- Station Road, Stallingborough, Lincolnshire
- 01472 - 886000
- Station Road, Stallingborough, Lincolnshire
- 01472 - 886000
Understanding Childcare Fees & Funded Hours
We know that childcare funding can sometimes feel complicated. Our aim is to make the options available to families as clear and straightforward as possible.
The Children’s House is registered to provide government-funded early education and childcare, alongside additional paid childcare where required.
Our team will be happy to talk through your individual circumstances, available places and the funding options that may apply to your family.
Quick Overview
What Childcare Support Could Be Available?
FUNDED CHILDCARE
30 Hours for Eligible Working Families
Eligible working parents in England can apply for up to 30 hours of government-funded childcare each week for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their child turns 9 months until they reach school age.
Eligibility depends on your circumstances, including employment and income requirements.
Funded hours are normally provided during 38 weeks of the year. Where our nursery arrangements allow, families may be able to use fewer funded hours each week across more weeks of the year.
Places and attendance patterns are subject to availability, so we encourage families to speak with us as early as possible when planning childcare.
Already Receiving Working-Family Funding?
Parents using the working-family entitlement are required to keep their childcare account details up to date and reconfirm their eligibility when requested by the government.
Please make sure your funding code remains valid so that we can continue to claim the funded hours for which your child is eligible.
ADDITIONAL SUPPORT
15 Hours of Early Learning for Eligible 2 Year Olds
Some two year olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded early learning each week for 38 weeks of the year where their family or the child meets certain additional-support criteria.
Eligibility can include families receiving certain benefits or children who meet specific additional-support criteria.
If your child is eligible, the entitlement usually begins from the appropriate term after they turn two.
North East Lincolnshire Council manages this funding locally and can provide further information about eligibility and applications.
Working and Eligible for Additional Support?
Some families may qualify for both the 15-hour Early Learning entitlement for two year olds and additional working-family funded childcare.
If this applies to you, please check your entitlement through the official childcare service and speak with us about how your funded hours can be used at The Children’s House.
UNIVERSAL ENTITLEMENT
Funded Early Education for All 3 & 4 Year Olds
Every three and four year old in England is entitled to 570 hours of government-funded early education or childcare each year until they start school.
This is usually taken as:
15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year.
Depending on the nursery’s current arrangements and available sessions, it may also be possible to take fewer funded hours each week across more weeks of the year.
There is no working-parent income test for this universal 15-hour entitlement.
When Does Funding Begin?
Your child normally becomes eligible from the relevant term after their third birthday.
Please speak with our team as your child approaches their third birthday so that we can explain when their funded place can begin and discuss available sessions.
HOW IT WORKS WITH US
Combining Funded Early Education With Childcare
The Children’s House is registered with North East Lincolnshire Council to provide funded early education.
We offer fully integrated childcare and Montessori education, bringing together the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) and our Montessori philosophy throughout the nursery day.
Your funded entitlement can contribute towards eligible childcare and early education hours at The Children’s House, subject to your eligibility, our current funded-place availability and attendance arrangements.
Term-Time & Stretched Funding
Government-funded hours are normally calculated across 38 weeks of the year.
Where available, some entitlements may be stretched across a greater number of weeks by using fewer funded hours each week.
For example, an annual entitlement of 1,140 hours is equivalent to:
30 hours per week over 38 weeks, or
24 hours per week over 47.5 weeks.
Please speak with our team to confirm which attendance and stretched-funding patterns are currently available at The Children’s House.
Need More Hours?
You do not have to limit your childcare to your funded entitlement.
If you require childcare outside your funded hours, additional hours can be purchased subject to availability and at the rates shown on our current Charges List.
Where additional paid childcare is used, an invoice will be produced in accordance with our current billing arrangements.
How Many Funded Hours Could I Receive?
The amount of funded childcare available depends on your child’s age and your eligibility.
Up to 570 Hours Per Year
The universal entitlement for three and four year olds, and the additional-support entitlement for eligible two year olds, provides up to 570 funded hours per year.
This is usually equivalent to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks.
Up to 1,140 Hours Per Year
Eligible working families may be able to receive up to 1,140 funded hours per year.
This is usually equivalent to 30 hours per week for 38 weeks.
You do not have to use every funded hour available to you. The sessions you use will depend on your childcare needs and the places and attendance patterns available at the nursery.
HELP WITH CHILDCARE COSTS
Tax-Free Childcare
If you are working or self-employed, you may also be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare.
Tax-Free Childcare uses an online childcare account that you pay into and then use to pay your registered childcare provider.
For every £8 an eligible family pays into their childcare account, the government adds £2.
You can receive a government top-up of up to:
£2,000 per child per year
or
£4,000 per year for a disabled child.
Tax-Free Childcare is generally available for eligible children aged 11 or under, or 16 or under if they are disabled.
Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside funded childcare where the relevant eligibility requirements are met.
EXISTING SCHEMES
Childcare Vouchers
The government’s employer-supported Childcare Voucher Scheme is now closed to new applicants.
However, families who joined an eligible scheme on or before 4 October 2018 may still be able to continue receiving and using childcare vouchers, subject to the rules of their existing scheme.
The Children’s House has historically worked with a range of childcare voucher providers, including:
- Edenred
- Childcare Plus
- Computershare
- Chamber Childcare
- Kids Unlimited
- Leapfrog Care 4
- Fideliti
- Sodexo
- KiddiVouchers
- Linking Up
- Allsave
- Apple
If you currently receive childcare vouchers through one of these providers, or through another existing scheme, please contact our team so that we can confirm the current payment arrangements.
Where appropriate, we will be happy to discuss registration with an existing voucher provider that you use.
Not Sure Which Funding Applies to You?
Our administration team will be pleased to discuss the funding available, explain how funded hours work at The Children’s House and help you understand the next steps.