Free Early Learning & Extended Free Entitlement
Free Early Learning
FEL for 2,3 & 4 year olds is the universal entitlement of up to 570 hours of free nursery education per Funding Year that all 3 and 4 year old children and those 2 year olds that meet the criteria are eligible to receive. Working parents who are eligible for the Working Parent Entitlement 2 year funding need to confirm their eligibility directly with HMRC, they will then be issued with a unique reference number, and this is then given to the provider who can only deliver all or part of the EFE place once eligibility is confirmed with the Local Authority.
Please use this link to apply for new 15 hours for 2 year olds Apply for free childcare if you're working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Extended Free Entitlement
EFE for 3 & 4 year olds, this gives up to an additional 570 hours per funding year of free nursery education and is based on definite eligibility criteria. Parents need to confirm their eligibility directly with HMRC, they will then be issued with a unique reference number, and this is then given to the provider who can only deliver all or part of the EFE place once eligibility is confirmed with the Local Authority.
Please use this link to apply for 30 hours Free Entitlement Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
A ‘yes’ decision from HMRC will only be valid for 3 months, after the 3 months parents will be prompted to reconfirm eligibility with HMRC. If they fail to do so, or if they re-apply and are no longer eligible they will go into the ‘Grace Period’
| Date Parent receives ineligible decision on reconfirmation: | Local Authority audit date: |
Grace Period End date (child funded until): |
|---|---|---|
1 January – 10 February |
11 February |
31 March |
11 February – 31 March |
1 April |
31 August |
1 April – 26 May |
27 May |
31 August |
27 May – 31 August |
1 September |
31 December |
1 September – 21 October |
22 October |
31 December |
22 October – 31 December |
1 January |
31 March |
Parents must apply to HMRC for their EFE entitlement before the start of a term, it cannot be claimed midway through a term to start immediately, and if the claim was validated then the funding would start from the term after.
Method of delivery
Nursery will be offering 2 main methods of delivery of the funding.
Standard 38 week option, if a child is sharing their funding between 2 or more providers their entitlement will be allocated over the standard 38 weeks per Funding Year to either their maximum hours of attendance or the amount they have claimed (up to their hours of attendance).
Age of eligibility
A child is entitled to receive the free entitlement no later than the beginning of the funding term following their 3rd birthday.
| Date of Birthday | Place Starts |
|---|---|
Between 1 April and 31 August |
September (Autumn Funding) |
Between 1 September and 31 December |
January (Spring Term) |
Between 1 January and 31 March |
April (Summer Term) |
Hours of Delivery
- No more than 15 hours to be claimed per week (30 if eligible for EFE)
- No session longer than 10 hours
- No minimum session length
- Not before 6.30am or after 6.00pm
- No more than two sites in a single day.
- Between 38 and 52 weeks per year including weekends
Holidays / Attendance
Funding will be paid for holidays taken during FEL funded weeks, for up to four weeks in a Funding Year. This arrangement must be recorded in the parental agreement form and the Local Authority will not fund for any additional weeks. Parents who exceed this limit must either give up their place or come to an arrangement with nursery to pay for the weeks claimed for but not attended.
Children need to attend nursery for the full amount of hours they claim on their agreement form, attending less than the amount of hours claimed could result in the funding claim being reduced and parents incurring the cost of the hours.
Once a parent has completed and signed the Parent / Carer Agreement Form with the relevant details for their claim if any information provided is incorrect, leading to the claim being withdrawn then the parent will be liable to any costs incurred.
If you have any questions please speak to a member of the management team.
RHH Deputy Office contact number 0114 2268847
NGH Deputy Office contact number 0114 2266066
HMRC helpline telephone number 0300 1234097
https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
Changes to Contract
If parents wish to increase the attendance with us either by adding extra days / sessions to their contract, they need to complete and return a contract amendment form along with the funding paperwork. These are available from the rooms. Please note completing the amendment form doesn’t guarantee a place is available.
Fee Calculations
As funding is provided termly we also calculate the fees per term. We calculate the fees for the number of funded weeks and the non funded weeks. This is then added together and divided by the number of months in the term (this is different for each term). By calculating the fees in this way, the amount parents pay each month will be set for the term.
Payment of Fees
Parents are responsible for ensuring they amend any existing payments eg. salary sacrifice, tax free childcare or standing order. The form to amend salary sacrifice deductions will be on the back of the fee breakdown each term to make this as easy as possible for parents. Please ensure this is dated the month prior to the change taking place.