Funding
3 & 4 year olds:
Universal 15 Hours of Early Years Funding
All children become eligible the term after they turn three and are entitled to 15 hours of early education per week during term time (570 hours per year). This is regardless of income or work status.
You do not have to apply for this funding: we can apply for you. There will be a requirement from you to sign a privacy notice document to allow us to make the claim. This will be discussed at your child’s induction.
30 Hours Early Education and Childcare
From September 2017, 3 and 4 year olds of working parents (who meet the earnings criteria) will be eligible for 1,140 hours of government-funded early education and childcare per year.
This is the equivalent of 30 hours per week pro rata in a 38 week setting such as in our schools and Woodland term-time Nursery.
Little Owl Day Care operates over a 50 week period, and will be providing the ‘Stretched Model’ which is the equivalent of 23 hours per week. There will be some discretionary 38 week contracts provided.
You must apply for the 30 hour entitlement through the Government’s digital childcare service (you do not need to apply if you only want to claim for the universal 15 hour entitlement). You must make your application the term before you wish to start receiving the entitlement.
You can apply the term before your child turns three if you meet the earnings requirement, although you can only start claiming your 30 hour place the term following your child’s third birthday or the term following the date the eligibility code was issued, whichever is later.
To see if you are eligible for the 30 hours funding please click here.
To apply for the 30 hours funding please click here.
Once you have the eligibility code please contact your Nursery Manager or e-mail admin@littleowlchildcare.co.uk to complete our 30 hours form so we can validate your code.
As soon as the code has been validated we can confirm your place. The code will need renewing every 3 months and it will be your responsibility to renew.
2 year olds:
Think 2: Early Education
From September 2019, even more two year olds in Staffordshire will be eligible for a free early learning place.
New criteria
In addition to looked after two year olds and children in families who meet the same criteria used to assess free school meal eligibility, the following people are also eligible:
- Families claiming Working Tax Credit (WTC) with a household income of no more than £16,190.
- Child attracts (DLA) Disability Living Allowance.
- Child has a current statement of SEN or an Education, Health & Care Plan (EHC).
To complete an online application please visit this website and click on ‘Apply Online’ in the left hand panel.
Freepost paper based application forms and promotional posters are available by emailing think2@staffordshire.gov.uk or calling 01785 278 201.