Funded entitlement
The funded entitlement (previously nursery education funding) allows 3 and 4 year old children to access up to 15 hours of funded early education and childcare with a nursery, preschool, child-minder or school that is registered to offer funded places.
All 3 to 4-year-olds can get 570 funded hours per year. It's usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year, the term after their 3rd birthday:
| A child turns 3 between | Funded place starts from |
|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | January (spring term) |
| 1 January to 31 March | April (summer term) |
| 1 April to 31 August | September (autumn term) |
You can access your child's funded place at a number of private day nurseries, pre schools, child-minders and school nurseries.
Your child is entitled to up to 15 hours over 38 weeks of the year (subject to provider availability).
Please be aware that if your child is attending a school nursery (including academies) the nursery will be claiming the 3 and 4 year universal Funded Hours.
Please note
All funded entitlement sessions must be 'free' to parents at the point of delivery and there should be no conditions attached to a funded place.
Any additional extras such as the below should be clearly presented to you and agreed prior to your child starting at the setting. It should be agreed in your contract and stated clearly on your invoice:
- additional hours
- lunches
- additional activity sessions (yoga bunnies, football coaching)
When signing a contract with a childcare provider please make yourself aware of the agreement you are signing. You will need to be aware of the notice period that you are agreeing to give the setting if you choose to remove your child. Failure to give adequate notice may result in you not being able to access your funding elsewhere until your notice period has ended.
Please be aware that attending a school nursery does not guarantee your child a place in the school's reception class.
Early Years Pupil Premium
From 2015, nurseries, preschools and childminders have been able to claim additional funding through the Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) to support children's development, learning and care.
The funding is paid directly to the provider and is required to submit the relevant information to the LA. The provider will check whether your child is eligible and will ask you to complete the relevant form.
Please ask your childcare provider if you have any questions.
How to find a funded childcare place
Find a nursery, pre-school or childminder in Enfield via the Family Information Directory
Call the childcare setting to organise a visit.
Agree with them that they have a funded vacancy for your 3 or 4 year old and agree the placement.
If this is your first time finding childcare, use the guide below:
Frequently asked questions
Can my child attend more than one provider for their 15 hours?
Your child can access their funded hours with a maximum of 2 childcare providers. The funded hours must not exceed the 15 hours entitlement offer and each provider must be informed of the number of hours that will be accessed by your child at the setting.
However, if your child receives education in a maintained school nursery or reception class, the school receives the Funded Entitlement, and you are therefore not eligible for any further funding with another nursery, pre-school or childminder. In these circumstances, if you access a private provider, you are required to pay their set fees and adhere to their terms and conditions.
When can I put my child’s name down for a place?
This depends on the type of childcare or nursery education you are looking for:
- Childminders - you can access your funding entitlement at an Ofsted registered childminder
- School nursery - a school nursery is a nursery run by a maintained school. In the academic year before your child’s 4th birthday, you must apply for a place. Online application forms will be available from 1st October each year.
- Private nursery and pre-school - a private nursery and preschool is a nursery that runs as a private business that requires you to complete a registration form and allows children to start throughout the year
If there is a specific nursery you are interested in, we suggest you call them as soon as you know you will need a place to find out if they have any spaces, if you can be added to the waiting list, how long their waiting list is, and what their admissions policy is.
If I get a place in a local school, am I still entitled to the 3 year funding?
Nursery classes attached to maintained schools (both primary and infant schools) often stagger children’s entry during the new term and many children continue to attend their usual pre-school or day nursery until they are able to start school. If this happens to you it is very important to remember that if your child begins school before the start of the 5th week of the autumn term the pre-school/day nursery will not receive funding for your child and you will have to pay any fees in respect of the hours attended in full.
I have a concern about my funded entitlement?
Contact your childcare provider and discuss your concerns. If you're not happy with the outcome, contact Informed Families (IF) about your concerns and we will address your query:
- Email: if@enfield.gov.uk
- Telephone: 0800 694 1066 - Monday to Friday, 9am to 4pm