Three and four year olds universal entitlement

All children aged 3 to 4 are entitled to 15 hours of early education funding per week.

Some children will be eligible for additional funding depending on a households circumstances.

You can either take the additional funded hours as:

• Term time - 15 hours per week over 38 weeks 
• Stretched - 11.18 hours per week over 51 weeks.

Please ensure you speak to your chosen childcare provider about their models of delivery before taking a funded place.

All children become eligible from the term following their third birthday.  You can can access the universal entitlement from:

Choosing a childcare provider is a big step for you and your child and finding the right place can be a hard decision to make.  Our information on choosing a childcarer can advise you on things to consider when making your choice. 

Use the childcare directory to find childcare providers listed with Leicester City Council to deliver the 15 hour funded places.

Your child’s funded hours are free of charge.  However, the funding entitlement does not cover the cost of meals, consumables, or additional services. 

Therefore, you may be charged for the following:

• Deposits and registration - the childcare provider should provide you with their admissions criteria or policy which should state how they manage applications and have their detailed fees and charges pricing structure.
• Meals and snacks - if you choose to take this up you would be expected to pay for them.
• Consumables such as nappies, suncream or wipes but you could ask whether you are able to supply your own.
• Extra hours - if you choose to take these up you would be expected to pay for them.  This should not be a condition of accessing your funded place.

The provider must be clear and transparent about how you can access the funded place and help you understand, before you accept the place, which hours/ sessions can be taken as funded provision and the amounts of additional charges that may be applicable for different sessions.  If you choose to pay for meals, consumables, or additional services these items should be clearly listed on your invoice, and you are aware of what you are paying for.

If you have any questions, please discuss them directly with your chosen childcare provider who will be able to explain their process to you.

You need to set a pattern of attendance for your funded hours for the term with the childcare provider on your parental declaration form. Therefore, you and your childcare provider are clear on what is to be claimed on your behalf.

If you wish to move some or all your funded hours to another childcare provider during the term, that is fine. Please check your contract that you agreed with your childcare provider on what notice period you need to give if you would like to terminate the contract.

Your new childcare provider can only claim after the notice period and not before. If the date of the notice period falls after the date the provider needs to submit data to the authority, the new provider will not be able to claim your funded entitlement until the next term. The Local authority checks all claims are not exceeded and if they are, the nursery will not be funded for their claim, meaning you will be liable for the expense.

If you are the parent and you still have further queries regrading universal funding for 3 and 4 year olds please contact us by:

• email: earlyeducation@leicester.gov.uk
• telephone: 0116 4541680

If you are the parent and you have a school enquiry please contact Admissions by:

• email admissionsonline@leicester.gov.uk
• telephone: 0116 4541009 option 1

If you are the parent and you still have further queries regrading universal funding for 3 and 4 year olds please contact us by:

• email: earlyeducation@leicester.gov.uk
• telephone: 0116 4541680

If you are the parent and you have a school enquiry please contact Admissions by:

• email admissionsonline@leicester.gov.uk
• telephone: 0116 4541009 option 1