Covering the cost of childcare isn’t always easy, especially in the current financial climate.
Little Owls offer competitive fees which will always be either at, or below the average fee charges for childcare in Leeds. Our fees are reviewed at least annually to ensure we maintain our fee level. The UK government offers a range of funded childcare schemes to help lighten the financial load.
Spring Budget 2023
On 15th March 2023, the Government announced they are helping parents with childcare so they can return to work more easily via a range of new measures.
Increasing Childcare Support
Working parents in England will be able to access 30 hours of funded childcare per week, for 38 weeks of the year, from when their child is 9 months old to when they start school.
This will be rolled out in stages:
From April 2024, all working parents of 2-year-olds can access 15 hours per week.
From September 2024, all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 15 hours per week.
From September 2025 all working parents of children aged 9 months up to 3 years old can access 30 hours funded childcare per week.
Free Entitlement
For parents with 2-year-olds, receiving certain benefits, you may be able to get 15 hours funded childcare depending on whether you meet the eligibility criteria.
Available to:
- Families in England, claiming certain benefits/support with 2-year-old children.
- 2-year-olds, if they have a Special Education Need (SEND), receive Disability Living Allowance, or if they are being care for by a local authority, special guardianship order or a child arrangements order.
What’s available:
- 15 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
- A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider.
Eligibility criteria:
To be able to take up 15 hours of funded childcare for your 2-year-old you or your child must meet the eligibility criteria. For more information, please visit the GOV.UK website. However, it is not available to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or optional activities.
How to Claim your Funded Childcare Place – Golden Ticket
We send a Golden Ticket to families who qualify for a funded place. You should receive this the school term when your child turns 2. As soon as you receive this, you simply need to
- fill in the back with your details
- take it to your preferred childcare provider before the expiry date – you need to check they offer 2-year-old funded places as not all do. To do this you can find providers who offer these places by logging on to https://familyinformation.leeds.gov.uk/.
- your provider will ask you to fill in a parental declaration form when you agree for your child to attend
If you don’t receive a postcard from us, but you think you are eligible then simply contact the Leeds Family Information Service on 0113 378 9700 or family.info@leeds.gov.uk and we can check your eligibility. We will send you a postcard or letter once we confirm you are eligible, so you and your child don’t miss out.
15 Hours Funded Childcare 3 & 4 Year Olds
For all parents with 3- and 4-year-olds, you are entitled to receive 15 hours funded childcare.
Available to: All families in England, with 3 and 4 year old children.
What’s available: 15 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks.
A total of 570 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
30 Hours Funded Childcare 3 & 4 Years Old
For working parents with 3- and 4-year-olds, you may be able to get 30 hours funded childcare depending on if you meet the eligibility criteria.
Available to: Working families in England, with 3- and 4-year-old children.
What’s available: 30 hours of funded childcare or early education for 38 weeks.
A total of 1,140 hours per year, that you can use flexibly with one or more childcare provider, some providers will allow you to ‘stretch’ the hours over 52 weeks, using fewer hours per week.
Taking your free entitlement all year rounds
You can take your free entitlement all year round if you wish and just top it up to a full session. Our Children’s Centre Daycare Managers can give you full details.
For more information about which scheme would be best suited to you, click through to the Childcare Choices website.
Wrap around care
We also provide what is known as ‘wrap around’ care. This provides more hours of childcare on top of your free entitlement up to a full ten-hour day or a 50-hour week. Further details of the cost for your individual needs are available from Little Owls Daycare Managers.
You will always know what is included in our price and what you need to provide for your child.
- All meals drinks and snacks are included in your fees or grant funding.
- All learning resources are free.
- Your child’s profile is free to access, and we do not charge for printing your child’s profile if you would like a paper copy.
- We do not charge for materials for baking or craft projects.
- Special programs including work with Opera North, Northern Ballet, Leeds City Art Gallery, Herd Farm and Leeds Rhinos are free.
- Occasionally we may take the children on other outings which are normally funded from nursery or community held funding.
- Some family outings, which parents will be invited to, may require a small contribution to costs.
Parents are required to provide nappies and creams, a sun hat and at least one change of clothes (more if the child is potty training).