Funding
Early Education and Childcare
Rough Common Pre-School Ltd offers Free Early Education and Childcare for eligible 2, 3 and 4-year-old children. We are able to offer up to 30 hours of funding per week, depending on your entitlement, for 38 weeks per year.
Free Early Education and Childcare apply to the 15-hour entitlement for eligible two-year-olds (The Two-Year-Old Entitlement), the 15-hour entitlement for parents of three and four-year-olds (The Universal Entitlement) and the 30 hours entitlement for working parents of three and four-year-olds (The Extended Entitlement).
Our delivery patterns are set out below and specify how funding can be used at Rough Common Pre-School Ltd. The setting is open for 39 weeks per year, therefore, we reserve the right to close for up to 1 week for staff training and development or alternatively invoice you for the additional hours your child attends over and above their entitlement.
Funding can be used between a maximum of 2 settings provided you are not claiming more than a total of 15 hours (or 30 hours if eligible). Additional hours and sessions will be payable by parents at the advertised fee per session.
Completely Free 15 Hour Entitlement
- 4 days x 3.25 hour sessions per day 1pm – 4.15pm available on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday only. A minimum of 4 days must be taken to access this funding pattern.
This pattern is limited to a maximum of 2 spaces per day being offered. If this pattern is already at capacity, you will need to choose a different funding pattern.
- 3 days x 5 hours per day 8am – 1pm. One session must be a Wednesday session and a minimum of 3 days must be taken to access this funding pattern.
This pattern is limited to a maximum of 3 spaces per day being offered. If this pattern is already at capacity, you will need to choose a different funding pattern.
15 Hour Entitlement
- 3 days x 6 hour sessions per day 9am – 3pm available on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday.
This offer uses 5 hours per 6 hour session from your entitlement and is subject to a conditional charge of £7.00 per session.
- 2 days x 6 hour sessions per day 9am – 3pm on a Monday, Tuesday, Thursday or Friday and 1 day x 4 hour session 9am – 1pm on a Wednesday only.
This pattern is only available to children who attend a Wednesday as one of their funded sessions. This offer uses 5 & ½ hours per 6 hour session from your entitlement and is subject to a conditional charge of £3.50 per 6 hour session.
- 2 days x 8.5 hour sessions per day 8am – 4.30pm for 38 weeks per year
This offer uses 7.5 hours per session from your entitlement and is subject to a conditional charge of £7.00 per session.
30 Hour Entitlement
- You are free to use your entitlement however is best suited to your circumstances and ask you to please discuss your preferences with us. You are able to claim up to 30 hours per week at Rough Common Pre-School.
Eligibility
The table below shows when your child may be entitled to the free early education and childcare:
| A child born on or between | Will become eligible for a free place from |
|---|---|
| 1st April and 31st August | Start of the Autumn academic period (terms 1 & 2) in September following their second or third birthday |
| 1st September and 31st December | Start of the Spring academic period (terms 3 & 4) in January following their second or third birthday |
| 1st January and 31st March | Start of the Summer academic period (terms 5&6) in April following their second or third birthday |
Three and four year old children must attend during the Kent designated headcount week to be able to claim Free Early Education for that academic term.
Parents and carers are responsible for re-confirming their eligibility for 30 hours funding every 3 months inline with their application date. Rough Common Pre-School cannot be held responsible if parents and carers have failed to do this and therefore become ineligible and you will be expected to cover the cost of childcare directly with the setting.
Late joiners can claim their Free Early Education providing they have moved to Kent from another local authority or they have not claimed their funding at another Kent setting in the academic term. Funding is not able to be transferred to another setting for children leaving part way through a term.