From September 2024, the government has extended its childcare support to eligible working families, for children from 9 months of age. This is very exciting for parents, carers and families, so here is some information on how the funding works, and our funded offer at our setting.

From September 2024, funded childcare hours will be available for babies, as well as for two-to-four year olds. These funded hours are available only for working families, and certain criteria need to be met in order for you to access the funding. To find out if you are eligible, visit this website: https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

This new funding stream is for children from 9 months of age. Your baby will first be eligible to receive the funded hours the term after they turn 9 months old (therefore starting in September/January/April.)

If you are eligible, you will need to create an account and apply for the funding. You will then receive a code, which needs to be passed onto the nursery so they can claim the funding on your behalf. Applications for this funding open on May 12th 2024. Once you receive a code, you will need to log into your account every 3 months in order to confirm your eligibility. This is essential to ensure you don't miss out on any funding!

Towards the end of the summer term, we will send out funding forms for you to complete to confirm your funded sessions prior to September.

You have probably seen the government are advertising the new funding entitlement as '15 hours per week.' This 15 hours is calculated on school term-times, and as we are open for 51 weeks of the year, the 15 hours a week is then 'stretched' to 11 hours a week, all year round.

The government-funded hours do not include the costs for meals, snacks and other consumables, so there is a consumable fee payable for funded sessions. Consumables include, but are not limited to: breakfast, morning snack, lunch, afternoon snack, tea, sun-cream, cleaning products, toiletries, PPE, emergency Calpol, additional activities, outings, parent events, family events and parties .

For more information on the new funding entitlement, visit the following website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

To enquire about available spaces, current waiting lists and our funded offer, then contact us on one of the following:

Tel: 01271 624000
Email: info@bananamoon-barnstaple.co.uk
Web: www.bananamoon-barnstaple.co.uk