How does funding work?
Childcare is a necessity for many working families, ensuring that children are both cared for in person, and financially. The government have allocated funding to those who need it - ensuring parents and carers can continue to work without the financial burden, and the sacrifice that would come with it. Funding can vary, depending on a child's age, household income, benefits, and the amount of hours allocated to each child.
Some working parents may be entitled to up to 30 hours of funding per week, if they meet the certain criteria - this funding can be attained for children 9 months and over, until they reach school age. Parents and guardians must apply for these hours via the Norfolk County Council website to ensure the funded hours are allocated and applied. All children ages 3 and over are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare in preparation for school, and no code is required - however, if you meet certain criteria you can apply for for an extra 15 hours, adding up to 30 hours per week, per child. We offer 15 & 30 hours of government funded spaces for those eligible, please ensure you have received your eligibility code before notifying us of your entitlement.
Below you can find more information on funding and your eligibility via 'Best Start in Life'.
Working Parent Funding
Some working parents may be eligible for up to 30 funded childcare hours per week for children aged 9 months to 4 years. Depending on eligibility, families may receive either 15 or 30 funded hours. If your child is allocated 15 funded hours per week, these can be used across 51 weeks of the year through what is known as stretched funding. Stretched funding spreads the funded hours over the whole year, including school holidays, and availability must be discussed directly with your childcare provider. Working Parent Funding must be applied for regardless of your child’s age and must be reconfirmed every 90 days to maintain eligibility for each new term.
Under stretched funding:
-
15 funded hours equates to approximately 11 hours per week
-
30 funded hours equates to approximately 22 hours per week
Working Parent Funding must be applied for regardless of your child’s age and must be reconfirmed every 90 days to maintain eligibility for each new term.
To qualify for this funding your child must be with an approved childcare provider, here is some important information you should know:
-
Funding stops when your child starts reception class, or reaches the compulsory age for school age, if enrolled later.
-
Funding becomes available the school-term after your child has turned 9 months old, beginning on 1st of January, 1st of April, or the 1st of September.
-
You will have to pay for extras such as meals, nappies, additional hours, and additional activities such as trips. You can ask your provider for more information about their extras directly.
Applications are now open for working parents and funding must be secure by:
-
31st of December to qualify for the upcoming January term.
-
31st of March to qualify for the upcoming April term.
-
31st of August to qualify for the upcoming September term.
The amount of free childcare offered for working parents depends on these factors:
-
Your immigration status.
-
Your income (and your partner's income, if you have one).
-
Whether you're working (employed, self employed, or a director).
-
Your child's age and circumstances.
If you foster a child, you can claim Free Childcare for Working Parents under the criteria that you:
-
You're in paid work outside of your fostering role.
-
Your 'adjusted net income' is under £100,00.
-
Free childcare can be applied for, however you will need to do this via your social worker and the local authority. A digital application is not available for children in foster care.
You will not be eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents if:
-
Your child does not usually live with you.
-
you or your partner have an expected 'adjusted net income' of over £100,000 in the current tax year.
Baby Funding
Some working parents with children aged 9 months or over, may be entitled for up to 30 free funded hours of childcare, if they they meet the criteria! Funding is allocated to each specific child, and can vary between either 15 hours, or 30 hours each, depending on eligibility. Funding becomes available from the age of 9 months old, starting in the following term beginning on September 1st, January 1st, or April 1st.
Applications are now open for working parents and funding must be secure by 31st of August, 31st of December, or 31st of April to qualify for the respective term.
2 Year-old Funding
Some 2 year-old's may be eligible for 'Working Parent' funding, or 'Extra Support' funding, for up to 30 hours of funding per week. As of September 2025, the working parent funding extended to a potential 30 hours for a child aged 2 years-old. This funding must be applied for, and parents must meet specific eligibility criteria to be awarded either 15 hours, or 30 hours per week, per child. All funding becomes available the school-term after your child has their 2nd birthday, beginning on 1st of January, 1st of April, or the 1st of September.
You may be eligible for extra support funding if you currently receive any of the following support:
-
You get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments).
-
You get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
-
You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
-
Your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, also known as an EHCP.
-
Your child gets Disability Allowance (DLA).
-
Your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.
-
Children in care also eligible.
If you're a non-UK Citizen who cannot claim benefits, you may still be able to claim free childcare funding for your 2 year-old. However your household income after tax must be no more than:
-
£26,500 for families outside of London with one child.
-
£30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children.
-
£34,500 for families within London with one child.
-
£38,600 for families within London with two or more children.
For further information regarding your county's 2-year-old funding please follow the following links:
3 & 4 Year-old Funding
All children aged 3–4 years in England are entitled to 15 hours of free government-funded childcare per week, regardless of family circumstances. No eligibility code is required for this universal funding. Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria may be able to claim an additional 15 funded hours per week, providing up to 30 hours of funded childcare in total. All funded hours can be stretched across the year to provide childcare all year round. Funding becomes available from the start of the school term following your child’s third birthday, beginning on 1 January, 1 April, or 1 September.
Invoicing & Extras
We offer understandable and clear invoices, and any further information can be requested directly from us - we always aim to be clear about fees, hours used, and extras, and we welcome any queries. Our invoices also include all identifying information for both the sender and the receiver, with a clear explanation of invoice numbers, contact details, the invoice amount, and more, such detailing booking patterns and extra charges, complete with dates and itemised lists for further information. This creates a transparent and easy to follow invoice receipt to be viewed, saved, and understood effectively by the recipient. Find below the PDF version of our invoices for further information regarding each section.
Extra charges not included in funded hours can include the following, and are optional:
-
Food.
-
Nappies.
-
Extra Hours.
-
Trips & Excursions.
Childcare Vouchers
Ask your employer about childcare vouchers as you may be entitled to help with tax free childcare or other available schemes. We accept all kinds of childcare vouchers.
Important Information you may need to know
-
Name of Governing Body; Ofsted.
-
Name and address of childcare provider; Scribbles Preschool Group Ltd, Fakenham Road, Bawdeswell, Dereham, NR20 4RR.
-
Ofsted Numbers: EY488372
-
Tax Credit Helpline Telephone Number - 0345 300 3900
Working Parent Funding
Some working parents may be eligible for up to 30 funded childcare hours per week for children aged 9 months to 4 years. Depending on eligibility, families may receive either 15 or 30 funded hours. If your child is allocated 15 funded hours per week, these can be used across 51 weeks of the year through what is known as stretched funding. Stretched funding spreads the funded hours over the whole year, including school holidays, and availability must be discussed directly with your childcare provider. Working Parent Funding must be applied for regardless of your child’s age and must be reconfirmed every 90 days to maintain eligibility for each new term.
Under stretched funding:
-
15 funded hours equates to approximately 11 hours per week
-
30 funded hours equates to approximately 22 hours per week
Working Parent Funding must be applied for regardless of your child’s age and must be reconfirmed every 90 days to maintain eligibility for each new term.
To qualify for this funding your child must be with an approved childcare provider, here is some important information you should know:
-
Funding stops when your child starts reception class, or reaches the compulsory age for school age, if enrolled later.
-
Funding becomes available the school-term after your child has turned 9 months old, beginning on 1st of January, 1st of April, or the 1st of September.
-
You will have to pay for extras such as meals, nappies, additional hours, and additional activities such as trips. You can ask your provider for more information about their extras directly.
Applications are now open for working parents and funding must be secure by:
-
31st of December to qualify for the upcoming January term.
-
31st of March to qualify for the upcoming April term.
-
31st of August to qualify for the upcoming September term.
The amount of free childcare offered for working parents depends on these factors:
-
Your immigration status.
-
Your income (and your partner's income, if you have one).
-
Whether you're working (employed, self employed, or a director).
-
Your child's age and circumstances.
If you foster a child, you can claim Free Childcare for Working Parents under the criteria that you:
-
You're in paid work outside of your fostering role.
-
Your 'adjusted net income' is under £100,00.
-
Free childcare can be applied for, however you will need to do this via your social worker and the local authority. A digital application is not available for children in foster care.
You will not be eligible for Free Childcare for Working Parents if:
-
Your child does not usually live with you.
-
you or your partner have an expected 'adjusted net income' of over £100,000 in the current tax year.
Childcare Vouchers
Ask your employer about childcare vouchers as you may be entitled to help with tax free childcare or other available schemes. We accept all kinds of childcare vouchers.
2 Year-old Funding
Some 2 year-old's may be eligible for 'Working Parent' funding, or 'Extra Support' funding, for up to 30 hours of funding per week. As of September 2025, the working parent funding extended to a potential 30 hours for a child aged 2 years-old. This funding must be applied for, and parents must meet specific eligibility criteria to be awarded either 15 hours, or 30 hours per week, per child. All funding becomes available the school-term after your child has their 2nd birthday, beginning on 1st of January, 1st of April, or the 1st of September.
You may be eligible for extra support funding if you currently receive any of the following support:
-
You get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments).
-
You get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
-
You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
-
Your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, also known as an EHCP.
-
Your child gets Disability Allowance (DLA).
-
Your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.
-
Children in care also eligible.
If you're a non-UK Citizen who cannot claim benefits, you may still be able to claim free childcare funding for your 2 year-old. However your household income after tax must be no more than:
-
£26,500 for families outside of London with one child.
-
£30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children.
-
£34,500 for families within London with one child.
-
£38,600 for families within London with two or more children.
For further information regarding your county's 2-year-old funding please follow the following links:
3 & 4 Year-old Funding
All children aged 3–4 years in England are entitled to 15 hours of free government-funded childcare per week, regardless of family circumstances. No eligibility code is required for this universal funding. Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria may be able to claim an additional 15 funded hours per week, providing up to 30 hours of funded childcare in total. All funded hours can be stretched across the year to provide childcare all year round. Funding becomes available from the start of the school term following your child’s third birthday, beginning on 1 January, 1 April, or 1 September.
