Early Education Funding (EEF)
Children attending Willow Cottage can claim Early Education Funding to help with the cost of their childcare, subject to eligibility.
Eligible children can claim:
- Working-family funding from the term after they turn 9 months old.
- 2-year-old funding from the term after they turn 2.
- Universal funding from the term after they turn 3.
(For a comprehensive guide to early education funding eligibility and to obtain your claim code, please visit the government’s Best Start in Life website).
Stretched Funding
To ensure families have consistent childcare throughout the year, we do not offer term-time-only places. Instead, we “stretch” your funding over 50 weeks of the year (rather than the standard 38-week term time).
When standard term-time funding is stretched over 50 weeks, the weekly allowances are adjusted as follows:
| Term-Time Entitlement | Stretched Weekly Allowance | Attendance Pattern |
| 15 Hours | Up to 11.4 hours (11 hrs 24 mins) | Over 2 agreed days |
| 16 Hours | Up to 12.16 hours | Over 2 agreed days |
| 24 Hours | Up to 18.24 hours | Over 3 agreed days |
| 30 Hours | Up to 22.8 hours | Over 4 agreed days |
Termly Delivery Dates
We deliver this stretched funding across three terms. Please note that our Summer term stretched funding begins on 1st May, not 1st April.
- Autumn Term: 1st September – 31st December
- Spring Term: 1st January – 30th April
- Summer Term: 1st May – 31st August
Core Hours
Early Education Funding is delivered exclusively during our designated Core Hours, and are delivered entirely free of charge.
Core Hours for Autumn Term 2026:
- Monday: 08:30 – 17:30
- Tuesday: 12:00 – 17:30
- Wednesday: 12:00 – 17:30
- Thursday: 12:00 – 17:30
- Friday: 08:30 – 17:30
Note: Core hours or session times are confirmed 4 weeks before the start of each new term and may occasionally change depending on staffing availability or other external factors.
Additional Voluntary Hours
If your child attends for additional hours beyond their free funded entitlement:
- Extra time falling within our core hours is charged at the age-appropriate Oxfordshire County Council (OCC) EEF rate.
- Any attendance outside of these core hours is charged at our standard flat rate (please refer to our standard monthly fee schedule).
Attendance Patterns
Our funding delivery and contractual arrangements apply equally to both Fully Funded Places and Full-Day Places.
- Full-Day Places: Children will automatically receive their funded hours as part of their regular daily attendance.
- Funding-Only Places: Children claiming 16, 24, or 30 hours of funding on a 2, 3, or 4-day booking pattern will receive their stretched weekly hours across their agreed days. These booking patterns must include a “long day” on either a Monday or a Friday, alongside shorter mid-week days.
Bank Holidays & Closures
Children receive their full funded entitlement stretched across the year. If a bank holiday or nursery closure falls on your child’s usual funded day, those funded hours are safely retained and rearranged for a mutually convenient time so you never miss out on your entitlement.
How to Register
- Check Eligibility & Get Your Code: Visit Best Start in Life.
- Apply for a Place: Submit a formal enquiry via our Availability Request form.