Athelstan Community Primary School
To Be The Best That We Can Be
Early Years Funding & Financial Support
For detailed information about Early Years Funding and Financial Support, and to check what you may be eligible to receive, please visit the Childcare Choices website.
Early Years Funding
Depending on your child's age and your circumstances, you may be eligible to receive
- Two year Old Funding for Families Receiving Some Additional Forms of Support
- 15 funded hours per week for eligible two year olds
- Apply online through North Yorkshire Council
- Universal Funding
- 15 funded hours per week for ALL 3 and 4 year olds
- No application necessary
- Working Families Funding
- 15 funded hours per week for eligible children aged 9 months to 2 years (rising to 30 hours from September 2025)
- 15 funded hours per week for 3 and 4 year olds, making a total of 30 hours per week when combined with Universal Funding
- Apply online though the gov.uk site .
Eligibility for these funding schemes begins at the start of the term after the child reaches the relevant age. In all cases, the funding is available for 38 weeks per year. Information about eligibility can be found on the Childcare Choices website. Funding can be used for any of our sessions in Raindrops, Puddles or Rainbow Wraparound.
Support with the costs of childcare
There is also support available to help with the costs of any nursery provision beyond a child's funded hours. This includes
- Tax Free Childcare
- If you’re a working parent or carer, you can get a £2 top-up for every £8 that you pay towards childcare.
- Universal Credit Childcare
- Working parents who receive Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of childcare costs
- Help with childcare costs while you study (schemes for Parents in Further or Higher Education).
Free School Meals
If you are in receipt of income support, child tax credit or universal credit your child may be eligible for Free School Meals. For nursery-aged children, applications cannot be made online, but we have application forms available from the Early Years Office.