Sessions, Fees & Funding

Your child can be eligible to 15 hours of funding from 9 months to 4 years if both parents are working or if you are a single parent and are working. To receive this funding, you need to apply on http://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Once you receive your code you need to share this with us to receive your funding. This is the parent’s responsibility to apply for the code in time and to renew their code every three months to continue to receive funding.

From September 2025 the funding will increase from 15 hours to 30 hours.

Your child may be eligible to 15 hours of funding if:

If you meet the economic criteria, you must apply online:

http://fiso.redbridge.gov.uk/synergy/coreLive/Synergyweb/

If your child has an EHCP, is in receipt of DLA, is a looked after child or has left care through an order, you must complete the additional criteria application form.

Copies of Redbridge manual application forms can be found at:

http://find.redbridge.gov.uk/kb5/redbridge/fsd/advice.page?id=gxEz1jlfMos

If you are unable to complete any of the forms please feel free to contact the office and we are happy to help.

Your child is entitled to this funding the term beginning after their third birthday. This funding is for everyone, regardless of your income/ financial situation. You may be entitled to 30 Hours Funding (15 Hours Early Education funding and 15 Hours Working Parent funding)

The following dates show which term your child is eligible for their free childcare place: 

Born between 1st January to 31st March: Summer Term (April to August)

Born between 1st April to 31st August: Autumn Term (September to December)

Born between 1st September to 31st December: Spring term (January to April)

Little Cherubs provides free 15 hours and 30 hours funding a week over 38 weeks per year (term time only) if you fall in any of the above funding criteria. This is the equivalent of up to 570 hours per year. At Little Cherubs, we work on a 'sessions' basis. The 15-hour funding covers 3 sessions of 5 hours each; either 8-1 or 1-6, or 1.5 full days per week. Similarly, the 30 Hours funding covers 4 sessions and 1 full day or 3 full days, or you can request your sessions. This can be negotiated if these sessions do not suit your current situation.

If you are only accessing the funded place, then you can choose to provide a healthy packed lunch, which would not incur an additional cost, or pay the additional fee for the cooked hot lunch at the nursery. Please click on our Healthy Lunch menu.

The prices for our lunch are:

Morning Session: £4.00, which includes Breakfast, Morning Snack and Lunch

Afternoon Session: £2.50, which includes Tea and an Afternoon Snack

Full day: £6.00, which includes Breakfast, Morning Snack, Lunch, Tea, and Afternoon Snack.

Water and fresh milk is offered throughout the day.

The fee needs to be paid monthly in advance to ensure numbers and right quantity of food is ordered for each week.

Please note that if you choose to send children with packed lunches, please make sure there is enough food for the day or the session. We are a nut free nursery please make sure your child’s pack lunch is nut free as well. 

If you work or have other commitments that mean your child needs to attend a setting for more than the funded hours or during school-holiday time then you have the option to pay for additional hours. Little Cherubs Kindergarten is open 51 weeks per year, 8am-6pm, Monday to Friday. Please see our Fee's List for the cost of additional Hours. 

Once you have accepted your child's place at Little Cherubs Kindergarten and signed all of the necessary forms, you will need to sign a Parent Declaration Form. 

When you sign the Free Early Education Entitlement agreement (known as the Parent Declaration Form) you are making a commitment that your child will be accessing their early learning place at Little Cherubs for that term. Signing of the declaration confirms that your child will not be claiming more than the entitled funded hours and any extra hours will be charged.