Funding

Understanding the 30-Hour Funding

We are proud to offer 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible two-year-olds. This government-backed scheme is designed to support working families by covering the cost of high-quality early years education.

1. Is my child eligible?

In England, most working parents of 2-year-olds can now access 30 hours of funding if they meet the following DfE criteria:

Working Status: Both parents (or the sole parent in a single-parent household) must be in work.
Earnings: Each parent must expect to earn at least £2,643.68 over the next 3 months (the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minimum/Living Wage).
Income Cap: Neither parent can have an "adjusted net income" of more than £100,000 per year.

2. How the hours work at our school

Because we are a school-based provision, we offer these hours during term time (38 weeks a year).

Funded Hours: 9:00 am – 3:00 pm (Monday to Friday)
What's Included: The grant covers the cost of care and early education during these core hours.
What's Not Included: The grant does not cover "extras" such as meals, snacks, or our wrap-around care (7:30 am–9 am and 3:00 pm–6 pm).

3. When to apply

The DfE has strict deadlines. You must apply for your code the term before your child turns two or the term before you wish to start using the hours:

If your child's 2nd birthday is...	You can start using hours...	Apply by...
1 Jan – 31 March	Summer Term (from April)	31 March
1 April – 31 Aug	Autumn Term (from Sept)	31 August
1 Sept – 31 Dec	Spring Term (from Jan)	31 December

4. How to get your code

Visit the Childcare Choices Website to check eligibility.
If eligible, you will receive an 11-digit eligibility code.
Bring this code to the school office, along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s Date of Birth.
Crucial: You must reconfirm your eligibility code every 3 months via your government account, or the funding will stop.