What You Need To Know About Government Funding
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Government Funding
Provides 15 or 30 (if eligible) hours of support to help parents with their childcare costs.
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Funding Doesn’t Cover Everything
Funding does not cover the full cost of everything that we do. It only covers the delivery of the EYFS during our specified hours.
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We Stretch Your Hours
Funding only cover the 38 weeks of term time. As we are open 51 weeks a year, we stretch the funding to cover those week. This means less hours available per week but full year care.
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May Not Suit Every Booking Pattern
Funded hours are only available during certain set patterns, which may not cover full days or sessions.
What Is Government Funding?
What is Free Entitlement Funding?
Universal Free Entitlement Funding is Government funding to cover the cost for up to 570 hours per year/15 hours a week of childcare during term time (38 weeks a year). This is available for all three and four year old children in England.
What is Extended Free Entitlement Funding?
Eligible parents can claim further Government funding in addition to the Universal FE Funding. Extended FE Funding covers an additional 570 hours per year/15 hours a week of childcare during term time (38 weeks a year). This equates to 1140 hours per year / 30 hours per week. Again, this is available for all three and four year old children in England. Extended Free Entitlement also offers 15 hours a week for eligible families for children aged 9 months plus
You may be eligible to claim Extended FE Funding if:
- Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a single-parent family)
- Each parent earns a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage, and less than £100,000 per year.
- This includes parents who are employed and self-employed.
What Can You Claim?
9 Months
Ages 9 Mths - 2 Yrs
Eligible Families Only
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30 Hours per Week Funded Childcare
2 Year Olds
Ages 2 - 3 Years
Eligible Families Only
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30 Hours per Week Funded Childcare
3 Year Olds
Ages 3 - 4 Years
Eligible Families Only
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30 Hours per Week Funded Childcare
3 Year Olds
Ages 3 - 4 Years
Available For All Families
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15 Hours per Week Funded Childcare
When Will My Child Be Eligible?
Children will be eligible to receive funding from the start of the next full term after turning 9 months or following their 2nd or 3rd birthdays.
A Child Born Between:
Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:
1st September after turning 9 months or following their 2nd and 3rd birthday, until statutory school age.
Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:
1st April after turning 9 months or following their 2nd and 3rd birthday, until statutory school age.
Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:
1st January after turning 9 months or following their 2nd and 3rd birthday, until statutory school age.
What Does Funding Include?
The FE funding only covers the cost of the provision of childcare and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The funding does not include any of the other services that our nurseries provide.
These include, but are not limited to:
• Meals and Snacks • Nappies, Formula & Consumables • Additional Hours • Our 07:30 Start • Uniform • Enrichment Activities • Laundry Services • Forest School &/or Beach School • Enhanced access to our Famly App
+ All those little extras that make The Nursery School Company so special
Government funding does not cover the cost of food, nor the delivery of the experiences for both our children, and our parents, that The Nursery School Company provide. However, all our additional products and services are provided free of charge to all Parents who purchase our ‘Dining Package’.
Dining Package
At The Nursery School Company, mealtimes are a cherished part of the day — a time for connection, calm, and learning.
We believe food should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with tables laid beautifully and children encouraged to develop good manners and cutlery skills.
Government Funding does not cover the cost of Our restaurant quality meals and snacks, created between our professional chefs and nutritionists.
Our Dining Package covers all Meals and Snacks provided during funded ours.
We are dedicated to creating a positive, nurturing mealtime culture that supports:
- Healthy growth
- Emotional wellbeing
- Independence
- Joy in eating and sharing food together
Our Dining Package is charged at £25.00 per fully funded day.
Parents not wishing to purchase this package will be offered a FE Only Placement.
Government funding does not cover the cost of food, nor the delivery of the experiences for both our children, and our parents, that The Nursery School Company provide. However, all our additional products and services are provided free of charge to all Parents who purchase our ‘Dining Package’.
Additional Products & Services
All of our additional products and services not included in the Government Funding, are provided Free of Charge to all Parents who purchase our Dining Package.
This spectacular deal gives you access to our full range of services and our industry leading enrichment programme.
Enrichment Activities within the Classroom
As part of our Enrichment Programme, The Nursery School Company provides additional activities, over and above the EYFS, in order to enhance our curriculum. These may include activities such as Sport, Yoga, Dance, Music, Cooking & French.
