Children who attend Willow Cottage are able to claim Early Education Funding to help with the cost of their childcare, subject to their eligibility.
Eligible children are able to claim working family Funding from the term after they turn 9 months old, 2-year-old funding from the term after they turn 2 and universal funding the term after they turn 3.
A comprehensive guide to early education funding and much more can be found at https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/
- Children attending 2 days per week are able to claim 15.2 hours per week stretched funding (equivalent to 20 Hours term-time funding).
- Children attending 3 days per week are able to claim 22.8 hours per week stretched funding (equivalent to 30 Hours term-time funding).
Full day places
Children who attend full day booking patterns will receive these funded hours, during our core hours, as part of their regular attendance.
Funding-only places
Children entitled to funding are able to apply for a funding-only place. These places are entirely free of charge. There are no registration fees or holding deposits, or fees for consumables. Places are for either 2 or 3 days per week 50 weeks of the year.
https://willow-cottage.com/availability-request/
Funding delivery during our core hours
Early Education Funding is delivered for all children during our core hours. Our core hours are as follows:
Spring term 2026:
- Monday: 8:30am – 5:30pm
- Tuesday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
- Wednesday: 10:30am – 5:30pm
- Thursday: 8:30am – 3:30pm
- Friday: 8:30am – 5:30pm
Summer term 2026
- To be confirmed before start of term, according to staff availability.
Our core hours or session times for Early Education Funded hours for the Summer term 2026 will be confirmed during March 2026.
Children who attend full days will receive their funded hours delivered as part of their regular normal attendance, during these times.
Early Education Funded hours are delivered during our core hours entirely free of charge.
Core hours that are not funded by EEF are charged at the age-appropriate Oxfordshire County Council Early Education Funding rate.
Stretched funding
Children can claim more than 10 hours per day they attend because the funding is stretched from 38 weeks per year to 50 weeks per year. This works out to 1,140 hours per year (38 x 30), delivered across 12 months, at around 95 hours per month.
20 hours term time funding stretches to 15.2 hours per week over 50 weeks.
30 hours term time funding stretches to 22.8 hours per week over 50 weeks.
Stretched termly delivery
Funding is stretched to be delivered over 50 weeks per year. We do not offer term-time only places. Please note that we usually deliver our funding over 3 stretched terms –
Autumn Term – 1st September -> 31st December
Spring Term – 1st January -> 31st April
Summer Term 1st May -> 31 August
Attendance Patterns
Children who attend full day booking patterns will receive these funded hours as part of their regular attendance.
Children attending a 2-day funding only booking pattern, claiming 20 hours funding, will attend for up to 15.2 hours per week during these sessions over 2 agreed days. Attendance will include either a Monday or Friday and one other shorter day.
Children attending a 3-day funding only booking pattern, claiming 30 hours funding, will attend for up to 22.8 hours per week during these sessions over 3 agreed days. Attendance will include either a Monday or Friday and two other shorter days.
Termly changes to session times
During the final month of each term, once the session times for the next term have been published, families will be contacted by the nursery with details of the next term’s session times and to agree revised drop-off and pickup times.
Consistency across all types of funded places
All of our funding delivery and contractual arrangements are applicable equally to both fully funded places as well as full day places.
Early Education Funding and Fees
Please visit our Fees Page for details of how the EEF affects our monthly fees.
Registering for Early Education Funding
Eligible children can obtain their code by following guidance set out at https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/
Please enquire about a place in the usual way via our website.
https://willow-cottage.com/availability-request/
Bank Holiday, closures and Free Hours
Children will receive all their funded hours stretched across the year. Children who would usually attend on a bank holiday will still receive their full entitlement.
Further resources
A comprehensive guide to early education funding and much more can be found at https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/
