Can I use my funded childcare over the school holidays?
Parents may be able to use their funded early education across the entire year, this is called the 'Stretched Offer'.
The annual Funded early education entitlement per child starts from the Autumn Term (so should be calculated from 1 September to 31 August).
The stretched offer is for children who take up their funded entitlement and want to spread their funded hours across more of the year. The ‘Stretched Offer’ is not to be confused with spreading a parent’s bill over 12 equal monthly payments, as the ‘Stretched Offer’ relates only to Funded early education, not to any hours paid for.
Parents should discuss the hours they would like to take with their childcare provider as not all providers offer the ‘Stretched Offer’
Example of Stretched Hour Models for 1 September - 31 August
| Total hours parent is entitled to: | Hours parent is entitled to if stretching the hours all year round excluding the week between Christmas and New Year (51 weeks) | Hours parent is entitled to if stretching the hours all year round excluding school Christmas holidays (50 weeks) | Hours parent is entitled to if stretching the hours over 48 weeks in total |
| Funded early education for 2-year-olds | 570 hours (15 hours per week during term time) | Up to 11 hours per week* | Up to 11 hours 20 minutes per week | Up to 11 hours 52 minutes per week* |
| Universal Funded Childcare for 3 and 4-year old's (15 hours) | 570 hours (15 Hours per week during term time) | Up to 11 hours per week* | Up to 11 hours 20 minutes per week | Up to 11 hours 52 minutes per week* |
| Extended Entitlement for 3 and 4-year-olds (30 Hours) | 1,140 hours (30 hours per week during term time) | Up to 22 hours 20 minutes per week* | Up to 22 hours 48 minutes per week | Up to 23 hours 45 minutes per week |
*Some of the stretched offer models mean the child will not be able to access the full funded entitlement across the year. Parents must be made aware before they agree to a stretched offer that they will not receive their full entitlement, using some of the models above they may lose up to 3 minutes per termly week of their full entitlement.
Other models are available dependent on the availability and offering of a provider, please enquire with a provider direct to discuss these requirements.
Some providers may charge for meals, snacks or optional extras as these may not always be included within the funded entitlement. If you take more than your funded early education hours there will be a charge from the provider for these additional hours.
Please check with your provider for full details of any additional charges.