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Fees and Funding

Childcare Funding from September 2025 – What You Need to Know

Expanded Free Hours (England)

From September 2025, eligible working parents in Trafford will be able to access up to 30 hours per week of government-funded early education and childcare, spread over 38 weeks a year, starting from the term after your child turns 9 months and continuing until they start school.

• Before this change, only children aged 3–4 had access to 30 hours; eligible 9-to-24month-olds could access only 15 hours. From Sept 2025, the offer extends to children aged 9 months to 5 years.
• Your child’s funded entitlement starts in the school term (Spring, Summer, Autumn) after they turn 9 months.

From September 2025, we offer funded childcare through two flexible contract options to best suit your family’s needs:

• Term-Time Only: Access your funding over 38 weeks of the year, in line with the school term (Trafford).
• All Year Round: Spread your funding across 51 weeks of the year, offering consistent childcare throughout—excluding our Christmas and New Year closure.

These options allow you to choose the pattern that works best for your child and your schedule. If you’re unsure which contract is right for you, our team will be happy to guide you through the details.

Eligibility:

• Both parents (or one single parent) must be working at least 16 hours/week at National Minimum Wage rate
• Combined adjusted net income must be £100,000 or less each.
• Foster parents and those taking statutory leave may still qualify under certain conditions.

Other Entitlements:

• Children aged 2 years may be eligible for 15 free hours per week if families are on certain benefits (e.g., Universal Credit). Working families may combine this with the working-parent entitlement for more hours.
• All 3- and 4-year-olds in England receive at least 15 hours per week free, with up to 30 hours for working families.

TaxFree Childcare – Boosting Your Childcare Budget

The UK Government’s TaxFree Childcare scheme helps working families save on childcare:

• For every 80p you add into your online childcare account, the government tops it up by 20p—a 25% boost on every payment.
• Parents can receive up to £2,000 per child per year, or up to £4,000 per year if the child has a disability.
• There is a £500 quarterly cap on government top-up payments per child.

You may still use this scheme if you’re also receiving free childcare hours (up to 30 hours) as long as your provider is registered for the scheme.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Both parents (or the one applying) must be working and earning above the equivalent of 16 hours/week at National Minimum Wage
• Both must earn under £100,000 adjusted net income per year.
• Self-employed parents, those on statutory leave, and certain benefit recipients (e.g., carer’s allowance) may still qualify.

How It Works:

1. Create a Government Gateway account and open a childcare account online.
2. Deposit funds into the account; the government adds the 25% top-up automatically.
3. Use the account to pay your provider directly—including fees, lunches, trips, and other childcare extras if included in childcare costs.
4. You must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months to keep receiving the top-up.

Summary Table

Trafford Families – How to Access These Supports

1. Start early: apply online up to 16 weeks before your child turns 9 months to secure your place for September 2025 funding.
2. Provide eligibility codes: to your chosen nursery (like us in Stretford) so we can register your entitlement.
3. Explore TaxFree Childcare alongside your 30-hours entitlement to further reduce childcare costs.
4. Seek help if needed: Local authority or nursery staff can guide you through application processes.

Need help applying or understanding your eligibility? Just ask us—our team in Trafford is here to support you every step of the way.