Parent/Carer Information

Depending on your personal circumstances, your child may be entitled to 2 year-old funding. If your child is eligible, this funding can be used in the same way as the 3 year-old Nursery Education Funding with 15 hours a week free nursery education for 38 weeks of the year.

For more information on funding for 2 year-olds, please have a look at

the https://www.somerset.gov.uk/education-and-families/paying-for-childcare/funding-for-2-year-olds/

to find out if you are eligible. If so you can apply online here: or call 0845 345 9122 for an application form.

ALL 3 and 4 year olds are entitled to the universal 15 hours a week free childcare the term after their 3rd birthday. The Paddocks Nursery & Pre-School are registered with the local education authority and receives funding for education for every 3 and 4 year old.

Nursery Education Funding will fund a maximum number of hours for each term.

Spring (1st January - 31st March)

Summer (1st April - 31st August)

Autumn (1st September - 31st December)

Working families are entitled to an additional 15 hours free childcare so 30 hours in all. You can check you eligibility and apply for this online now on the government’s Childcare Choices website: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk. There is also some info about it here: www.somerset.gov.uk/childrens-services/early-years-for-families/30-hours-of-funded-childcare/

Please go to the bottom of this page and complete the '30hours funding form' once you have received your code.

All children are entitled to the 15hours universal funding, how it works; your child can have a maximum of 15 hours a week if they are term time or this can be stretched over the year with 11 hours a week.

For those who are entitled to 30hours funding they will have an additional 15 hours.

The extended hours will then be a maximum of 30hours a week term time or 22 hours a week over the the years.

If you require more hours than your funding, this is fine we would charge for the additional hours.

You do not need to apply for the 15 hours of 3-4 year old funding, we will claim on your behalf and the money is sent straight to us. You can find more info about Early Years provision in Somerset here: www.somerset.gov.uk/childrens-services/early-years-for- families/early-years-entitlement-information-for-families

There are a number of new childcare options for parents. If you are working you may be eligible for tax-free childcare, 30 hours of funding or tax credits towards the cost of your childcare. The governments Childcare Choices gives a clear description of the options with tools for application: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

You can find out about what childcare options are available locally and apply for funding on the Somerset.Gov website: www.somerset.gov.uk/childrens-services/early-years-for-families/

It is important that you inform us if you sign up to Tax free childcare and let us know your code.