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Funding and Fees
Ducklings is a registered childcare provider and offers both funded and invoiced places.
There are no restrictions on when funded/free hours can be used.
Children who are not yet entitled to free hours, or are attending for more than their free hour entitlement, are charged as follows:
£5.00 per hour 2 year olds, term time between 9am - 3pm
£4.80 per hour 3/4 year olds, term time between 9am - 3pm
£4.00 per hour All ages, term time between 8am - 9am, and 3pm - 6pm
£4.00 per hour All ages, holiday club weeks between 8am - 6pm (refer to term dates page)
PLEASE NOTE: To reduce invoice fees as much as possible, we always allocate free hours to term time, 9am - 3pm sessions first.
Extra's at no additional charge include:
- Breakfast for children attending between 8am - 9am
- Morning snack at approx. 10am
- After school club, snack at approx. 3pm
- Onsite Forest School during term time
- SALT, Monday mornings during term time for those who need it
- Dance lessons with a registered dance teacher, Thursday mornings during term time
- Holiday club entertainer (magic, circus skills, etc) most Thursday afternoons (subject to availability) during the holidays
Optional extra's and fees:-
- Hot lunches, 12pm, £2.50
- Hot tea-time meals, 4.30pm, £2.50
- Uniform T-Shirt, £5.50, or Zip Up Hoodie, £15.00
Children are welcome to bring their own packed lunch/tea and to wear own clothing. We advise not wearing clothes kept for best.
Below is a summary of available funding entitlements and help with childcare cost schemes. More information, and links to apply, can be found at Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK, alternatively please speak to our Office Manager if you need any advice.
If you think your child may be eligible for Disability Access Fund or High Needs Funding, please speak to a member of our staff.
Free Hours for 2 year olds - up to 15 hours
You may be eligible for free hours if:-
a) you are working, or
b) you are in receipt of certain government benefits
You can only use one of these options and must apply for it.
Free hours is available for eligible families from the start of the term following a child's 2nd birthday.
You need to apply in good time to have your free hours in place ready for the term following your child's 2nd birthday:-
Born Jan-Mar : Apply Jan-Mar : Free hours from April
Born Apr-Aug : Apply Apr-Aug : Free hours from Sept
Born Sept-Dec : Apply Sept-Dec : Free hours from Jan
If eligible you will receive:-
15 free hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term time)
11 free hours per week for 51 weeks per year (year round)
At Ducklings, you can use your free hours for preschool and/or club hours. We will always allocate free hours to preschool first, as these cost more when invoiced.
I'm eligible, what next?
You will receive a unique funding code.
Send the funding code to us along with:-
- Your NI number
- Child's DOB
We will use this information to validate your funding code with the local authority and, where applicable, reissue your invoice with free hours deducted.
You will also need to provide proof of identity for your child, and a proof of address document.
Working families will need to reconfirm their eligibility for free hours every 3 months. HMRC will send you a reminder.
Free Hours for 3 year olds - up to 15 hours
Free hours is available for all families from the start of the term following a child's 3rd birthday.
Born Jan-Mar : Free hours from April
Born Apr-Aug : Free hours from Sept
Born Sept-Dec : Free hours from Jan
You will automatically receive:-
15 free hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term time)
11 free hours per week for 51 weeks per year (year round)
At Ducklings, you can use your free hours for preschool and/or club hours. We will always allocate free hours to preschool first, as these cost more when invoiced.
Free Hours for 3 year olds - up to 30 hours
You may be eligible for free hours if you are working.
Free hours is available for eligible families from the start of the term following a child's 3rd birthday.
You need to apply in good time to have your free hours in place ready for the term following your child's 3rd birthday:-
Born Jan-Mar : Apply Jan-Mar : Free hours from April
Born Apr-Aug : Apply Apr-Aug : Free hours from Sept
Born Sept-Dec : Apply Sept-Dec : Free hours from Jan
If eligible you will receive:-
30 free hours per week for 38 weeks per year (term time)
22 free hours per week for 51 weeks per year (year round)
At Ducklings, you can use your free hours for preschool and/or club hours. We will always allocate free hours to preschool first, as these cost more when invoiced.
Help with Childcare Costs
There are a number of schemes available to help with childcare costs:
Tax Free Childcare - for working families and the self employed earning under £100k per year, and on average at least £167 per week. For every £8 you pay into an online account, the government will add an extra £2, up to £2000 per child per year. This scheme can be used alongside 30 hours free childcare for 3 year olds.
Tax Credits for Childcare - for working families. 70% of childcare costs up to a cap. If you cannot make a new claim for Tax Credits, you may be able to apply for Universal Credits instead.
Universal Credit for Childcare - for working families claiming universal credit. Up to 85% of eligible childcare costs. This scheme can not be used alongside 30 hours free childcare for 3 year olds.
Support while you Study - weekly payments from Care to Learn if you're at school or in sixth-form college. Help through your college if you're in further education. A weekly grant if you're in full-time higher education.
For more information on these, and the free hour options, visit:
Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
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