Early Years Entitlement Funding
Local Authority 2 Year Funding – for eligible 2 year olds
If your family is in receipt of certain benefits, your child is adopted, under a Special Guardianship Order, receives Disability Living Allowance or has an EHCP then your child may be able to access 15 hours per week of free childcare during term time. Children are eligible from the term following their 2nd birthday (1st September, 1st January or 1st April). You must apply to West Sussex County Council for this funding and they will confirm your eligibility. Once you have been awarded this funding it cannot be removed, even if your circumstances change.
15 hour Early Years Entitlement Funding for Working Families – for eligible children from 9 months
If any Parents living in the household are working at least 16 hours per week at minimum wage, all year, then you are eligible for 15 hours per week during term time. Children are eligible from the term following them turning 9 months old (1st September, 1st January or 1st April). You will have to apply online for this funding via wwwchildcarechoices.gov.uk and they will confirm your eligibility. You will then need to log in and reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months otherwise you will lose the funding.
15 hour Universal Early Years Entitlement Funding – for ALL 3 & 4 year olds
All children aged 3 or 4 years old are entitled to 15 hours per week of free childcare during term time. Children are eligible from the term following their 3rd birthday (1st September, 1st January or 1st April). You do not need to apply for this funding – we claim it on your behalf, we just need you to complete a ‘Parent Declaration’ which we will give you once your child eligible.
15 hour Extended Early Years Entitlement Funding for Working Families – for eligible 3 & 4 year olds
If any Parents living in the household are working at least 16 hours per week at minimum wage, all year, then you are eligible for an additional 15 hours per week during term time, bringing the total to 30 hours per week. Children are eligible from the term following their 3rd birthday (1st September, 1st January or 1st April). You will have to apply online for this funding via wwwchildcarechoices.gov.uk and they will confirm your eligibility. You will then need to log in and reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months otherwise you will lose the funding.
Here is a leaflet from West Sussex County Council with lots of useful information: Early Years Funded Entitlement Leaflet
For more information we recommend you visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk or the West Sussex County Council Website.
Accessing your Free Entitlement Hours at Teddy Wilf’s
Teddy Wilf’s Nurseries will apply to West Sussex County Council for your child’s Early Years Entitlement Funding on your behalf and all you will need to complete is a 3 page Parent Declaration Form. You will be issued with one of these once your child becomes eligible for the universal funding, or when you provide proof of eligibility for the Funding for Working Families.
Stretching Free Entitlement Funding
For those families at our Westgate and Tangmere Nurseries there is the option to stretch Free Entitlement Funding to include the school holidays by utilising our Holiday Clubs. Families would be able to use their funding as follows:
If families are in receipt of 15 hour funding, they have the option to stretch their free entitlement funding to include the school holidays if they wish. However, this will mean that instead of claiming 15 hours per week over 38 weeks, families will only be able to access 12 hours per week, but over 48 weeks.
If families are in receipt of 30 hour funding, they have the option to stretch their free entitlement funding to include the school holidays if they wish. However, this will mean that instead of claiming 30 hours per week over 38 weeks, families will only be able to access 24 hours per week, but over 48 weeks.
Head Count Day
Within West Sussex County Council each nursery has to abide by ‘Head Count Day’. This is the date on which we have to submit each child’s funding for the entire term. After this date we cannot claim Working Families Funding or Universal Funding for 3 & 4 year olds for a child unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as moving in to the county) nor can we increase the number of funded hours a child claims. Head Count day is usually in the first two to three weeks of term so if you are interested in claiming Early Years Entitlement Funding at Teddy Wilf’s, please get in touch with us as soon as possible.
Voluntary Consumables Charge
For those children in receipt of Free Entitlement Funding, this charge helps us to cover the costs of your children’s breakfast, snacks, nappies, wipes and sun cream whilst they are at Teddy Wilf’s, which West Sussex County Council have made clear are not covered by the Free Entitlement Funding. The Voluntary Consumables Charge will be automatically added to your invoice and will equate to £2.50 per core session. In return we will provide all nappies, wipes, breakfast, snacks and sun cream for children at Teddy Wilf’s Nurseries.
If you would prefer not to pay the additional £2.00 per session then families will be welcome to provide all the nappies, wipes, breakfast, snacks and sun cream for their child – please just let our Head Office Team know so your invoice can be amended accordingly.