Funded early education & childcare for all 3 & 4-year-olds

Your child is eligible for funding for at least 15 hours, or up to 30 hours a week, for 38 weeks a year. 

How does it work?

All children aged three and four-years-old are entitled to at least 15 hours of early education and childcare a week, for 38 weeks a year.

For parents working more than 16 hours a week and meeting the eligibility criteria (see next page), you are entitled to 30 hours per week.

For both the 15 hours, or the extended 30 hours, your child can start the term after their third birthday.

Where?

At any Ofsted registered provider such as a local nursery, pre-school, playgroup or childminder that is eligible to receive funding. To find out about childcare options in your area, please contact our Family Information Service.

The benefits

Research has shown that good quality early education can:

• Improve children’s development, including learning and communication skills
• Help them learn to socialise and play with new friends
• Give your child the experience of new activities, including messy play, that you may not want to do at home!
• Be the first steps towards getting ready for school.

Childcare is also good for families

Are you eligible?

If you have a child aged three or four-years-old, you are eligible for at least 15 hours a week funded childcare.

To receive 30 hours, you must meet one of the criteria below:

• Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family) as either an employee or as self- employed
• Each parent earns, on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW) and less than £100,000 per year. There are some exceptions from two parent rules and children will also be entitled if:

• Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave
• Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay.
• One parent is employed and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring.
• One parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits for caring responsibilities.

How do I apply or find out more?

To find out about childcare options in your area or to apply for the funding, please contact:

Reading’s Family Information Service

Find out more at readingfis.org

Call (0118) 937 3777, option 2

Email [email protected]

To find out the support and any activities you and your child could benefit from, including your local children’s centres, visit:

Brighter Futures for Children

www.brighterfuturesforchildren.org