Free Early Education and Childcare for two, three and four year olds

Entitlement to a Free Early Education place does not offer a guarantee at any one provider or a particular pattern of delivery.

Free Early Education (FEE): The Department for Education states that children must not attend a funded session for longer than 10 hours a day and access no more than two sites a day and no more than 4 providers in any one week. No session is to start before 6am or finish after 8pm.

Over 9 month olds: From September 2024 some babies over 9 months old may be eligible to receive up to 15 hours funding known as working parent funding which is subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria. Eligible date ranges are shown in the table below.

If you are starting or returning to work	When can Parents apply from	When Parents can use entitlements from
1st October to 31st January	1st September to 31st December	1st January
1st April and 31st August	1st January to 31st March	1st April
1st September and 31st December	1st April to 31st August	1st September

Two year olds: Some two year olds may be eligible to receive up to 15 hours funding known as the Free for Two Scheme (FF2) or working parent funding which is subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria. Eligible date ranges are shown in the table below. FF2 children can start at any time during the term providing that proof of eligibility is supplied. For more information, please speak to the owner/manager.

Three and four year olds (The Universal Entitlement): All children become eligible for up to 15 hours Free Early Education the term after their third birthday. Eligible date ranges are shown in the table below.

Three and four year olds of working parents (The Extended Entitlement): Some children may qualify for up to an additional 15 hours Free Early Education which is subject to meeting certain eligibility criteria. For more information, please speak to the owner/manager. It is the responsibility of the parent to re-validate their 30 hour codes or they will lose their additional 15 hours funding.

From September 2025 two year olds of working parents may be eligible for the extended entitlement.

A child is entitled for Free Early Education at the start of the term after their second (if eligible), or third birthday in line with the Department for Education table below:

A child born on or between	Will become eligible for a free place from
1st January and 31st March	The Start of Term 5 following their second or third birthday (after April Holiday)
1st April and 31st August	The Start of Term 1 following their second or third birthday (after Summer Holiday)
1st September and 31st December	The Start of Term 3 following their second or third birthday (after Christmas/New Year Holiday)

For further information on eligibility for 2 year funding, 30 hour funding or help towards your childcare costs, please visit. - https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Our delivery patterns: The following information details how your child can access their Free Early Education hours at this nursery.

Totally free Universal and Extended pattern over 38 weeks (term-time): Two-, three- and four-year-olds will be funded to a maximum of 15/30 hours per week 570 / 1140 per year. Places are limited and subject to availability. We do not offer a stretched totally free pattern at this nursery.

You have the option of picking up your child at 12pm and dropping them back to the nursery for the afternoon session at 1pm.

Please note that if requiring continuous childcare throughout the day, you will need to purchase the lunchtime supervision and a hot lunch or purchase the lunchtime supervision and provide a packed lunch for your child.

Morning Session 9am – 12pm	3 hours free over 38 weeks
Afternoon Session 1pm – 4pm	3 hours free over 38 weeks

All Funded children will be asked to supply their own Nappies and Wipes.

Chargeable Patterns Including Free Early Education Hours:

You can stretch your funding over 48 of the 50 weeks per year that we are open. This would mean that you would be entitled to a maximum of 12 hours per week on Universal Funding (to a maximum of 570 hours per year), or 24 hours per week for Extended Funding (to a maximum of 1140 hours per year). There will be 6/12 hours outstanding which will not be funded and will need to be paid for in full. These hours will be split equally over the year into your monthly payments. If you do not wish to use these hours please let me know so that they are not charged for.

Chargeable Patterns Including Free Early Education Hours:

8am – 5 pm	8 x hours free and a charge of £12.95
9am – 4pm	6 x hours free and a charge of £11.15
8am – 1pm	4 x hours free and a charge of £11.15
1pm – 5pm	4 x hours free and a cost of £1.80

The above patterns include lunchtime supervision, a hot lunch (hot dietary lunch) and/or light tea and all snacks

Nappies and Wipes to be provided by parents

Breakfast Session	7.30am – 8.00am	£6.00 Includes breakfast
Breakfast Session	7.30am – 9.00am	£14.00 Includes breakfast
Lunch hour	12.00pm – 1.00pm	£8 Supervision only – you will need to provide a packed lunch for your child
Additional hours		£8 per hour
Light tea		£1.80
Hot Lunches		£3.15

Please note last sitting for breakfast is 8.15am

Note: Funded sessions are limited and subject to availability

Additional Information

Little Sprouts are open Monday to Friday 7.30am to 6.00pm, 50 weeks per year. A minimum booking of 2 sessions spread over the week is required. Fees are calculated based on 50 weeks per year, pro-rata’d over 12 months, paid monthly in advance. The nursery will be closed on all Bank holidays (normal charge will apply). There will be no refunds given for Sickness or holidays or snow days.