From September 2017 the vast majority of working parents of children aged 3 and 4 years old are entitled to up to 30 hours free childcare a week. A child qualifies for this free childcare if they are resident in England and under compulsory school age. If both parents are working (or the sole parent in a lone family) and are earning a weekly minimum wage equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage/national living wage, approximately £120 a week.
To check if you are entitled contact Stockton’s Family Information Service on 01642 527225 or email them at fis@stockton.gov.uk. We have been made aware that the number of hours that early years setting are able to provide are limited so it is essential that you secure a place for your child as early as possible.
Our nursery will continue to provide each child of nursery age with 15 hours a week of this entitlement. We then work closely with a number of other early year’s providers who are able to provide the remaining hours either each week or as a stretched entitlement which means some of the hours can be used during the school holidays. If you would like further information about the settings we work with please speak to Mrs Armstrong (nursery teacher).