Children in the UK are eligible for funding provided by the UK Government, allowing them to have a good early years education to give them the best start in life. Evidence shows that regular good quality early education has long-lasting benefits for all children.
In brief, the funding for three- and four-year-olds is 15 hours per week, for 38 weeks and is available for every child from the term following their 3rd birthday, up until they go to school. An additional 15 hours a week, totalling 30 hours funding a week, for 38 weeks, is available for eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds.
Funding is also available for some two-year-olds. If they meet certain criteria, they can access the two-year-old funding of 15 hours per week, for 38 weeks.
Thousands of parents across Essex already use childcare for their 2-year-olds. Not only does it give you time back for yourself, but your child can also play, learn, and have fun with other children.
Some two-year-olds can get funded hours from the term after they turn two, if their parents are on certain benefits. These children will get up to 570 funded entitlement hours over the year. They usually have 15 hours per week for 38 weeks at our term-time only preschools, and this can be stretched to cover 11 hours per week at our year round nurseries.
To check your eligibility and apply, you should go to the Essex Education Portal and complete your application: click here. If your application is successful you will be given a unique reference code which you can enter on your Funding Form, which will be emailed to you by our admin team each term.
All three- and four-year-olds can get funded entitlement hours from the term after they turn three up until they go to school, this is called the universal funded entitlement.
These children will get up to 570 funded entitlement hours over the year. They usually have 15 hours per week for 38 weeks at our term-time only preschools, and this can be stretched to cover 11 hours per week at our year round nurseries.
To access the funding you will need to fill out and sign a Funding Form, which will be emailed to you by our admin team each term.
Lots of working parents can get the extended funded entitlement (EFE), which is another 15 hours of funding per week. This is often called “30-hour funding”.
Eligible children will get up to 1,140 funded entitlement hours over the year. They usually have 30 hours per week for 38 weeks at our term-time only preschools, and this can be stretched to cover 22 hours per week at our year round nurseries.
To be eligible for 30 Hours Funding:
To check your eligibility and apply and for full terms on the funding, you should go to the Essex Education Portal and complete your application: click here.
When you have finished your application and set up an account you will get an eligibility code to put on your Funding Form, which will be emailed to you by our admin team each term. Once this code is checked and cleared by us on the early years portal, you can then use your extended 30 hours entitlement with us.
If you are eligible for the 30-hour funding, you will need to apply before the beginning of the term that you want to start. Please note: If you apply for the funding after the beginning of the term you want to start, we are not able to claim the extended 30 hours entitlement as per the Government rules. You will only be able to get the universal 15 hours entitlement that term.
For each of the two-year-old, 15 hours and 30 hours funding categories, we have funding packages in place which give you options for how you can access your funding with us.
Funding is provided by the Government so children can access high-quality early years education. However, this is not intended for, and does not cover the cost of;
These costs will appear on your invoices as a consumable charge. Additional hours taken outside of your funded hours will also be chargeable.
There is an option under each funding category to choose a completely free-funded place, with no consumable charge and no additional hours, should you wish to do so.
We have an experienced admin team who will be able to talk you through the different options if you require any help or further information. Please free to contact us using the contact form below or email/phone us.
