Free Entitlement Options for 3 and 4 Year Olds at Blue Bell Woods

Universal Free Entitlement

Pre-School children are entitled to receive up to fifteen hours per week of Universal Free Entitlement for 38 weeks per year at Blue Bell Woods.

How do I claim my free entitlement?

The funding is paid directly to us. Families are required to complete and sign a Parental Declaration Form at nursery in order for us to claim funding. 

Will I have to pay any additional costs?

Yes - Blue Bell Woods charges an additional service charge for time beyond the 15 Universal Free Entitlement hours per week and for sessions used outside of the 38 term weeks. All sessions include snacks, drinks and meals at no extra charge. Please contact the nursery for details of our price structure and the models available.

Will I have to pay a Registration Fee?

Children in receipt of funding are not required to pay a registration fee.

When will my child be entitled to the funding?

Please see the chart below:

To find out further information about Free Entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds, please click below:

Click here to read the 3 & 4 Year old Early Years Entitlements Funding Terms and Parent / Carer Agreement

Extended Free Entitlement 

Will my child be able to access the extended free entitlement (30 hours)?

Yes- if your family qualifies: 

  •  both parents, or one parent in lone parent households, earn more than the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the national living wage
  • there is an upper income threshold of £100,000 per parent per year, although couples who earn more than this between them will still be able to access the funding
Parents who do not meet the work criteria will continue to access the current universal offer of 15 hours free childcare a week in term time

Will I have to pay any additional costs?

Yes - Blue Bell Woods charges an additional service charge for time used beyond the 30 hours extended free entitlement hours per week and for sessions used outside of the 38 term weeks. All sessions include snacks, drinks and meals at no extra charge. Please contact the nursery for details of our price structure and the models available.


Can I stretch funding across the year?

Yes- if your child is entitled to the extended free entitlement, Blue Bell Woods is able to stretch the funding over a 51 week period. 


How do I apply for the extended free entitlement?

You can apply online to HMRC’s new digital childcare service via the following link:-


https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/par/app/applynow


If you are eligible, you will receive a validity code. 


Please note: Decisions about whether children are eligible or not are made by HMRC, not by the Council or Blue Bell Woods Nursery. Please contact HMRC if you have any queries.