Universal 15 hours

All 3 and 4-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours per week of free early education or childcare a year. Here at The Sue Hedley Nursery School this is taken as 15 hours each week for 38 weeks of the year. Some 2-year-olds are also eligible.

You can start claiming after your child turns 3. The date you can claim will depend on when their birthday is.

Child’s birthday                                        When you can claim

1 January to 31 March                                the beginning of term on or after 1 April

1 April to 31 August                                    the beginning of term on or after 1 September

1 September to 31 December                      the beginning of term on or after 1 January

We may offer children unfunded places early depending on spaces available, and date of birthday.

Our current 15 hour sessions are 5 mornings (9am-12pm), 5 afternoons (12.30pm-3.30pm) or 2 and a half days (either Monday & Tuesday 9am-3pm and Wednesday 9am-12pm OR Wednesday 12.30pm-3.30pm and Thursday & Friday 9am-3pm).

30 hour funding

In addition to the Universal 15 hour places, we also offer 30 hour places to eligible families. To qualify for the full 30 hours of free childcare, each parent (or the sole parent in a single parent family) will need to earn, on average, the equivalent of 16 hours on the national minimum wage per week (currently £107 per week), and no more than £100,000 per year. You can check your eligibility at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

You can claim 30 hour funding the term AFTER your childs 3rd birthday. You will need to apply the term in which they turn 3 as the cut-off dates to obtain your 30 hour code are 31st August, 30th March and 31st August. Please contact the office on 0191 4287656 for further information.

Our 30 hour places are Monday – Friday 9am-3pm for 38 weeks of the year.