Government Funding Arrangements

What government funding is available?

The Government have been steadily increasing the amount of early education funding available to eligible families.  From September 2025, it is intended to cover the cost to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of high-quality childcare, for 38 weeks of the year. It is not intended to cover the cost of meals, consumables, additional hours, or additional services. 

 

Do we offer free entitlement places at The Crown Nursery?

At The Crown Nursery, we fully support the expansion.  We offer free entitlement places, only charging for meals, snacks, and other consumables. Additional sessions, days, and services will also be charged. Parents should therefore expect to pay for these, although charges for meals, consumables and additional services will be optional.  Where parents are unable to pay for meals and consumables, special arrangements may be made.  We are particularly mindful of the impact these charges may have on the most disadvantaged families.

 

How are free entitlement places offered?

The government funding is offered to support either 15 or 30 hours of early education weekly, over 38 weeks of the year.   This equates to 570 hours annually. 

 

At The Crown Nursery, we ‘stretch’ the funding over the 51 weeks we are open each year to reduce the monthly costs of childcare for families and to provide consistency in terms of monthly payments.   This provides 11.17 hours of funded childcare per week for a 15-hour funding claim and 22.34 hours of funded childcare per week for a 30-hour funding claim. 

 

We aim to provide as much flexibility for families as possible, although funded places are largely offered in line with nursery opening hours and session times.  Term time only places will not be available.

For 15 hours of funded childcare (equivalent to 11.17 hours free care weekly), children will be able to attend up to three half day sessions or one full day and one half for example.  This is equivalent to 15 hours of childcare each week; additional hours will be charged.  Some families may choose to attend for 5.5 hours twice weekly, from 8am to 1.30pm, with no fee for any additional hours.

For 30 hours of funded childcare (equivalent to 22.34 hours free care weekly), children can attend for three full days or two full days and two mornings for example.  This is equivalent to 30 hours of childcare each week; additional hours will be charged. Some families may choose to attend for 2 days each week only, with no fee for any additional hours.

Are there additional fees to register at The Crown Nursery?

When parents register at The Crown Nursery, a deposit is required to secure the place.  It is equivalent to one month’s fees and fully refundable once a child leaves the setting.  There is no registration fee.

 

Invoices are issued monthly and are fully itemised to indicate:

• Free entitlement hours
• Additional private paid hours
• Food charges
• Non-food consumables charges
• Activities charges