Funding

Monday, 1st September 2025

Funding for all children of working parents who are over the age of nine months 

From 1st September 2025 children of working parents from nine months old, will be entitled to 1140 hours funding/year (30 hours per week term time only). This funding can be taken as stretched over 51 weeks as described below. Parents were able to apply for this from the summer term 2025 (1st April onwards). Funding starts from the term after the baby turns nine months.

The qualifying criteria to receive funding for children of working parents is now the same as for parents of children over 3 years of age ( see below ).

From 1st September 2025 babies of working parents, from nine months old, will also be entitled to 1140 hours funding/year. Parents were able to apply for this from the Summer term of 2025 (1st April onwards). Funding starts from the term after the baby turns nine months, i.e. 1st September, 1st April or 1st January.  

 Two Year Old Funding:

Some two year olds are entitled to 570 hours of funding per year if their parent/carer receives certain benefits*, or the child gets disability living allowance (DLA), is looked after by the Local Authority or has a current Educational Health Care Plan. The funding can be taken 15 hours per week over 38 weeks or you can stretch your entitlement over 51 weeks which equates to 11 hours/week.

Most two year old children of working parents are now entitled to 1140 hours funding/year from 1st April 2025. In order to access this funding both parents will need to be working at least 16 hours/week or a single parent will need to be working 16 hours/week.

The funding can be taken 30 hours per week over 38 weeks or you can stretch your entitlement over 51 weeks which equates to 11 hours/week.

Three and Four Year Old Funding:

All three and four year old childen are entitled to 570 hours of funding per year from the start of the term after their 3rd birthday, i.e. 1st September, 1st April or 1st January.  

The funding can be taken 15 hours per week over 38 weeks or you can stretch your entitlement over 51 weeks which equates to 11 hours/week.

30 Hours Funding Entitlement for Three and Four Year Olds:

To be eligible for this extended entitlement of 30 hours funding (1140 hours per year) both parents or the sole parent in a one parent family needs to be working and earning the weekly minimum equivalent of 16 hours at national minimum wage/living wage.

The funding can be taken 30 hours per week over 38 weeks or you can stretch your entitlement over 51 weeks which equates to 22 hours/week.

For families accessing three and four year old funding, each term a general essentials/extras fee for consumables and activities, not covered by the Early Years Education Funding, is applied and will be invoiced monthly at a rate equivalent to £16.76 per week (£96.80 for 3 months) for those on 15 hrs funding and £193.60 for 3 months for those on 30 hours funding. For children attending term time only this fee can be spread over 12 months. Children accessing fewer than their full entitlement of funded hours will be charged on a pro-rata basis.

The consumables fee will not be charged for funded places for three and four year old children in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium and/or if additional non-funded hours are fully paid for e.g., by social services.

If you feel you might struggle with this charge please speak to the nursery manager and we will of course review each family’s circumstances on an individual basis.

More information regarding funding can be found on

the Isle of Wight Council website or www.gov.uk