Free childcare entitlement for early years

30 hours’ free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

Parents will be able to access 30 free hours of childcare per week if they meet the criteria.  This works out at 1,140 hours of free childcare over a year, which can be spread over 52 weeks a year or during term time only, or any combination that works for you.

Am I eligible?

• all parents (whether two-parent family or lone parent) are working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week (you do not have to actually work 16 hours a week) at the national minimum wage or living wage (includes income received from tax credits or universal credit);
• one/both parents is away on leave (maternity, paternity etc);
• one/both parents is on statutory sick pay;
• includes zero hours contracts and self-employed;
• one parent is employed and the other parent has either: substantial caring responsibilities, and/or disability, is a foster carer with their own 3 and 4 year old children;
• income cap of £100,000 for either parent;
• parents who are in training will not be eligible.

You can check your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Here at St Matthew’s, we can offer 15 of the 30 hours in our teacher-led nursery class for 38 weeks of the year (during term time).  We can advise you on putting a childcare package together with other local providers.  We also offer childcare in our breakfast club from 7.45am.

Our partners are Little Giggles (www.littlegigglesnursery.co.uk/) and Tiny Stars (http://www.tinystarsdaynursery.com/)
Details of other providers can be found here: https://www.stockport.gov.uk/findingchildcare