We accept children at Girton Cottontails Preschool from 2 years old. For all children not yet eligible for funding and for any hours attended at Girton Cottontails above their funded hours, the hourly rate is £6.60 per hour for 3 and 4 year olds and £7.50 for 2 year olds.
The age of the child will be taken as their age on the first day of term or on the day they start preschool, whichever is later.
Early start and late finish will be charged at £4.00 per session
The tax-free childcare initiative is an online savings account for working parents to save up funds for childcare. We encourage all eligible parents to sign up to the scheme, because for every £8 that parents pay into the account, you get a £2 top-up from the government. This is the equivalent to 25% extra and so it is considered tax-free.
The government will pay a maximum of £2,000 in any one year, meaning that under the scheme, annual childcare costs of £10,000 would cost £8,000 to parents. For disabled children, the figure rises to £4,000.
Apply for tax-free childcare here Apply for Tax-Free Childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note that if you are already part of a different childcare voucher scheme, (i.e., through your employer) then we do still accept payments through these, however all schemes other than the government tax-free scheme above were closed to new entrants in October 2018.
All children living in England are eligible for 15 funded hours of childcare per week (570 hours per year) starting from the term after they turn 3 years old. Their birthday must fall on or before the cut-off date as below:
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3rd birthday on or before 31st August to receive funding in autumn term (September start)
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3rd birthday on or before 31st December to receive funding in spring term (January start)
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3rd birthday on or before 31st March to receive funding in summer term (April start)
Additionally, children of working families* living in England are eligible for a further 15 funded hours of childcare per week. So, they can have a total of 30 funded hours per week (1,140 hours per year) starting from the term after they turn 3 years old as above.
*Eligibility:
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You, and any partner, must each expect to earn (on average) at least £152 per week (equal to 16 hours at the National Minimum or Living Wage).
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If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
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You can't get 30 hours free childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.
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To receive the 15-hour funding for 3- and 4-year-olds, you will be given a form to complete by your child’s childcare setting.
To receive the 30-hour funding for 3- and 4-year-olds, you must apply the term before you wish the funding to start. There are cut off dates for applications. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a funding code which you can give to your child’s childcare setting. Apply here 30 hours free childcare - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
2-year-olds living in England can get 15 funded hours per weeks of free childcare if..
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Both parents (or the sole parent in a single parent family) need to be working and
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earning, on average, at least the equivalent of 16 hours on the national living/minimum
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wage per week. The number of hours worked is less important than the money earned, so if you are a high earner, you could be working only a few hours per week and still be eligible.
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If you, or your partner, are on maternity, paternity or adoption leave, or you're unable to work because you are disabled or have caring responsibilities, you could still be eligible.
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You can't get 15 hours free childcare if either you, or your partner, each individually expect to earn £100,000 or more.
To receive the 15-hour funding for 2 year olds, you must apply the term before you wish the funding to start. There are cut off dates for applications. Once your application has been processed, you will receive a funding code which you can give to your child’s childcare setting. Apply for free childcare if you're working - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
If you do not qualify from the above criteria, you may be eligible through the criteria below. You may automatically receive a letter with a funding code on which you can give to your child’s childcare setting. Or if you have not received a letter, but believe you may be eligible, you can apply here Apply for Education Welfare Benefits - Self (achieveservice.com)
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Income Support
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Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
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income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
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Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments
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child tax credits, and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
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the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
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the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
Or if they:
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are looked after by a local authority
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have a statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
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have left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order
To receive the above 15-hour funding for 2-year-olds, you may automatically receive a letter with a funding code on which you can give to your child’s childcare setting. Or if you have not received a letter, but believe you may be eligible, you can apply here Apply for Education Welfare Benefits - Self (achieveservice.com)
For families working or due to start work who receive universal credit, you can claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs for children under 17. You could get up to £646 a month for one child, or £1,108 for two or more.
For more information and to apply for universal credit please visit Universal Credit: What Universal Credit is - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
Please note, universal credit for childcare replaces tax credits for childcare. Tax credits are closed to new applications for the majority of people from 1 February 2019. If you have an existing tax credits account you can claim back up to 70% of your eligible childcare costs. Otherwise, please see universal credit above.
For more information about all the schemes and funding mentioned please visit Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK
