Free Early Education Entitlement

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FEEE is a national government scheme which allows working parents/carers of children free childcare. 

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Currently all 9 months to 4 year-olds in Leicestershire are entitled to 15 or 30 hours of free early learning and childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year (dependent on criteria see below). Your 15 or 30 hours can be accessed from up to two different childcare providers. The early learning entitlement is often referred to as ‘Nursery Funding’ or ‘FEEE’.

 

Hall Lane Pre-School is able to offer up to 5 hour sessions Monday to Fridays.

 

The table below shows when your child will become eligible for funded Nursery Education places under the current arrangements for children​​​​​​

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 A Child born between                     Will be eligible for a funded place from:

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1 April and 31 August                       The start of the autumn period (from the 1st September) following them

                                                          reaching 9 months old or their 2nd or 3rd birthday, if eligible, until 

                                                          statutory school age

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1 September and 31 December     The start of the spring period (from the 1st January) following them

                                                          reaching 9 months old or their 2nd or 3rd birthday, if eligible, until 

                                                          statutory school age

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1 January and 31 March                  The start of the summer period (from the 1st April) following them

                                                          reaching 9 months old or their 2nd or 3rd birthday, if eligible, until 

                                                          statutory school age

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Our setting offers free places for all 2,3- and 4-year-olds (dependent on date of birth). Your child may also be eligible if you claim one of the following benefits listed on the Local Authority website and gov.uk ‘get childcare step by step as of March 2026.

 

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)

• Universal Credit, and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after tax, not including benefit payments

• the guaranteed element of Pension Credit

• your child has an education, health and care (EHC) plan, also known as an EHCP.

• your child receives Disability Living Allowance

• your child has left care under an adoption order, special guardianship order or child arrangements order.

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To find out if you qualify, visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk or contact the Family Information Service on 0116 3056545 or ask us to apply on your behalf.  You will need to provide your name, address, your date of birth and your National Insurance Number and the name and date of birth of your child.

 

If your child does not qualify for the funding, you are asked to pay for each session they attend. A fee of £6.00 (Sept 2026 price) per hour and must be paid by the parent/carer for all allocated sessions. There is no discount for illness or term time holidays.

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30 hours free childcare - check if you’re eligible

Some parents are also eligible to claim 30 hours funding per week (for up to 38 weeks per year, a total of 1140 hours) This is known as ‘extended entitlement’ and is dependent on certain criteria. The extended entitlement is intended to support working parents with the cost of childcare and enable them to return to work or to work additional hours.

 

To check for your eligibility, visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk or if you have a query about the result, you should contact the Local Authority on 0116 3056545.

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Additional Charges ​

As part of recent government guidance early years settings can charge optional extras such as consumables and snacks. Community preschools DOES NOT charge extra for these. In the event of any outings, we would ask for a voluntary contribution to cover the costs. Parents who do not wish their children to participate in optional activities would be offered an alternative session where possible.

 

A termly invoice will be issued for non-funded hours, which will also show any FEEE funded hours in the case where these are also being claimed.  

 

Statement of Undertaking Form (PSOU)

Parents who wish to claim the funding are required to complete a Parental Statement of Undertaking form. This is a contract between parents and the setting.  Parents are required to complete this form at the beginning of each term and will be provided by us. This form will make it clear to you what will be paid for, and what you, the parents will pay for, such as hours over and above your funded entitlement.

Remember if there are any changes to your child’s attendance at a provision you will be asked to update these details on the PSOU.  We will apply for funding from Local Authority on your behalf. 

 

Parents not wishing to use the funding at this setting will be charged a fee of £6.00 per hour (Sept 2026 price) and are invoiced at the beginning of term.

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Accessing additional support 

 

Special Educational Needs

If your child has special educational needs you may be able to access additional support. Speak to us for further clarification and we will support you in finding out more from the Local Authority. Hall Lane Preschool has an NCFE qualified SENCO. For more information visit www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children

 

Disability Access Fund (DAF)

If your child is eligible for Disability Living Allowance (DLA) we can access additional funding called Disability Access Fund (DAF) The DAF supports us in making reasonable adjustments to our setting and to enhance access and inclusion for all children.  If you think you may be eligible for DLA and would like to complete the form, please ask us to contact the local authority to arrange support.

 

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

This is an additional sum of money paid directly to childcare providers on behalf of children whose parents/carers are in receipt of certain benefits, to enable providers to enhance the quality of your child’s early years’ experience.  If you are eligible, we will work with you to look at how best to develop your child’s progress and learning.  Please ask us for further information.

 

Further information on the above additional funding areas can be found at the Local Authority www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children and following the links to Early Years and Childcare or by contacting the Family Information Service on 0116 3056545 or by asking us at the setting.

 

Headcount Dates

In order to access Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) your child has to be registered and in attendance at a provision before the dates shown previously. To do this we will complete regular headcount returns.

 

How will my child’s place free place be paid?

Hall Lane Preschool is a validated nursery education provider, which means we receive funding direct from the Local Authority.  All paperwork relating to your child’s funding will be provided by us and we will assist you in completing it.

 

Attendance

It is important that you are aware that your child must be in attendance for all of the funded time claimed for by us.  You may be liable to pay for any losses incurred by Hall Lane Preschool if your child is consistently not in attendance for the funded time

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Can my child have sessions in different places?

Yes, you can spread your weekly free entitlement between a maximum of two settings.  You can use a minimum of 2.5 hours and a maximum of 10 hours in any one day and must be taken between 6am and 8pm. 

 

 

Offering Places

There is no selection process with us and we offer places on first-come first-served basis. You will be contacted when the place is confirmed. In the event that we are oversubscribed waiting list children will be given a place before existing additional places

     

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