Parent Guidance for Childcare Funding

Our stretched funded hours will be between the hours of 8am and 6pm, over 48 weeks of the year. If you are claiming 15 hours, these will be offered at 2.5 hours per day over a 5-day week. If you are claiming 30 hours, these will be offered at 5 hours per day.

We also offer limited fully funded spaces which will be over 38 weeks at 15 or 30 hours per week.

You can use the 9 Months, Free for Two, and Universal 15 Hours funding at a preschool, nursery, or childminder that has signed up with the KCC to provide this service. There are many different patterns of funding delivery offered. (Please see our pattern above.)

Before Accepting Your Child's Place

Check with the childcare provider whether:

• They suit your child’s needs.
• There are any extra conditions attached to their placement.

You can split your 15 hours between providers, for example, a nursery and a childminder. Both must be signed up to deliver 2-year-old funding. However, you cannot use more than two sites each day. You do not have to use the full 15 hours offered.

Not all providers can be flexible in how they offer free hours, so check with your chosen provider to ensure their offer suits your needs.

Stretched Funding Pattern

Some providers may offer a stretched pattern of hours. This means you will get fewer hours per week but for more weeks of the year. You will need to discuss this with your chosen provider. We follow this pattern, stretching funding over 48 weeks, meaning you will need to pay in full for three weeks.

Academic Periods

The 48 weeks of free hours can be used in line with the following academic periods:

• Autumn: 1 September to 31 December
• Spring: 1 January to the last day of the spring holiday
• Summer: First day of the summer term to 31 August

What the Provider Needs from You

To claim funding, we will ask for:

• Your voucher code
• Your child’s birth certificate or passport
• A completed parental declaration form (we will claim the funding for you)

There is no monetary value to you – the entitlement is up to 570 hours of free childcare per year. The year starts when your child first becomes eligible for funding. The provider can only claim funding:

• From the date that eligibility is confirmed
• If your child is in the correct date of birth range to receive a free place
• Once your child is present in a setting

Funding cannot be backdated.

What the Funding Covers

The funding is for early education and childcare. It is not intended to cover:

• Meals
• Sun cream
• Additional hours
• Activities (Boogie Mites, Forest School, Dough Disco, Sensory Room)

We have an extracurricular charge per day for 2-year-olds and 3-year-olds, which applies to all funded children.

EYPP Funding

The nursery can claim EYPP funding on your behalf if you receive any of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
• Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
• Support under Part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
• The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) with an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
• Working Tax Credit run-on (paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Universal Credit – your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax (not including any benefits)

This funding is available on a term-time-only basis with limited spaces. (Ask if you require an EYPP-funded space, and we will let you know if we have availability.)

Disability Access Fund

Your child may also be entitled to Disability Access Fund if you receive Disability Allowance for your child.