Two children sitting on a bench with a fire pit in front of them

We do have funded places available at Dodleston Pre-School.

From the age of 3, children are entitled to 570 free hours in the year*. This is usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks, but can be split more unevenly if you’d prefer. For example, you can choose to take less than 15 hours over more weeks.

This funding begins the term after their 3rd birthday. For instance, if a child turns 3 on 21st October 2024, they will be entitled to 15 free hours from the start of the new term in January 2025.

This will change in April 2024 to include children over 2 years of age. The change may also make your 3 year old eligible for up to 30 hours free.

The government has more help and advice about free childcare here.

 

Funding for Chester/Cheshire

The basic 15 hours funding available to everyone is funded by Cheshire West & Chester (CWaC) and is claimed for by us, upon completion of the funding claim form by families. This form is sent out by us termly.

Once we have the completed form, we can submit the claim on your behalf and that claim (once validated by CWaC) will remain for the remainder of the term. No additional hours can be claimed after this until the following term.

If you wish to claim 2-year-old funding or the extended 30 hours funding, this has to be done by the family. We will either be informed of the outcome (for 2 year olds), or the family will pass us the entitlement code, which we use to validate the claim with CWaC (for the 30 hours funding). 

Full information regarding childcare funding can be found on the Government’s Childcare Choices website, which includes links for eligibility checkers and calculators in respect of:

  • 2-year-old funding
  • 3 & 4-year-old funding
  • Extended 30 hours funding
  • Tax-free childcare
  • Tax credits for childcare

Funding for Wales

If you live in Wales you may also be able to top up your childcare funding through the Flintshire Childcare offer* – this is a childcare offer, not Early Years funding.

This also has to be applied for by the family and if a claim is successful, we will be informed by Flintshire Council and your child will automatically be added to the Flintshire portal to allow us to make the claim. The claims do have to be reviewed and renewed periodically to remain eligible. Information regarding the funding and the criteria and how to claim can be found here.

If you would like any further information regarding funding for your child, please do not hesitate to contact the pre-school by email dodlestonpreschool@googlemail.com or call 01244 661611

*If eligible, criteria apply.