Free Entitlement

15 Hours Childcare – Universal Free Entitlement

• Universal Free Entitlement, also known as 15 hours childcare, is a Government scheme which allows nurseries to offer up to 570 hours per year of free childcare.
• All children are eligible for 15 hours childcare, free, from the term after their third birthday until the term after their 5th Birthday, whilst in a day nursery or pre-school.
• If your child moves to school, before they are five, the Free Entitlement will cease
• Eligibility dates are set by the Department of Education and are based on school term dates.

What do you need to do?

• When you claim 15 hours childcare in your first term, parents or guardians must complete and sign the Parent Declaration Form and return it to the Nursery.
• If you have any questions, please do get in touch.

How does it work at The Wigwam?

• To increase flexibility for parents The Wigwam stretches the 15 hours childcare entitlement across 52 weeks each year. Therefore children can access up to 11 hours each week (subject to minimum attendance patterns) completely free of charge.
• For each term claim, a child must be in attendance at the nursery on or before the term headcount date, as advised by the Local Authority. The headcount date is a specific date usually towards the beginning of each term.
• If a child starts at the nursery ore pre-school after the headcount date, the nursery cannot guarantee funding will be available.

Extended Free Entitlement

• You may also be eligible for Extended Entitlement.
• This is a further Government scheme which allows nurseries or pre-schools to offer up to an additional extra 570 hours per year of free childcare. Extended Entitlement is generally targeted towards children of working parents of 3 and 4 years olds.
• HMRC determine eligibility for this scheme.

What do you need to do to register for the scheme?

• To find out if you are eligible you can apply for your Eligibility Code (DERN) on the Governments website (Childcare Choices | 30 Hours Free Childcare, Tax-Free Childcare and More | Help with Costs | GOV.UK)

How does it work at The Wigwam?

• The Wigwam offers the Extended Entitlement funding to all children who attend our pre-school (Dancing Deers) there is no minimum attendance required.
• To increase flexibility for parents, The Wigwam stretches the Extended Entitlement across 52 weeks each year. Therefore children can access up to an additional 11 hours  each week completely free of charge.
• For each term claim, a child must be in attendance at the Nursery on or before the term Headcount Date, as advised by the Local Authority. The Headcount date is a specific date usually towards the beginning of each term.
• If a child starts the nursery after the headcount date, the Nursery cannot guarantee funding will be available.
  Essential Information