30 HOURS FUNDING
We are delighted to announce that from September 2023 we can offer 30 hour provision for working parents of three and four year olds.
The government funds the extension of free childcare to support parents who currently work, wish to return to work or to increase their working hours, by making childcare more affordable.
Eligibility:
To be able to access 30 hours both parents need to be working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family), and;
- Each parent earns on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage
- Earns less than £100,000 per year (when one parent in a household has an income of £100,000 or more, that family will not be eligible to take up the extra free hours).
‘Working’ means both employed and self-employed persons may be eligible.
You do not need to actually work 16 hours a week, but your earnings must reflect at least 16 hours of work at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage.
Families may also be eligible where one parent gets benefits relating to caring responsibilities or a disability and the other parent is working.
The standard entitlement of 15 hours per week for 38 weeks will still be available even if you aren’t eligible for the additional entitlement.
Eligibility checking can be accessed via the HMRC website:
https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare
At Junction Farm, our core 30hr offer is as follows:
Monday- Friday: 8:30am-3:15pm (including 45 min lunch club)
Lunch club is an additional service over and above the funded 30hr provision. Children will be given the option to have a school lunch for £2.50 or bring a packed lunch daily.
As we introduce our 30 hour provision, school will absorb the cost for staffing and not pass this on to parents. It may be that in the future school will have to add a small additional daily charge to cover staffing for this 45 minute period. Notice of this payment coming in to place would be given well in advance to any parents.
Parents who are not eligible for the 30hr funding can access the standard 15hr entitlement. 15 hours provision will be offered as 8:45am – 11:45am Mon-Fri or 12:15pm-3:15pm Mon-Fri.
Parents of children who do not already attend 8:30am-3:15pm 5 days per week under the 30 hours funding, can buy in additional sessions as and when required (subject to availability) at the usual rate of £4.97 per hour. This could either be for a parent who requires an ad hoc session or a parent who is only eligible for 15 hours but would like to self-fund 30 hours attendance by paying the difference on a full time basis.
If you require more information on 30 Hours Childcare, you can visit Stockton’s information page 30 Hours Childcare | Stockton Information Directory. If you would like to speak to someone in school about the provision please contact the school Office on info@junctionfarm.org.uk or by calling 01642 781586.
