At Forest and Coastal Nurseries, we understand that childcare funding can sometimes feel complicated. Our team is here to help families understand the different funding options available and how they can be used across our settings.

Depending on your child's age and your family's circumstances, you may be entitled to up to 30 hours of funded early education and childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

Families attending our nurseries on a full-year basis can choose to stretch their annual funded entitlement across 48 weeks. This means fewer funded hours are available each week, but they are spread across more weeks of the year.

Working Parent Funding – From 9 Months

Eligible working parents with children from 9 months old to school age may be entitled to funded childcare.

Parents must apply through the Government childcare service and, if eligible, will receive an 11-digit eligibility code to provide to the nursery.

Eligibility must be reconfirmed as required by the Government to ensure funding continues. We recommend applying in plenty of time before you wish to begin accessing your funded place.

Early Learning for 2 Year Olds

Kent County Council's Early Learning for 2 Year Olds scheme, previously known as Free for 2 (FF2), provides up to 15 hours of funded early education and childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year for eligible 2-year-olds.

Families attending Forest and Coastal Nurseries full year can stretch this entitlement across 48 weeks, providing approximately 12 funded hours per week.

This is a separate entitlement for families and children who meet the Government's additional support criteria.

Eligibility may include families receiving certain forms of financial support, as well as some children who:

• are looked after by a local authority or meet certain previously looked-after criteria

• have an Education, Health and Care (EHC) Plan

• receive Disability Living Allowance

• meet other Government eligibility criteria

• Once a child has been confirmed as eligible for Early Learning for 2 Year Olds, their entitlement continues until they become eligible for their 3-year-old funded place.

Families who are eligible for Working Parent Funding may also be able to access this alongside their Early Learning for 2 Year Olds entitlement, up to the maximum funded entitlement available.

For further information or help with Early Learning for 2 Year Olds,

please contact Kent Children and Families Information Service (CFIS) on 03000 412323.

Working Parent Funding

Eligible working families with children from 9 months old to school age can receive up to 30 funded hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, subject to meeting the Government's eligibility criteria.

At Forest and Coastal Nurseries, families attending full year can stretch their annual funded entitlement across 48 weeks, providing approximately 24 funded hours per week.

Parents will need to provide us with their valid 11-digit Working Parent eligibility code, and eligibility must be reconfirmed as required by the Government.

Funding for 3 & 4 Year Olds

All 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 funded hours per week for 38 weeks of the year, regardless of their parents' working status. This is known as the Universal Entitlement.

For families attending Forest and Coastal Nurseries full year, the Universal Entitlement can be stretched across 48 weeks, providing approximately 12 funded hours per week.

Eligible working families may receive up to 30 funded hours per week for 38 weeks of the year in total.

When stretched across our 48-week full-year funding model, the full entitlement provides approximately 24 funded hours per week.

Our Funded Sessions

At Forest and Coastal Nurseries, funded childcare can be offered on a term-time or full-year stretched basis, depending on your child's entitlement and agreed attendance pattern.

Our funded session options include:

• 8:00am – 1:00pm

• 1:00pm – 6:00pm

• 8:00am – 4:00pm

• 8:00am – 6:00pm

Term-Time Funding – 38 Weeks

• 15-hour entitlement = up to 15 funded hours per week

• 30-hour entitlement = up to 30 funded hours per week

Full-Year Stretched Funding – 48 Weeks

• 15-hour entitlement = approximately 12 funded hours per week

• 30-hour entitlement = approximately 24 funded hours per week

The number of funded hours within a session will depend on your child's individual entitlement. Where a session is longer than the funded hours available, any additional childcare hours will be charged at the nursery's applicable rate.

The exact combination of sessions available is subject to your child's entitlement, attendance pattern, your chosen Forest and Coastal Nurseries setting and availability.

Additional Charges & Optional Extras

Government funding covers the provision of early education and childcare. It does not necessarily cover additional services such as meals, snacks, nappies, sun cream, additional childcare hours or extra-curricular activities.

Where Forest and Coastal Nurseries provides additional consumables, meals or activities alongside funded childcare, any associated charges will be clearly explained to parents.

Consumables and additional activities are optional. Families who choose not to opt in can discuss alternative arrangements with their nursery.

Registration

A registration fee may apply when securing a childcare place, depending on the type of place and funding being accessed.

Our standard registration fees are:

• Place required within 6 months – £100

• Place being reserved for more than 6 months – £200

Different arrangements apply to children accessing Early Learning for 2 Year Olds funding, in accordance with Kent County Council's funding requirements.

Please speak to our team and we will confirm the registration arrangements applicable to your child's place.

Tax-Free Childcare

Working families may also be eligible for the Government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme.

For every £8 you pay into your Tax-Free Childcare account, the Government adds £2.

Families can receive up to:

• £2,000 per child per year

• £4,000 per year for a disabled child

Tax-Free Childcare can be used towards eligible childcare costs at registered childcare providers.

Childcare Vouchers

The Childcare Voucher scheme is closed to new applicants, although families who were already part of a scheme before it closed and remain eligible may still be able to use their vouchers.

Forest and Coastal Nurseries accepts childcare vouchers from participating providers and eligible employer schemes.

Please be aware that Tax-Free Childcare and Childcare Vouchers cannot be claimed at the same time.

Need Help With Your Funding?

We appreciate that the different funding entitlements can be confusing. Our team is happy to help you understand the options available and how funded childcare can be accessed at Forest and Coastal Nurseries.

For the latest Government eligibility information, applications and childcare support, please visit Best Start in Life or GOV.UK.

For Kent's Early Learning for 2 Year Olds scheme, you can also contact Kent CFIS on 03000 412323.

All funded places are subject to eligibility, availability and the funding delivery pattern of your chosen Forest and Coastal Nurseries setting.

Contact

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