Invoicing & Extras
We offer understandable and clear invoices, and any further information can be requested directly from us - we always aim to be clear about fees, hours used, and extras, and we welcome any queries. Our invoices also include all identifying information for both the sender and the receiver, with a clear explanation of invoice numbers, contact details, the invoice amount, and more, such detailing booking patterns and extra charges, complete with dates and itemised lists for further information. This creates a transparent and easy to follow invoice receipt to be viewed, saved, and understood effectively by the recipient. Find below the PDF version of our invoices for further information regarding each section.
Extra charges not included in funded hours can include the following, and are optional:
-
Food.
-
Nappies.
-
Extra Hours.
-
Trips & Excursions.
Baby Funding
Some working parents with children aged 9 months or over, may be entitled for up to 30 free funded hours of childcare, if they they meet the criteria! Funding is allocated to each specific child, and can vary between either 15 hours, or 30 hours each, depending on eligibility. Funding becomes available from the age of 9 months old, starting in the following term beginning on September 1st, January 1st, or April 1st.
Applications are now open for working parents and funding must be secure by 31st of August, 31st of December, or 31st of April to qualify for the respective term.
2 Year-old Funding
Some 2 year-old's may be eligible for 'Working Parent' funding, or 'Extra Support' funding, for up to 30 hours of funding per week. As of September 2025, the working parent funding extended to a potential 30 hours for a child aged 2 years-old. This funding must be applied for, and parents must meet specific eligibility criteria to be awarded either 15 hours, or 30 hours per week, per child. All funding becomes available the school-term after your child has their 2nd birthday, beginning on 1st of January, 1st of April, or the 1st of September.
You may be eligible for extra support funding if you currently receive any of the following support:
-
You get Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax (not including benefit payments).
-
You get Income Support, income-based Jobseeker's Allowance (JSA), or income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA).
-
You get the guaranteed element of Pension Credit.
-
Your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, also known as an EHCP.
-
Your child gets Disability Allowance (DLA).
-
Your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order, or a child arrangements order.
-
Children in care also eligible.
If you're a non-UK Citizen who cannot claim benefits, you may still be able to claim free childcare funding for your 2 year-old. However your household income after tax must be no more than:
-
£26,500 for families outside of London with one child.
-
£30,600 for families outside of London with two or more children.
-
£34,500 for families within London with one child.
-
£38,600 for families within London with two or more children.
For further information regarding your county's 2-year-old funding please follow the following links:
3 & 4 Year-old Funding
All children aged 3–4 years in England are entitled to 15 hours of free government-funded childcare per week, regardless of family circumstances. No eligibility code is required for this universal funding. Working parents who meet the eligibility criteria may be able to claim an additional 15 funded hours per week, providing up to 30 hours of funded childcare in total. All funded hours can be stretched across the year to provide childcare all year round. Funding becomes available from the start of the school term following your child’s third birthday, beginning on 1 January, 1 April, or 1 September.
Invoicing & Extras
We offer understandable and clear invoices, and any further information can be requested directly from us - we always aim to be clear about fees, hours used, and extras, and we welcome any queries. Our invoices also include all identifying information for both the sender and the receiver, with a clear explanation of invoice numbers, contact details, the invoice amount, and more, such detailing booking patterns and extra charges, complete with dates and itemised lists for further information. This creates a transparent and easy to follow invoice receipt to be viewed, saved, and understood effectively by the recipient. Find below the PDF version of our invoices for further information regarding each section.
Extra charges not included in funded hours can include the following, and are optional:
-
Food.
-
Nappies.
-
Extra Hours.
-
Trips & Excursions.
Childcare Vouchers
Ask your employer about childcare vouchers as you may be entitled to help with tax free childcare or other available schemes. We accept all kinds of childcare vouchers.
Important Information you may need to know
-
Name of Governing Body; Ofsted.
-
Name and address of childcare provider; Scribbles Preschool Group Ltd, Fakenham Road, Bawdeswell, Dereham, NR20 4RR.
-
Ofsted Numbers: EY488372
-
Tax Credit Helpline Telephone Number - 0345 300 3900
Baby Funding
Some working parents with children aged 9 months or over, may be entitled for up to 30 free funded hours of childcare, if they they meet the criteria! Funding is allocated to each specific child, and can vary between either 15 hours, or 30 hours each, depending on eligibility. Funding becomes available from the age of 9 months old, starting in the following term beginning on September 1st, January 1st, or April 1st.
Applications are now open for working parents and funding must be secure by 31st of August, 31st of December, or 31st of April to qualify for the respective term.
Discounts
We offer a 10% discount for NHS, Military & Bawdeswell Primary School children (proof is required).
Discounts
We offer a 10% discount for NHS, Military & Bawdeswell Primary School children (proof is required).
Important Information you may need to know
-
Name of Governing Body; Ofsted.
-
Name and address of childcare provider; Scribbles Preschool Group Ltd, Fakenham Road, Bawdeswell, Dereham, NR20 4RR.
-
Ofsted Numbers: EY488372
-
Tax Credit Helpline Telephone Number - 0345 300 3900