Free childcare - questions for childcare providers
What do I need to know?
Before you accept a place with a childcare provider, ask how funded childcare works at their setting. Here are some questions you can ask.
Free childcare hours
- How many free hours of childcare is my child eligible for?
- Do you offer all types of free childcare for eligible children?
- Do you offer "stretched" funding across 52 weeks, an alternative number of weeks, or is it term-time only (38 weeks)?
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- If so, how many hours per week would my child receive under the stretched offer?
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- Are there any restrictions on when funded hours can be taken?
- Can the funded entitlement be split between more than one provider?
- Do you charge a registration fee or deposit and is it refundable for funded places?
- Is there a waiting list for funded places and how do you prioritise them?
- How and when do I need to submit my funding eligibility codes to you?
- Will my invoice clearly display the deduction of the government-funded hours?
Nursery opening hours and session times
- What sessions do you offer (full days, half days, school-day sessions, term-time only, all-year round)?
- Can I choose which days and hours to use my free childcare hours on?
- Can I change session days or hours if my circumstances change?
- If I only use my free funded hours, can my child attend just those specific times?
- What are your opening hours and holiday arrangements?
- What happens to my free childcare hours on bank holidays or when you are closed?
Additional costs and extra services
- How much do you charge per hour if I need more childcare on top of the free hours?
- Are there any other charges in addition to the free childcare hours?
- Can I still use my child's free childcare hours without paying for any extras?
- Are there extra costs for meals, snacks, consumables such as nappies and wipes?
- Can I choose to provide my own packed lunch, nappies etc?
- What other activities do you offer? (eg forest school, music, visits)?
- Are there extra costs for activities that aren’t included in the free hours?
- How often do these activities take place?
- Can my child still access their free hours if we don't take part in paid activities?
- Can you provide a breakdown showing which parts of my child's place are covered by the Free childcare hours and which costs are genuinely optional extras?
- Do you accept Tax-Free Childcare payments or workplace childcare vouchers for the remaining balance?
- How will you tell me about any additional charges?
- Do I need to sign an agreement about optional extras?
Day-to-day policies and procedures
- What is your procedure if my child is absent?
- Who should I speak to about funding, invoices, or additional charges?
- If I have a concern, who should I raise it with and how will I be supported?
Quality of care and learning
At your childcare setting, how do you:
- support children's learning through play?
- assess and share my child's progress?
- prepare children for starting school?
- support children with additional needs or disabilities?
- work with parents to support children's learning at home?
