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Please note: Translations are handled by an external website and are not endorsed by Peterborough City Council.

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

Funding starts

April August       

1 September

September - December

1 January

January - March

1 April

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.