Pre-school funding for 3 and 4 year olds
If you live in Peterborough you can now get 15 hours per
week of free childcare and education for your 3 or 4 year old child
for 38 weeks per year when attending a Peterborough childcare
provider (split into terms closely associated with school terms).
If you live in neighbouring local authority areas like Lincolnshire
and Cambridgeshire you will currently only be able to claim 12.5
hours of free childcare at any childcare provider (which includes
Peterborough provisions). The only childcare providers who can
claim the 15 free hours are day nurseries, pre-schools/playgroups,
nursery schools/classes and accredited network
childminders.
How do I claim my free hours?
Just find a pre-school, day nursery or accredited network
childminder who can offer the hours you want. You will be
asked by the setting to complete an application form and they
will claim the hours for you.
How can I use these free hours?
To help parents who work or study, the free 15 hours should be
spread over 3 days (or more per week). The free hours can also be
taken over lunchtimes, although any food costs are not included in
the offer.
What do I do if I need more hours?
You will have to pay for any additional hours at the childcare
provider's normal hourly rate.
Do I have to pay for extras if I'm just taking my free
hours?
You can choose to just use your 15 free hours
and providers cannot insist that you take up extras such as
lunches/breakfasts or extra hours of childcare.
How old does my child need to be?
All 3 and 4 year olds who live within the
Peterborough City Council boundary and attend a Peterborough
provision are eligible for 15 free hours. The free hours start the
term after the child is 3 (and continue for 6 terms prior to
the child turning 5).
|
Born
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Funding starts
|
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April August
|
1 September
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September - December
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1 January
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January - March
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1 April
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Flexible arrangements for childcare
This extension of hours and making them more
flexible is being trialled in the Peterborough City Council area
and other parts of England as a Pathfinder project. The aim
of the government is to learn from the experience here in
Peterborough and then provide these extended and flexible hours of
childcare for the whole country in 2010.
Where to find information about 15 hours of free childcare in
Peterborough
To find out where places are available contact
the Families Information
Service on freephone 0800 29 89 121 which carries information
on all the childcare in Peterborough.