At Spring Nurseries we accept a range of government-funded childcare and early education entitlements to help families access high quality early years provision.
The funding available to your family will depend on your child’s age and your individual circumstances. Eligibility criteria apply to some entitlements.
Eligibly working parents in England can access up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year for children aged from 9 months until they start school.
This is equivalent to 1140 funded hours per year. Some families may be able to use their funded hours more flexibly across the year, depending on the arrangements available at their chosen Spring Nursery.
You may be eligible if you are working or starting work, including if you are on certain types of parental leave, sick leave or annual leave. There are income and other eligibility requirements.
You can check your eligibility and apply for your funding code through the government’s best start in life childcare service – https://beststartinlife.gov.uk/
Please speak to your local Spring Nursery about how funded hours are offered and how they can fit around your childcare requirements.
All eligible children in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded early education per week for 38 weeks of the year, from the term after their third birthday until they start school.
This provides up to 570 funded hours per year.
At Spring, we may be able to offer funded hours more flexibly across the year. Please speak to your nursery manager about arrangements available at your local nursery.
Some 2 year olds in England may be eligible for 15 hours of funded early education per week for 38 weeks of the year, depending on their family’s circumstances.
Eligibility includes certain families receiving additional support and some children who meet specific criteria.
This entitlement provides up to 570 funded hours per year.
To find out whether your child is eligible, please check the latest information on the government’s Best Start in Life website or speak to your local authority.
Tax-Free childcare can help eligible working families with the cost of childcare.
For every £8 you pay into your Tax-Free Childcare account, the government pays an additional £2. up to a maximum of £2000 per child per year, or £4000 for a disabled child.
Eligibility criteria apply.
You can find our more and apply through GOV.UK
If you receive Universal Credit and are eligible, you may be able to claim back up to 85% of your eligible childcare costs, subject to the relevant limits and eligibility criteria.
Universal Credit childcare support is separate from funded early years education and childcare entitlements.
Please check the latest government guidance to understand which support you may be entitled to.
Let’s Talk about EYPP
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) provides additional government funding to early years providers to support eligible children.
Where a child is eligible, the additional funding can be used by Spring to support their learning, development and wellbeing.
This could include additional resources, activities, experiences, or targeted support based on the individual needs of the child.
If you think your child may be eligible, please speak to your Spring Nursery team, Eligibility for EYPP does NOT affect your other benefits and entitlements.
Government childcare funding and eligibility can change, so we recommend checking the latest information before applying.
The Best Start in Life website provides the most up to date information about childcare support, eligibility and how to apply.
You can also use the government’s childcare checker to find out which schemes you may be eligible for.
Please remember that funded childcare covers specific funded hours and does not necessarily cover all of your child’s childcare costs. Additional hours, meals, consumables or other services may be chargeable depending on your nursery’s arrangements.
Please speak to your local Spring Nursery for full details of how funded childcare works at your chosen setting.
Take a look at our funding booklet here: https://springchildcare.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/09/SPRING-Funding-Process-for-Families.pdf