Dining& Nutrition
At The Nursery School Company we are passionate about food, and as such our professional Chefs create restaurant quality meals and snacks. Working with nutritional specialists our wholesome and delicious meals provide growing children with everything they nutritionally need, whilst developing their palettes. We believe that mealtimes should be an integral part of the day where tables are laid and food is enjoyed at a leisurely pace. We also promote table manners and cutlery skills.
Enrichment Activities beyond the Classroom
At The Nursery School Company we dedicated to producing Confident, Independent Learners and our Curriculum is tailored to provide our Children with the opportunities to discover the world around them. As such, these exciting excursions are an integral part of our Company Ethos. These wonderful experiences may include activities such as Walks in the Local Community, Fruit Picking, Farm Visits & Museums Trips.
Forest and/or Beach School
Forest/Beach School is a long term holistic learning process that aims to raise confidence, self-awareness and self-esteem in children. Regular sessions take place in a woodland, shoreline or natural environments, where the landscape itself adds to the experience of learning.
Famly App
Access to our Famly App allows parents to stay up to date with their child’s activities throughout the day. We work hard to engage parents with regular photos and updates on what their child has done, eaten and been changed during the day and also provide observations to track children’s development.
Toiletries
The Nursery School Company provides everything we need to keep your child clean and comfortable, from Nappies and wipes to nappy bags. We also provide Sun Cream to keep them protected and medication such as Calpol and Piriton.
Early Start
At The Nursery School Company we understand how busy parents are and our 07:30 start time allows for maximum flexibility.
Events
The Nursery School Company integrates numerous events into our calendar throughout the year for both our children and our parents. From celebrating Religious Festivals and Mothers and Fathers Day to our Graduation Ceremony’s and Parents Drinks Parties.
How It Works
Universal FE and Extended FE funding are both structured to cover the 38 weeks a year of term time. The Nursery School Company however does not offer term time only places. Our places are booked for the period of 51 weeks of the year that our Nurseries are open.
Therefore, The Nursery School Company takes the Government funded hours and stretches them out over those 51 weeks. Applied over the 51 weeks this equates to 11.18 hours of FE funding and 22.36 hours of Extended funding available per week.
A maximum of 10 hours of funding can be claimed per day.
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One Full Day
(Stretched funding x 51 weeks)
for 10.5 hours from 7:30am to 6pm -
• Funded Hours: 10hrs @ £0.00
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• Additional Hours: 0.5hrs @ Hourly Rate
- • Dining Package: 10hrs @ £25 per day
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One Full Week
(Stretched funding x 51 weeks)
for 10.5 hours from 7:30am to 6pm -
• Funded Hours: 22.36hrs @ £0.00
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• Additional Hours: 30.14hrs @ Hourly Rate
- • Dining Package: 22.36hrs @ £25 per day
Funded Hours
Unlike a lot of Nurseries, The Nursery School Company allows a total of 10 hours of funding to be claimed per day, during certain set patterns. These are funded hours provided at no cost.
Additional Hours
These are the hours not covered by your funding. Additional hours will be charged at the respective sessional hourly rate for the remainder of that session.
Dining Package
As previously explained, meals and snacks are not included in funded hours and are charged separately.
Fees
Our fees are calculated on the 51 weeks of the year that we are open, averaged into 12 monthly payments i.e. each invoice is for 4.25 weeks. The funded hours claimed will be shown on your monthly invoice as free hours. The total number of hours which can be claimed per day is 10. The Nursery School Company will only charge for the additional hours and for items not included in the FE funding. Additional fees will be charged at the current consumables rate.
Below is an example of how FE funding typically* affects your fees
Standard Monthly Fees
Based upon a 3 full day week
£1,115.64
Fees Inc 15 Hour Funding
Based upon a 3 full day week
£834.63
Fees Inc 30 Hour Funding
Based upon a 3 full day week
£553.62
*Figures shown are a guide only and do not include any additional services not covered by FE Funding. Once we have discussed your individual requirements, we will be able to calculate your exact fees
Headcount Day
Headcount Day is the cut off each term where children wishing to claim funding must be in attendance in order to receive the funding for that term. This applies to all children with the exception of Local Authority funded 2-year-olds (with a valid 6-digit eligibility code) who can start at any point during the term. The exact date for Headcount is set by the local authority and dates can vary. They are however usually towards the end of January, April and September.
