Early Education Grant (Funding)
  1. Funding is provided by the Government through the 'Free Early Education Entitlement' (FEEE) entitling all 3 and 4-year-olds in England to 570 hours of free early education / childcare a year.
  2. At Plume Avenue Nursery, children are entitled to 15 hours worth of funding per week (up to 38wks/year).
  3. This funding becomes available the term after your child's 3rd birthday.

    Child's birthdayWhen you can claim
    1st January to 31st Marchthe beginning of term on or after 1st April
    1st April to 31st Augustthe beginning of term on or after 1st September
    1st September to 31st Decemberthe beginning of term on or after 1st January

  4. Parents / carers do not have to access all 15 hours, although any hours attended over those claimed will be subject to charge at our standard hourly rate.
  5. Registration for this funding is done by the Setting.
  6. Please note (taken from FEEE contract):
    "If a parent decides they want to increase the number of hours their child is accessing after the funding has been claimed, the nursery may charge the parents for the interim period only, as no late claims can be made in this instance. This also prohibits parents utilising any unclaimed entitlement with another provider for that term. Further details of this are covered in the Parent Agreement Form."

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  7. Thirty Hours Funding : Depending on individual circumstances some families may qualify for the extended funding hours, thus providing up to 30 hours / week. The additional free hours will be available to families where:

    • Both parents are in work (as defined below) and for single parents where the sole parent is in work.
    • 'In work' means in employment (including self-employment) and earning more than the equivalent of the National Minimum Wage for working 16 hours a week.
    • Each parent must earn less than £100,000 per year.
    • One parent must be 'in work' if the other receives disability benefit or benefits related to caring responsibilities.


    You will need to apply for this yourself. For further information please visit https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare.

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  8. Two Year Old Funding : We are an approved provider for Essex County Council's Two Year Old Funding Scheme.

    Information regarding two year funding and how to go about claiming can be found at https://www.essex.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-for-2-year-olds.

    You may be eligible if you are getting one of the following ...
    • Income Support
    • income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA)
    • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
    • Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
    • child tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
    • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
    • the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

    Your child might also be eligible if:
    • are looked after by a local authority
    • have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
    • get Disability Allowance
    • have left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order

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  9. Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) : If you are getting free childcare for your 3 or 4-year old, you may be eligible for up to £300 each year to help your child's development. This funding is called Early Years Pupil Premium and is paid directly to childcare providers.

    You may be eligible if you are getting any of the benefits listed above for two year funding.

    If you think you may be eligible, please have a word with Steve or Martyn and we can look into it for you.

    More information is available at https://www.essex.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/early-years-pupil-premium