Free Entitlement Funding

Free Entitlement Funding allows every child living in England to access up to fifteen hours of free Nursery Education from the term following their third birthday. Please see the table below to find out when your child will qualify:

For example, a child who was born on the 24th May 2015 would qualify for funding on the 1st September 2018.

2 Year Old Funding

Some children may qualify for Free Entitlement Funding for Two Year Olds. To access this funding families will be required to meet specific criteria which are currently linked to any benefits they receive or specific family circumstances. Those children who qualify will be able to access 15 hours of funding from the term after the child’s second birthday.

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Universal 3 & 4 Year Old Funding

All children attending an Early Years settings in West Sussex are eligible for up to 15 hours of free Early Years education from the term following a child’s third birthday. This funding can only be used during term time and cannot be used to cover certain sessions e.g. lunch sessions at our Parklands Nursery. Please see our fees page for more information.

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Extended 3 & 4 Year Old Funding

Teddy Wilf’s Nurseries also offers 30 hours Free Entitlement Funding to eligible families. There are strict eligibility criteria and families must apply through the Government and provide us with the Eligibility Code provided to them. We will then check this code against a live database to confirm your eligibility before confirming your 30 hours booking. Parents will need to reconfirm their eligibility every three months and if they no longer meet the criteria for the 30 hours funding, children will drop to universal funding following a short grace period.

Children at our Parklands Nursery can only access a maximum of 24 hours per week as we are restricted by our opening hours. However, we can offer the full 30 hours to children at our Westgate and Tangmere Nurseries.

For further information about all of the different Free Entitlement Funding options, please see the West Sussex County Council Free Entitlement Funding Leaflet:     Free Entitlement Leaflet

Accessing your Free Entitlement Hours at Teddy Wilf’s

Teddy Wilf’s @ The Westgate will apply for the Free 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 2 Year Old Funding.

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 3 & 4 year old funding for a child unless there are extenuating circumstances (such as moving in to the county) or 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 Free 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 £1.00 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 £1.00 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.