Government Funding

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.

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.

Funded Hours at The Nursery School Company

What Does the Funding Include? 

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 unfortunately include for any of the other services that our nurseries provide.

These include, but are not limited to:

        • Meal and Snacks
        • Nappies, Formula & consumables
        • Additional hours
        • Administration costs
        • Uniform
        • Enrichment Activities
        • Laundry Services
        • Forest School

All products and services not covered by Funding will be charged at The Nursery School Company’s current consumables rate during funded hours whilst on our Standard FE placement. For up to date consumable charges, please ask your Admissions & Parent Liaison Manager.

Funded Hours at The Nursery School Company

Funding at The Nursery School Company

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.

The Nursery School Company Fees

How Our Fees are Calculated

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

£960.72

Based upon a 3 full day week

Fees Inc FE Funding

15 Hour Funding

£717.79

Based upon a 3 full day week

Fees Inc Extended FE Funding

30 Hour Funding

£479.54

Based upon a 3 full day week

*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

Claiming Government Funding

How Do I Claim Universal FE Funding?

The Nursery School Company will send you an information pack prior to your Child turning three. This pack will contain all the paperwork we need in order to claim the Universal Funding on your behalf. This will then be processed ready for the start of the next eligible term (see table below).

 

How Do I Claim Extended Funding? 

If you wish to claim Extended FE Funding you will need to provide us with an access code to allow us to claim the funding on your behalf. You can do this by signing up online at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. Please be sure to do this in advance as The Nursery School Company can only start claiming your extended funding from the term after we verify your code with the local authority.

When Will Your Child Be Eligible?

When Can My Child Claim Their Funded Hours?

Funded hours can be claimed at the start of the first new term following your child’s 3rd Birthday.

A Child Born Between:

1st April & 31st August

Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:

1st September following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age

1st January & 31st March

Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:

1st April following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age

1st September & 31st December

Will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from:

1st January following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age

FE Only Placements

The Nursery School Company does offer placements to parents only looking to access their Free Entitlement. Our FE Only Placements are available on certain sessions throughout the week. For more information about our FE Only Placements please speak with your Admissions & Parent Liaison Manager.

Fully Funded Places

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