Early Education Funding (Free Childcare Entitlement)
Early Education Funding
Children who attend Willow Cottage are able to claim Early Education Funding to help with the cost of their childcare, subject to their eligibility.
Although the Government or the media often refers to ‘Free Childcare Entitlement‘ or ‘Funded Childcare‘, it is usually better described as Early Education Funding (EEF).
Eligible children are able to claim Funding from the term after they turn 9 months old and it is the same for 3-year-old universal funding.
EEF funding is subject to eligibility and for more information about funding please see www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
- Children attending 2 days per week are able to claim up to 20 Hours Free Childcare Entitlement.
- Children attending 3 or more days per week are able to claim up to 30 Hours Free Childcare Entitlement.
Children are able to claim more than 10 hours per day they attend because the funding is stretched from 38 weeks per year to 50 weeks per year. The funded hours are delivered entirely free of charge during our core hours. When they are stretched, this works out to 1140 hours per year (38 x 30), that are delivered across 12 months, at around 95 hours per month.
Early Education Funding and Fees
The government helps provide childcare to families through its EEF scheme but unfortunately the funding they offer does not deliver the ‘Free Childcare’ promised. However, for most families EEF helps to significantly reduce monthly childcare costs. Please visit our Fees Page for details of how the EEF affects your monthly fees.
Registering for Early Education Funding
Parents and carers need to obtain an Eligibility Code in order to receive any additional funding, over and above the 15-hours universal funding available from 3 years.
The code can be obtained from the Department for Education, by registering at the following site: https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/
You will be contacted by the nursery with more information about funding as part of the registration process.
“Funding-only” entirely free childcare places
Willow Cottage offers only a limited number of funding-only places under the Early Education Funding scheme; this is because the EE Funding rate does not cover the full costs associated with the care we provide. Children with a funding-only place receive the same quality of care as all other children and it is entirely free of charge.
Funding-only places need to be applied for on a term-by-term basis and are allocated at the discretion of the nursery according to a child’s need. Booking patterns will usually include a long day (often Friday) and two or three half-days, either at the beginning or the end of the day. There is no charge to join the waiting list for a funding-only place.
Families who wish to reduce their agreed child’s booking pattern to access a funding-only place will need to ensure there is a funding-only place available as well as agree their new hours of attendance with the manager.
Further resources
Oxfordshire County Council and the Gov.uk site both publish helpful resources on Early Education Funding and eligibility. As the pages change regularly, please visit the sites and search for ‘Free Childcare Entitlement’.
