Stonegate Church of England Primary School

Universal 15-hour funding

Currently, all 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours per week during term time of free childcare, up to a maximum of 570 hours per year. At Little Acorns your child can enjoy 15 hours of quality educational learning through play each week and this is available to you from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday.

• Children born 1st January to 31st March – funding will start from April

• Children born 1st April to 31st August – funding will start from September

• Children born 1st September to 31st December – funding will start from January

These sessions may be distributed over the week as you require subject to availability.

It is our policy that every child will come for a minimum of 2 sessions over 2 separate days.

You can share your government funded provision between two nursery settings. You can also purchase additional hours/sessions and your child may attend up to ten sessions a week.

All sessions are subject to availability and will be awarded according to our Admissions Policy which is available to view in full on the school website.

Any sessions over the 15 hours’ Government funded entitlement will be charged at £9 p/h as indicated on the table below.

Any extra sessions your child is registered to attend will need to be paid for to cover costs even if your child does not attend due to illness or any other reason. If you do not pay your child’s fees regularly you put any additional sessions your child is attending at risk. This will not affect your 15-hour entitlement.

*We can provide a hot or cold meal for your child through the school’s provider Chartwells Catering Service at a further cost of £2.85 per meal.  Childcare vouchers cannot be used to purchase food.

Additional Funding Available

30-hour provision

We have limited places available to children of families who are eligible for the 30 hours funded childcare. Parents will need to meet certain criteria to be eligible for the funding and will need to apply for funding themselves. For more information and to check eligibility please visit the government website. www.childcarechoices.gov.uk  

2 Year-Old Funding

From April 2024, working families with 2 year olds will be eligible to claim 15 hours funded childcare. Families must apply through www.childcarechoices.gov.uk and receive an 11 digit voucher code. Funding can be claimed the term after your child turns 2:

• Children born 1st January to 31st March – funding will start from April

• Children born 1st April to 31st August – funding will start from September

• Children born 1st September to 31st December – funding will start from January

If eligible, parents will be given an eligibility code to share with us and once confirmed we will be able to confirm your funded childcare with us. These sessions/hours may be distributed over the week as you require subject to availability.  You can also purchase additional sessions and your child may attend up to ten sessions a week.

Please note that parents will need to re-check their eligibility every 3 months. If your circumstances change and you are no longer eligible to receive the full 30 hour funded childcare you will enter a period of grace when we can discuss your options with you.