When to apply

A child in England can get 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year, that’s 570 hours of Universal Funding per year. The date you can start claiming depends on your child’s birthday.

How to apply

To apply and use this service you'll need:

a Government Gateway account
your National Insurance number
access to a mobile phone or landline
details of one or more of the following - your UK Passport, tax credits, P60 or a recent payslip

Applying for a code usually takes 20 minutes. You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days. Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code for free childcare to give to us.

How we offer our funding?

Early Learners has rounded the funded entitlement up to 11 hours per week spread over 52 weeks per year, that’s 572 of funded hours per year, giving our parents more. Our nurseries are only closed for bank holidays. We offer funded hours within our regular session times, offering convenience and continuity for working parents.

Universal

Funding

Government Offer

Calculated:

15 hrs per week x 38 (weeks) = 570 per year

570 divided by 52 (weeks) = 10.96 per week

Early Learners Offer

Calculated:

11 hrs per week x 52 (weeks) = 572 per year

572 divided by 52 (weeks) = 11 per week

15hrs
Universal
Funding

Understanding early years funding

In line with the Early Years statutory guidance childcare providers cannot use more than 10 funded hours within one day. Parents are never charged for funded hours. Government funding is intended to deliver free, high quality, flexible childcare. Early Learners do not require a registration fee however we do require a £40.00 deposit to register your child and secure a future place. This is refunded as long as your child starts.

Funded hours is not intended to cover the costs of additional services. Parents can therefore expect to pay for additional services offered by the childcare provider alongside their funded entitlement. This is a private matter between the provider (Early Learners Nurseries) and the parent. All additional services are therefore chargeable. We only accept the payment of fees, monthly, in advance. Parents are required to provide notice in line with our terms & conditions.

Additional Services:

Meals (lunch, dinner or snacks, food activities, baking),

Consumables, (clothing / uniform or sundries - wipes, creams, ),

Additional time (wrap around hours & extra days/ sessions),

Enhanced Activities (trips & outings, extra curricular programmes, special events).

£40.00

Deposit

Options 2

3 Sessions - 13 ½ hours per week - 52 weeks per year

Morning(s)

8am to 12:30pm

4 ½ Hours Session

Afternoon(s)

12:30pm to 5pm

4 ½ Hours Session

Full Day(s)

8am to 5pm

9 Hours Session

E L N

This is a fully funded option with additional time.

Options 1

2 Sessions - 11 hours per week - 52 weeks per year

Morning(s)

7am to 12:30pm

5 ½ Hour Session

Afternoon(s)

12:30pm to 6pm

5 ½ Hour Session

This is a fully funded option.

E L N

Meals

For a small charge of £4.62 per meal, payable monthly, your child may receive a morning meal or an afternoon meal. Meals are prepared on site by our Nursery Chefs. Meals are served approximately:

Breakfast

7am to 8:30am

AM Meal

11am to 12pm

PM Meal

3pm to 4pm

We allow a parent to bring in their own healthy eating homemade cold meal (packed-lunch), where the meal offered is not suitable for children with specific dietary needs or the parent prefers a lower cost option. Please note our childcare provision is unable to heat meals or refrigerate food on our premises. Please refer to our policies & procedures for further information. Meals are not sold separately. We only offer this service as a monthly package. Meals are payable in advance.

Enhanced Activities

Here at Early Learners throughout the year we offer a wide range of enhanced activities for your child to take part in. Funded hours is not intended to cover the costs of additional services. Parents can therefore expect to pay for any enhanced activities offered by the childcare provider alongside their funded entitlement.