GOVERNMENT FUNDING
We understand that government funding for childcare can sometimes be confusing, so we’ve put together this simple guide to help you understand how we offer funded places at The Little Magpies Nursery.
What Is Government Funding?
Government funding is available to support families with the cost of childcare. This includes:
- 15 hours a week for eligible 2-year-olds
- 15 hours a week for all 3- and 4-year-olds
- Up to 30 hours a week for eligible working families with 3- and 4-year-olds
Our Funding Offer
We primarily offer stretched funding, which spreads your child’s funded hours over 48 weeks of the year rather than using them only during term-time. This means your child can attend more consistently throughout the year.
We also have limited term-time-only spaces available for families who prefer this option.
How Does Stretched Funding Work?
Instead of receiving 15 or 30 hours per week over 38 weeks (term-time), you can choose to stretch those hours across 48 weeks of the year. Here’s how that looks:
- 15 hours term-time becomes approx. 12 hours per week stretched
- 30 hours term-time becomes approx. 24 hours per week stretched
Closures And Funding Breaks
Our nursery will be closed for the following periods each year:
- Christmas: Completely closed from Christmas Eve until the New Year
- Easter: 1-week funding break during the second week of the Easter holidays
- Summer: 2-week funding break at the end of the summer holidays
You will not be charged for these specific closure periods as they are excluded from the funding stretch.
Private Sessions During Funding Breaks
During the nursery funding break periods (the last week of the Easter holidays and the last two weeks of the summer holidays), any private sessions that a child attend will still be chargeable. If your child usually attends a half-day or full-day private session, these sessions will continue to be delivered as normal during the breaks, and standard session fees will apply. This ensures that your child’s routine can remain consistent even when government funding is not applied.
Additional Information
We are here to help you understand your funding entitlement and how it can be used at our setting. Please speak to a member of the team if you have any questions or if you’d like support applying for funding through the government portal.
Thank you for choosing The Little Magpies Nursery!
