Free Early Education and Childcare
Early Education Entitlements
- For 3 and 4-year-olds: All children in this age group are entitled to 15 hours of government-funded childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.
- Starting September 2025, all eligible working families will be able to access 30 hours of government-funded childcare per week for children aged 9 months to 3 years old.
Entitlements for Disadvantaged Children
- For 2-year-olds: Children from low-income families who meet specific economic criteria are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week.
- Check Eligibility: Use the Childcare Choices website on the GOV.UK website to see if your family is eligible for any of the extended or specific entitlements.
- Apply: Apply online through the GOV.UK website. You will need to renew your code termly in advance to ensure you maintain your eligibility.
- Sign declaration forms: Once approved, you will need to sign the parental declaration form which is available from the main school office. This will need signing each term to continue receiving the entitlement.
For more information on entitlements and how to apply please visit Childcare Choices and Cheshire East Livewell Help with Childcare Costs webpages.
EYPP - Early Years Pupil Premium
If your child is in early years education, your early years provider could be eligible for extra funding to help support your child.
Our Nursery could get up to £570 per year to help with your child’s education. This will be paid direct to Underwood West Nursery.
Who can apply?
You can apply for early years pupil premium if your child is aged 9 months to 4 years old and you get any of the following:
- 30 hours of Free Childcare for Working Parents
- 15 hours of free childcare for 2 year olds if you get extra support
- 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds
You must also get at least one of the following:
- Income Support
- income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
- income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
- Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
- Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get
You may also get early years pupil premium if your child is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales or if your child has left care in England or Wales through:
- adoption
- special guardianship order
- a child arrangements order
How to apply
To apply for early years pupil premium you must complete the relevant section of the Parental Declaration form.
If you get early years pupil premium this will not affect any other benefits you may be entitled to.
Disability access fund
Our Nursery could get £938 a year to help your child with their education and support.
This will be paid direct to Underwood West Nursery.
This funding will be made available to our nursery if your child receives Disability Living Allowance for children and one of the following:
- 30 hours of Free Childcare for Working Parents
- 15 hours of free childcare for 2 year olds if you get extra support
- 15 hours of free childcare for all 3 and 4 year olds
You do not need to use all of your hours to be eligible for disability access funding.
How to apply
To get disability access funding you will need to apply directly to the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) by calling them or downloading and returning a claim form from the GOV.UK website.
At Underwood West Nursery we offer both 15 and 30 hours places, subject to availability. With an option of purchasing additional hours.
£15 per session (morning or afternoon)
£32.50 all day (including lunch cover) a packed lunch must be provided for children staying full days.
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