Nursery Fees and Funding

Nursery fees & funding

All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early years funding from Essex County Council (from the term after they turn 3 years old) until they either go into reception class or reach compulsory school age (the term following their 5th birthday.) Some parents/carers are entitled to funding from Essex County Council. This funding would be paid directly to the academy on a termly basis if you are entitled. If so, each term Ardleigh Academy will then ask you to sign a parent/carer agreement form. Alternatively, pre agreed fees are payable by parents a term in advance through the school's payment system (Arbor), or by Childcare vouchers.

The cost of each 3 hour nursery sessions in £19.50.

These are stricly agreed and booked in the advance of each term. Any payable fees are due in full by the first day of that term. (An invoice is provided to each child termly to show the amount payable of funding is not agreed or you choose to top up any funsing entitlement.

During week days and during term time, we offer placements of 3 hour sessions: mornings 8.45am -11.45am & afternoons 12pm - 3pm. Children are welcome to join Ardleigh Academy Nursery from the term after they are 3 years old. The number of morning or afternoon sessions can be tailored to your needs, however the minimum number of sessions is 4 per week.

Please call 01206 230394 to arrange a tour and visit our nursery. Further inquiries can also be made by email to admin@ardleigh.academy

Nursery Funding Guidance

Click here for 26/27 financial year ECC NURSERY FUNDING FORM (ARD)

How Often Do I Need to Complete a Funding Form?

To receive your child’s funded nursery hours, you’ll need to complete a form:

Once every term (3 times a year)

Autumn Term (Sept–Dec)
Spring Term (Jan–Mar/Apr)
Summer Term (Apr–July)

Why is this needed?

This helps us to:

Confirm your child’s place
Make sure funding is claimed correctly
Update any changes to your details

Don’t forget

Forms must be completed on time to secure your funding
Late forms may delay or affect your funded hours

In the UK, nursery funding (often called “early years funding” or “free childcare”) provides government support to help cover childcare costs for young children. The entitlements differ slightly for 2-year-olds and 3–4-year-olds.

Nursery Funding for 3–4 Year Olds (UK)

All children aged 3 to 4 in the UK are entitled to funded early education, designed to support their learning and help families with childcare costs.

Universal 15 Hours (All Families)

Every child is eligible for:

15 hours of free childcare per week
Available for 38 weeks per year (term-time)
Equivalent to 570 hours annually

This is known as the universal entitlement and is available regardless of family income or employment status.

Extended 30 Hours (Working Families)

Eligible working families may receive:

An additional 15 hours (30 hours total per week)
For 38 weeks per year (1,140 hours annually)

Eligibility criteria:

Parent(s) must be working (including self-employed)
Each parent earns at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at National Minimum Wage
Each parent earns less than £100,000 per year
Applies to single-parent households as well

When Funding Starts

Funding begins the term after your child turns 3:

Born 1 September – 31 December → starts in January term
Born 1 January – 31 March → starts in April term
Born 1 April – 31 August → starts in September term

Important Information

Funded hours usually cover education and care only

Applying for 30 Hours

To access the extended entitlement:

Apply online via HMRC Childcare Service
Receive an eligibility code
Provide the code to your childcare provider
Reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months

Further informtion on Nursery funding can be found here: https://eycp.essex.gov.uk/funding/

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