Funding

Supporting military families with childcare funding

At RAFAKidz, we are focused on supporting the children and families in our care. We understand that childcare can be one of the biggest expenses for families. The good news is that government support is available, and we’re here to help you understand what’s on offer and how to access it.

Understanding childcare funding

Types of funding support

Here is a breakdown of the main types of government childcare support

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week over the school year (38 weeks). This adds up to 570 hours per year.

Eligible working families in England may receive additional entitlement of up to 30 hours per week (1,140 hours annually) for children aged between nine months and four-years-old.

This is available for families on particular benefits, children who have a Disability Living Allowance or Special Education Needs (SEND) and children who have an adoption, special guardianship or a child arrangements order.

Eligible families can get up to £500 every three months for each child to help with the costs for childcare. For every £8 you pay into a special childcare account, the government contributes £2. This is capped at £2,000 per child per year or £4,000 for children with special needs or disabilities.

Children playing outside at RAFAKidz Odiham

What does “funded” mean

Government childcare support is a subsidy, and means that a funded contribution is being made, not that all childcare is free of charge.

Universal Funded Childcare and Working Family Funded Childcare are provided for 38 weeks of the year, during term time. At RAFAKidz, we apply this funding over the whole year. The way the funding is applied and processed may vary slightly from setting to setting, dependent on which county you are in. In some counties we apply the funding on a termly basis as this is how the Local Authority releases the funds to us. Some counties allow the funding to be applied across more than 38 weeks by allocating fewer hours per week. In all cases, we ensure you get your full entitlement. Many of our parents require more hours of childcare per week than their funded hours. These hours are non-funded hours and therefore are paid for.

Childcare funding follows three key term dates each year. Make sure you apply before your child becomes eligible:

  • 1st January
  • 1st April
  • 1st September

Funding options in detail

What is the entitlement: 15 hours of funded childcare per week

Eligibility: All children, beginning from the term after their 3rd birthday until school age.

How to claim: Contact your nursery manager to complete your local authority funding parent declaration form to receive this.

What is the entitlement: Up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week

Eligibility: Working parents earning the equivalent of at least 16 hours/week at national minimum/living wage, but less than £100k per year, per parent.

From September 2025: 30 hours of funded childcare will be available for children aged between 9 months and four years old.

How to claim: Register via the Childcare Choices website to receive your eligibility code. Share this with your nursery manager who will apply for the funding on your behalf.

What is the entitlement: 15 hours of free childcare a week if you live in England and you or your child get some extra support.

Eligibility: Families who receive benefits such as income support, Universal Credit, Jobseekers Allowance or Employment and Support Allowance. Children who have a Disability Living Allowance or Special Education Needs (SEND) and children who have an adoption, special guardianship or a child arrangements order.

How to claim: Contact your local authority or speak to us at RAFAKidz.

What is the entitlement: A contribution of up to £2,000 per child, per year or up to £4,000 per child, per year for children with special needs or disabilities.

Eligibility: Eligibility depends on whether you are working, your income (and your partners income, if you have one), whether you receive additional support (such as incapacity benefit) and your child’s age and circumstances.

How to claim: Open a childcare account at Childcare Choices. For every 80p you pay into the account, the government adds 20p up to the maximum amounts detailed above. You cannot receive Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as claiming Universal Credit or childcare vouchers.

RAFAKidz: A not-for-profit serving the military

Our Consumables Fee explained

Our consumables fee helps to cover the cost of essential items and services not funded by government support. This fee is only applied to the funded hours that your child uses and does not apply to any additional hours that you use. The fee includes freshly prepared meals, enrichment activities, and daily care items such as wipes and tissues.

While government funding contributes to the cost of childcare, it is not designed to cover all aspects of the high-quality provision we offer. To maintain our standards and ensure financial sustainability, we rely on this modest fee.

For a full breakdown of what the consumable fee covers and to read our consumables fee policy, click here.

Cranwell two to three years room

Still have questions?

Contact your local Nursery Manager or the HQ team here.
We’re here to support you every step of the way.