Funded Early Education Offer – Information for Parents
In line with the DfE statutory guidance Early education and childcare (April 2025), we publish details of how funded early education is delivered at Little Learners, alongside information about additional services and resources available to families. Funded hours are provided free at the point of delivery, and access to a child’s funded entitlement is not conditional on the purchase of any additional services.
How We Offer Funded Hours (Free at Point of Delivery)
Funding options available:
Term-time only:
- Up to 15 or 30 hours per week
- 38 weeks per year
Daily Pattern of Funded Hours:
- Minimum session length: 3 hours
- Maximum funded hours per day: 8 hours
- Cost of funded hours: £0.00
Additional Private Paid Hours:
Hours taken outside of a child’s funded entitlement are charged at the following hourly rates:
- 2-year-olds: £10.00 per hour
- 3–4-year-olds: £9.00 per hour
Additional Services and Resources:
Total cost for additional services and resources: £1.40 per funded hour.
This includes:
Food and Snacks – £0.70 per funded hour
Provision of daily refreshments and food experiences, including:
- Healthy morning and afternoon snacks
- Cooking and baking activities (ingredients provided)
- Special dietary alternatives where required
Non-Food Consumables – £0.30 per funded hour
Everyday care and hygiene items used within the setting, including:
- Sun cream
- Wet wipes
- Facial tissues
- Nappy sacks
- First aid and personal care supplies
- Cleaning and sanitising of toys, equipment and learning resources
Activities, Experiences and Enrichment – £0.40 per funded hour
Enhanced learning opportunities and experiences, including:
- Forest School sessions and outdoor learning resources
- Sports coach sessions
- Cooking activities and food education
- School transition sessions delivered by a qualified teacher
- Arts and crafts materials
- Gardening and nature-based activities
- Celebrations and themed learning events
Important Information for Parents:
- Funded early education hours are always free
- Families may choose whether or not to access additional services
- Access to funded hours is not affected by this choice
- All invoices and receipts are fully itemised
- Charges are transparent and reviewed regularly