Claiming Your Early Education Funding (EEF) at Butterfly Childcare

I'm delighted that children at Butterfly Childcare can benefit from Early Education Funding (EEF)

This funding is a great help, and I want to make it easy for you to use it to significantly lower your monthly childcare costs.

What is EEF, and When Can You Claim?

You might hear the government or media call it 'Free Childcare' or 'Funded Childcare,' but the official name is Early Education Funding (EEF). 

The government helps provide childcare to families through its EEF scheme, but unfortunately, the funding they offer does not deliver the ‘Free Childcare’ promised. However, for most families, EEF helps to significantly reduce monthly childcare costs. 

When you can start: Your child becomes eligible the term after they turn 9 months old.

This is the same start date as the universal 3-year-old funding.

Check your eligibility: For all the details on who can claim and how to apply, please visit the government's site: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk

My Operating Hours and Funding Policy

I'm open year-round, Monday to Friday, from 7:30 AM to 5:30 PM.

Please note that the setting is closed for five weeks of holiday each year. I'll always give you plenty of notice about these dates!

How the Funding Works

I offer the government's 15 and 30-hour funding for eligible children starting from 9 months. This funding is provided for 38 weeks of the year (term-time only).

 My standard day is 10 hours (7:30 AM – 5:30 PM). Your contract and billing are based on this 10-hour day rate, and your funded hours are always incorporated into this cost first.

 Any childcare hours you book outside of your funded entitlement will be charged at my standard daily rate of £70 per day.

 If your contract is for more than the 38 funded weeks, any hours falling outside of those 38 weeks will also be charged at the standard daily rate, based on our contracted hours.

To provide your child with a settled and stable environment and to deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) to the highest standards, my minimum required booking is two days per week, and I’m unable to accommodate requests for half-day childcare. While children who are already regularly attending may request additional days, I cannot guarantee availability, though I always try my best to accommodate these requests.

Food and Drink

Snacks: Morning and afternoon snacks are provided for free!

 Lunch is available for an extra £1.50 per day.