There are several types of early education funding available:

 Free childcare for 2-year-olds

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare if you live in England and get any of the following benefits:

  • 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
  • The guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • Child Tax Credit, Working Tax Credit (or both), and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

2-year-olds can also get free childcare if they are looked after by a local authority, have an education, health and care (EHC) plan, get Disability Living Allowance or have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.

If you’re a non-UK citizen who cannot claim benefits – If your immigration status says you have ‘no recourse to public funds’, you may still get free childcare for your 2-year-old. You must live in England and your household income must be no more than:

  • £26,500 for families outside of London with one child
  • £34,500 for families within London with one child
  • £30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children
  • £38,600 for families within London with two or more children

You cannot have more than £16,000 in savings or investments.

 Apply here for 2-year-old funding

For further help and information contact:-

Free childcare for eligible working parents of children from 9 Months old

Applications are now open for eligible working parents of 9-month-olds to receive 15 hours of free childcare, starting from September 2024.

Click here to see the eligibility criteria before you apply.

You will need to ensure you have the following information to hand before starting the application:

  • your National Insurance number
  • the date you started or are due to start work
  • details of any government support or benefits you receive
  • the UK birth certificate reference number (if you have one) for your child

You may find out if you’re eligible straight away, but it can take up to 7 days. Once your application has been approved, you’ll get a code for free childcare to give to your childcare provider.

Applications are open from now until 31st August. If you miss the deadline, or don’t receive your code by 31st August, you won’t be able to start using the new entitlements from 1st September.

Apply here for 9 month old Working Entitlement Childcare

 Free childcare for 3 to 4-year-olds

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 free hours per year. As Portsdown is a term-time only nursery, this can be taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year. You can receive this from the term following your child’s 3rd birthday. We apply for the funding on your behalf by way of submitting a Funding Declaration Form which you are required to sign.

 30-hour funding for 3 to 4-year-olds

You may be able to get 30 hours free childcare if:

  • you live in England
  • your child is 3 to 4 years old
  • you (and your partner, if you have one) work at least 16 hours per week

Your eligibility depends on your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one), your child’s age and circumstances and your immigration status.

If you’re on adoption leave for a child aged 3 to 4 years old, you must return to work within 31 days of the date you first apply for 30 hours free childcare for that child.

If you are not currently working you may still be eligible if your partner is working, and you get Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance.

Apply here for 3 & 4 year old 30 Hours Working Entitlement Childcare

 

What to expect, when? A parents’ guide.

The purpose of this booklet is to help you as a parent/carer find out more about how your child is learning and developing during their first five years, in relation to the EYFS. Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. This booklet has been written to help you as a parent know what to expect during these vitally important years by focusing on the seven areas of learning and development which are covered in the EYFS.

Click on the word ‘booklet’ in the first sentence above or use the following link:

What to expect, when

50 Things to do before you are 5

 

Helping you and your child to settle into Portsdown Primary School and Early Years’ Nursery

  • We recognise you have played a very important role in your child’s learning and development.
  • We hope as your child prepares to start Portsdown Nursery you will continue your crucial role in helping and supporting your child in nursery.
  • We want your child to settle happily and confidently and for you to feel a partner in your child’s education and development.
  • We feel it is vital that you tell us all about your child and we will spend time with you in your home and at Nursery before your child starts so you can tell us about your child’s routines, interests, likes, dislikes, health and development.
  • We know you will feel more confident in entrusting your child with us if you are informed as to what your child is doing, will need in nursery and how you can support your child settling.
  • Our website, handbook and leaflets aim to answer questions parents have asked us in the past about children starting Nursery.
  • We constantly try to improve our practice, so if there is any information you feel parents would find useful,  please let us know.

To help you and your child to settle and throughout their time at nursery, at the nursery we aim to keep you informed about:

  • The environment and organisation
  • The curriculum
  • Your child’s progress and development
  • Your child’s routine
  • With whom your child is working
  • Policies and procedures of the  Nursery
  • Who you can talk to if you have a concern.