Frequently asked questions about Free Early Education and Childcare

The childcare provider needs to confirm your child's date of birth and correct spelling of your child’s name to ensure that they are of an eligible age to access a free place and that it matches your confirmation letter. If you do not have a copy of your child's birth certificate you can order one from Copy certificates or Gov.uk - Order a birth, death, marriage or civil partnership certificate.

15 or 30 hours of free early education and childcare per week for 38 weeks of the year.

The 38 weeks are divided into:

• Spring Term: 11 weeks
• Summer Term: 12 weeks
• Autumn Term: 15 weeks.

• no session to be longer than 10 hours
• not before 6.00am or after 8.00pm
• a maximum of 2 sites in a single day

You do not have to take up the full hours. Your chosen childcare provider will be able to provide information about what is available with them.

You may have the option to 'stretch' your child's free hours over more than 38 weeks. This would mean that your child would attend for less hours per week, but more than 38 weeks in the year. Please discuss this option with your chosen childcare provider to see if this is something that they offer.

If you are using a childcare provider that is open for more than 38 weeks, you will be charged for any additional time that your child attends. If you do not wish to attend any additional hours, the childcare provider may not be able to guarantee your child's place for the following term.

The free place can be taken over a lunch break if this is offered by your childcare provider. Your childcare provider may offer a meal at an additional cost; however you should also have the choice to provide your own packed lunch.

If your preferred childcare provider has no suitable vacancies, please contact The Family Information Service at childinfo@bury.gov.uk who may be able to help.

You should not be charged for the free place. Bury Council pays the childcare provider directly for your child's free place. The childcare provider will then use this payment to provide early education and childcare for your child. It is advisable to check that the childcare provider is able to offer free hours at a time which meets your individual needs. If you choose to take up any additional hours or services from your childcare provider, you will be charged accordingly for these.

You are not able to claim back any free hours that your child has been unable to attend due to illness. The free hours will be used to keep your child's place open for their return. If your child is unwell and unable to attend for more than four weeks, please contact your childcare provider to discuss your child's place.

If your child is unable to attend due to a family holiday, their free hours will normally be used to keep their free place open until they return. Alternatively, if you discuss your holiday with your childcare provider.

Your child may be able to attend a provider in another Local Authority as long as the provider is on the authority's directory of providers eligible to deliver early education & childcare funding. If you haven't already applied for funding and you choose a provider from another authority, it is advisable to apply for funding through that authority.

Providers can charge a refundable deposit to parents accessing the free entitlement. The deposit should be refunded within a reasonable timescale unless you fail to take up the place, in which case the provider is not obliged to refund the deposit.

If you have any queries about the entitlement or the quality of care it is important that you always discuss these first with your provider. It is in their interest to resolve any issues that you may have. Issues concerning invoices are best dealt with by your provider as they should be able to give you a full breakdown of the amount due. It is a legal requirement that they provide parents/carers with invoices. They must also provide you with a list of their charges, including details of charges made for any extra hours/services accessed in addition to the free entitlement.

If, after speaking to your childcare provider, you still feel that your child has been unable to access their free entitlement, please e-mail earlyyearsfunding@bury.gov.uk For alternative providers, please contact The Family Information Service at childinfo@bury.gov.uk who may be able to help.

You must inform your current provider as soon as possible of your change in circumstances as you may have to serve a notice period.

Please e-mail earlyyearsfunding@bury.gov.uk with your child's name, date of birth and details of your enquiry.