childcare funding schemes Archives | Little Acorns Nursery School https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/tag/childcare-funding-schemes/ Tue, 01 Jul 2025 10:31:57 +0000 en-GB hourly 1 Don’t Miss Out on Free Childcare This September – Apply NOW! https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/30-hours-funded-childcare-deadline-for-september-term/ Sat, 28 Jun 2025 13:44:28 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=7157 (Free ‘30 Hours’ Childcare Scheme for Eligible Working Families) Don’t Miss Out on Free Childcare This September: Apply NOW! Don't miss out on the free ‘30 Hours’ childcare funding scheme for eligible working families.In September this year (2025), free childcare for eligible working families expands to 30 hours per week for children as young as just 9 months. Little Acorns Nursery in Clayton-le-Woods is supporting the funding scheme too. Taken usually over 38 weeks* of the year, it means a generous 1140 hours of funded childcare will be available to eligible children in Central Lancashire over the course of a year. For the first time, the funding will cover eligible babies aged from only 9 months and children up to 2, the scheme having previously rolled out to eligible 3-and-4-year-olds last year. An urgent factor to be aware of, however, is that the funding application deadline is only weeks away for those wanting to start in the September 2025 term. So, whether you're thinking of applying at Little Acorns Nursery or elsewhere, don't delay your application any longer if you want to access the free funding from September. If your child is eligible and you do not apply by the deadline, your child will not be able to access the free funding for the entire September term. Read on to learn more about the new funding for eligible working families, the deadlines for applications, and the rules that apply.]]> Free Childcare for Children Aged 9 Months+ (for Eligible Working Families in England) https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/free-childcare-guide-for-eligible-working-families/ Mon, 16 Sep 2024 09:27:32 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6585 Since September 2024, eligible children as young as 9 months have been able to access free childcare in England.With September 2024 arriving, eligible children aged as young as 9 months can now access free childcare in England. The new childcare 'hours' are available where working families are eligible for the support and, in tandem, where local childcare providers are set up with appropriate staffing ratios and capacity. The good news, however, is that Little Acorns Nursery, in Clayton-le-Woods, supports the new scheme. It's therefore with great pleasure that we're now beginning to welcome children as young as just 9 months of age for free childcare hours at the Chorley setting. In today's guide, we'll explain who is eligible and how much free childcare they can access right now — and in a year's time when the scheme expands further.]]> Tips for Potty Training Tots https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/tips-for-potty-training-tots/ Mon, 15 Apr 2024 14:07:25 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=6330 Achieving potty training success will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child's care.One of the key tasks all tots must face, in tandem with parents, is potty training. It's something we all had to master as toddlers and therefore we know it's 100% achievable — despite it sometimes seeming to be rather a challenge. Achieving success, though, will improve the quality of life for the child, the parent, and other guardians involved in the child's care. Learning to master the use of the potty and later the toilet will also be a major boost to self-confidence and independence when the child is at nursery, preschool, and later school. With that in mind, today's guide outlines our top tips for successful potty training.]]> Significant Childcare Funding Announced for Families https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/significant-childcare-funding-for-families/ Sat, 15 Apr 2023 13:30:42 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=5736 Significant New Childcare Funding Announced for Families.

A Guide to the Game-Changing Childcare Funding Initiatives Announced in the Chancellor’s Spring Budget 2023

Generous and far-reaching childcare funding reforms were announced in the Spring Budget 2023 last month. The Chancellor of the Exchequer's new funding plans should give more parents, including those of even younger children, access to significant help with childcare costs going forwards. The new initiatives will:
  • allow Generous childcare funding was announced in the Spring Budget 2023, giving more parents, including those of even younger children, access to significant help with childcare costs.parents to return to the workplace sooner after the birth of their child if they so choose;
  • help fill vacant jobs in the workplace;
  • allow parents (particularly women) to progress their careers sooner after starting a family;
  • help to boost the UK economy, and;
  • perhaps most importantly give more children access to a good early years education, starting potentially at a younger age. Beginning no later than the age of 2 has been shown to better prepare children for the transition to school, boost children's education overall, improve GCSE grades, improve career prospects and even increase earning potential once they reach adulthood. Learn more about the benefits of a good early years education here.
So, the new childcare funding should make a huge difference for those families that are eligible. Let's take a look at the 3 key childcare funding initiatives announced...]]> Childcare Funding Options (a Quick Guide) https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/childcare-funding-options-guide/ Thu, 15 Dec 2022 08:00:09 +0000 https://www.littleacornsnursery.school/?p=5433 We explain the various childcare funding schemes in England, including an at-a-glance overview of what's available, eligibility and how to apply.One of the first challenges when considering childcare for your little one is how to fund it. If you're an affluent family, then great. However, if childcare costs will be a more significant hurdle to overcome, the good news is that there are lots of options available. Either way, it will help to be well-informed about the various childcare funding schemes on offer from the Government. There are quite a few of them and some are extremely generous and surprisingly easy to obtain. Today's Quick Guide to Childcare Funding Options in England will give you an at-a-glance overview of what's available, the key eligibility criteria and how to apply. Note, though, that they generally fund in-person childcare only from approved providers (like Little Acorns). Take a look at the many options ...]]>