If you wish to join The Nursery School Company after Headcount Day and are not currently attending another nursery, we will not be able claim any funding until the following. All sessions will therefore be charged at their respective full rates.
If you are wishing to move to The Nursery School Company from another provider, then The Nursery School Company will be able to claim any unused funding from your previous provider.
Headcount is also the cut off for those wishing to increase their funded sessions. If you are an existing parent and are planning on increasing the number of session in your booking pattern, this needs to be in place by headcount day. Increases after headcount will not be eligible for funding until the following term. All sessions will therefore be charged at their respective full rates.
Free Entitlement Only
For Parents who chose not to purchase the additional Dining Package and wish to access their Government Funded Hours without any additional costs, they choose an FE Only Placement.
The FE funding only covers the cost for the provision of childcare and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The funding does not include any of the other services that our nurseries provide.
Therefore, unfortunately we are unable to provide any of our wonderful additional Products and Services with this Placement and Parents will need to provide all hot meals and snacks in line with our ‘Packed Meal Policy’.
Whilst our additional products are not provided, it goes without saying that all children will receive the same level of care and access to the EYFS.
FE Only sessions can be taken during all of the same published sessions.
For more information about FE Only Placements, please speak to you Admissions & Parent Liaison Manager.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
What Is EYPP?
Currently EYPP pays an additional £1 per hour per eligible child, this equates to just over £570 per child taking up their full 570 hours. Children do not need to take up their full EYFE to receive EYPP.
EYPP will be paid in proportion to the child’s actual EYFE hours. Note that EYPP will be applied to:
- 9-month-old EYFE for working families
- 2-year-old EYFE Local Authority Issued and working families
- 3 & 4 year old Universal EYFE only (for example up to 15 hours per week), this will not apply to Extended EYFE
From September 2025, when the EYFE for working families expands to allow up to 30 hours per week, only the first half of the hours will have additional EYPP applied (up to a maximum of 15 hours)
Use of EYPP?
- To enhance outcomes for disadvantaged children (e.g., additional teaching resources, staff development, targeted interventions).
- Spending decisions are evidence-based, drawing on best practices.
- Funding is used within the academic year it’s allocated
Where Do I Apply?
As part on of claiming your FE funding, The Nursery School Company will provide your information for the Local Authority to check your eligibility.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
What Is DAF?
DAF provides additional funding per eligible child/year to support children receiving Disability Living Allowance.
Children will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:
- the child is in receipt of child Disability Living Allowance (DLA) and the child receives any of the following Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE):
- 9-month-old EYFE for working families
- 2-year-old EYFE for working families
- Local Authority Issued 2-year-old EYFE
- 3 & 4 year old Universal EYFE
- 3 & 4 year old Extended EYFE for working families.
Purpose of DAF?
To make reasonable adjustments, purchase or adapt equipment, or otherwise improve accessibility for children with special needs.
For us to claim Disability Access Fund (DAF) funding for a child, the parent must provide:
- Evidence that the child receives Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
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- Usually, a copy of the official DLA award letter from the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP).
- This must clearly state the child’s name, address, and confirmation of the DLA award.
- A completed DAF claim form (provided by us)
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- This form confirms the parent’s consent for the nursery to claim the funding.
- It may ask the parent to declare:
- That the child is taking up some of their free early education entitlement at the nursery.
- That they want this nursery to receive the DAF payment (as DAF can only be paid to one provider per year).
- Proof of the child’s identity and date of birth
- Confirmation of funded hours
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- The child must be in receipt of free entitlement funding in order to access DAF.
- Parents will need to sign a parent declaration form confirming the hours being claimed.
The Nursery School Company Bursary
At each Nursery School Company setting we offer a select number of Bursaries. Bursary places are completely funded and will require no additional fees to be paid. These are extremely sought after and will need to be applied for well in advance. Bursaries are usually awarded to families whom need additional support however are open to all families to apply for.
For more information about our Nursery School Company Bursaries, please email enquiries@thenurseryschoolcompany.co.uk