become eligible the term after they turn three and are entitled to 15 hours of early education per week during term time (570 hours per year). This is regardless of income or work status. You do not have to apply for this funding. Honeybuns Nursery will be happy to discuss your requirements.

30 hours Early Education and Childcare

From September 2017, 3 and 4 year olds of working parents (who meet the earnings criteria) will be eligible for 1,140 hours of government-funded early education and childcare per year. This is the equivalent of 30 hours per week in a 38 week term-time setting. However as Honeybuns operates over a 51 week period, and will be providing the ‘Stretched Model’ this will be the equivalent of just over 22 hours per week.

You must apply for the 30 hour entitlement through the Government’s digital childcare service (you do not need to apply if you only want to claim for the universal 15 hour entitlement). You must make your application the term before you wish to start receiving the entitlement.

You can apply the term before your child turns three if you meet the earnings requirement, although you can only start claiming your 30 hour place the term following your child’s third birthday or the term following the date the eligibility code was issued whichever is later.

To see if you are eligible for the 30 hours funding please visit:

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/30-hours-free-childcare-eligibility

To apply for the 30 hours funding please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Additional Services

The Department of Education issued guidance in December 2016 stating that Early Years Funding should not be used to cover the cost of consumable items, such as drinks, meals or extra curricular activities and trips. With the Living Wage rates, food and general running costs for the Early Years Sector many settings will now have to charge parents for Additional services not covered by the Early Years funding.

Term Time Spaces

Term time spaces (38 weeks per year) are available to parents working within education and subject to availability. Please discuss this with the Nursery Manager.

Tax Free Childcare

Tax-Free Childcare is available to around 2 million households to help with the cost of childcare. You will be able to open an online account, which you can pay into to cover the cost of childcare with Honeybuns. All eligible parents will be able to join the scheme by the end of 2017.

For every 80p you or someone else pays in, the government will top up an extra 20p.

This is equivalent of the tax most people pay – 20% – which gives the scheme its name, ‘tax-free’. The government will top up the account with 20% of childcare costs up to a total of £10,000 – the equivalent of up to £2,000 support per child per year (or £4,000 for disabled children).

To check eligibility please visit: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk