Funding for Three and Four Year Olds

Once children are three years old they are entitled to a certain amount of free education through the Nursery Education Grant.

Joyland Nursery From 1st April, 1st September or 1st January, after your child's third birthday s/he is eligible for 570 free hours. You will be given a certificate to complete, each term, in order for us to claim your Nursery Education Funding. We divide this into three hour sessions and because we are open for forty weeks you actually receive 600 free hours. These sessions are 9am-12pm (midday) and 12.15-3.15pm. Preference is given to children who wish to take whole days (8.30am-5.30pm). If you wish to have two free sessions in one day you must pay for the period from 12-12.15pm, this will cost £2. Because we sort it out this way we cannot share your entitlement with another provider. You must claim all or none of your free sessions with us. You can claim free sessions in September if your child's school start date is after the term begins.

Strawberry Hill and Poets Corner Nursery From 1st April, 1st September or 1st January, after your child's third birthday s/he is eligible for 570 free hours. You will be given a certificate to complete, each term, in order for us to claim your Nursery Education Funding. We give you up to four, free, three hour sessions a week, all year round not just school term times. Because we sort it out this way we cannot share your entitlement with another provider. You must claim all or none of your free sessions with us. You can claim free sessions in September if your child's school start date is after the term begins. In our nursery the free sessions are 9am-12pm (midday) and 1.30-4.30pm. Preference is given to children who wish to take complete mornings or afternoons. If you wish to have two free sessions in one day you must pay for the period from 12-1.30pm, this will cost £6.50. If you wish to have totally free spaces you may have up to four afternoon sessions each week.

If we have none of these free spaces available we recommend you contact the Childcare Information Service, on 293545 to find your nearest provider. This will usually be a school or Children’s Centre for term times only.