Government Funding

We offer government funded free childcare places for children aged 2 years and over. You can find out more information about the available schemes, and if you are eligible, on the governments Childcare Choices website.

We also accept payments via the Tax-Free Childcare scheme for any fees not covered by the funding.

Funding applies from the term after your child's birthday:

Birthday in September, October, November, or December:

Funded from January

Birthday in January, February, or March:

Funded from April

Birthday in April, May, June, July, or August:

Funded from September

Funded Places at Thundridge Preschool

The funding we receive from the government is far less than we charge for our standard places. The funding only covers enough for minimum numbers of staff, and no other costs. Therefore we put some conditions on how funding can be used and what it covers:

  • Funding can be used for Morning, Lunch, and Afternoon sessions. It does not cover Breakfast or Afterschool Clubs
  • You do not have to use the full entitlement, e.g. you can use 6 of your 15 funded hours if you like.
  • We claim the funding in the second week of term (not half term, see below). You cannot adjust your funded hours until the next term.
  • You can split your funding between us and another setting or childminder.
  • Funding only covers education and care.
  • Any sessions not covered by funding are charged at our standard rates.
  • Funding does not cover food, trips, or consumables such as craft supplies, or care items such as nappies, wipes etc
  • We charge a fee to provide snack. If you prefer, you can provide your own healthy snack in a named container each session instead.
  • We ask for a contribution per half term to help cover the cost of crafts supplies, playdough, cooking ingredients, etc
  • Milk is provided by the government and continues to be free for funded children.

Funding Types

There are four ways to get additional funding, each with slightly different rules:

Universal 15 Hours  

  • Available for all children from the term after their 3rd birthday
  • Preschool will give you a form to complete

30 Hours 
Working Parents

  • 15 hours in addition to the Universal 15 hours to make 30 hours
  • You must apply online to check eligibility
  • You MUST reconfirm eligibility every 3 months to continue to get this funding
  • You will need a Government Gateway account

15h for 2 year olds
Working Parents 

  • You must apply online to check eligibility
  • You MUST reconfirm eligibility every 3 months to continue to get this funding
  • You will need a Government Gateway account

15h for 2 year olds
Non Working Parents

Process

  1. Email preschool to confirm sessions and availability
  2. Apply for a funding code (except for Universal 15 Hours only)
  3. Complete the Funding Form
  4. You MUST include NHS number, NI Numbers, funding codes
  5. Send the completed funding form to the preschool email address (admin@ThundridgePreschool.co.uk)
  6. Pay any invoices that are due for fees not covered by the funding.
  7. For working parents, log into your Childcare Account to renew eligibility every three months.

Term Dates for Funding Purposes

The government has very strict cut off dates for eligibility and for claiming funding. When they talk about 'the term after your child's birthday' or 'apply by the end of term', they mean these dates:

Autumn Term
1st September to 31st December

Spring Term
1st January to 31st March

Summer Term
1st April to 31st August

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