Funding

9 months + government funding at Helitots Day Nursery

From April 2024 most 2-year-old children will be eligible for some Government Funding. It is important to note that eligibility does not start on the child’s birthday, it starts from the term (January, April or September) after their 2nd birthday.

Funding is not paid every week, it is paid during school term times only (38 weeks per year)

From September 2024 all children who have turned 9 months the term before will be eligible for 15 hours.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I know if I am eligible?

There are 2 streams of funding available for 2-year-olds, one for families on a low / no income and one for working families, both have criteria attached.  You can use the online eligibility checker at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to see which one you may be eligible for and to apply. If you currently use Tax free Childcare, you will be eligible for the working families funding and will get a 2 year old funding code when you reconfirm your Tax Free Childcare code before your child turns 2.

When do I need to apply?

You must have your code and give it to us to validate by the end of the term before your child becomes two, so, we suggest the following timescales to apply:

Your Child turns 2 between: Eligibility begins: Suggested Application dates:
1st September and 31st December Term starting on or after 1st January 1st October – 30th November
1st January and 31st March Term starting on or after 1st April 1st January – 28th February
1st April – 31st August Term starting on or after 1st September 1st June – 31st July

What else do I need to do?

You will receive an eligibility code, we ask you to send us your code, National Insurance Number, Date of Birth and consent to pass your details to Cornwall Council to confirm your eligibility then we will send you a Parental Declaration and a contract. We must have these documents signed and returned before your child’s first funded session.

What happens if my circumstances change?

If you qualify for the low-income funding then your child will remain eligible until they become eligible for 3-year-old funding so nothing will change, even if your circumstances do.

If you qualify for the working families funding, you must reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months by logging into your account. If you (or your partner) lose your job or your salary falls below the equivalent of 16 hours a week at National Minium Wage or increases to over £100,000 per year you will fall out of eligibility and into a grace period. If you have not become eligible again by the end of your grace period, your funding will stop until the term after your child’s 3rd birthday when they get the universal 15 hours per week (term time only) funding.

Can I use Childcare Vouchers, Tax Free Childcare or apply for Universal Credit alongside this funding?

Yes, you can, visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for more information on help with childcare costs

How does Helitots administer these hours?

Funding is paid during school term times only (38 weeks per year) The maximum allowance of hours for the academic year is 570. As an all-year-round provider, we stretch these hours so that you will receive some funded hours every week. We have adopted Cornwall County Councils suggested model of delivery in which we deliver up to 41.3 funded hours per month for the 15-hour offer.

Do you charge a Registration Fee or Deposit?

Our registration fee of £80 is required to guarantee your child’s place with us, the deposit is non-refundable, unless your child is accessing funded hours only in which case it will be deducted from your final invoice if the correct 2 calendar months’ notice is given, and your account is fully up to date. Three months before your child’s start date, we charge a refundable deposit of £150 per booked day (to a maximum of £750) which is taken off your first invoice.

Can I have my funded hours whenever I want them?

All places are subject to our set sessions and our occupancies as we have statutory ratio and space requirements. We ask that your child attends a minimum of 2 full days per week.

Why am I being asked to pay a Quality Supplement when the Government call this free childcare?

The Government state that the education must be free but that parents can expect to pay for everything else that we provide. At Helitots, we pride ourselves on the highest quality provision and our quality supplement ensures that we can continue to deliver this exceptional provision.

Can my child attend on a Term Time only basis? 

Not at Helitots, we are an all year-round provider offering funding on a stretched only basis, (as this is what our children parents who already attend have asked for)

The law says I do not have to agree to extra hours or additional services to get my funded hours. 

That’s right, delivery of these hours is legislated for in the Statutory Guidance and we are not allowed to make it conditional that you buy extra hours or services to get your funded hours, it also clarifies that we do not have to offer funded hours.

What if you do not have my preferred hours available? 

You can join our waiting list or take the sessions we have then change to your preferred sessions when they are available.

What if my child is ill or we go on holiday? 

Occasional, short-term absence such as illness or a holiday is fine. Where extended absences occur, we will contact Cornwall Council to see if they will continue to pay your child’s funding. Your usual fees will be due to keep your child’s place open.

What about in exceptional circumstances? 

We always strive to be as family friendly as possible, we will always consider exceptional circumstances and temporarily adjust our policies to help where we can, please speak to us for more information.

How long do you retain my information?

In accordance with our provider agreement with Cornwall Council we retain your information for the year the funding claim relates to and for 6 years afterwards then securely disposed of it. Helitots is registered with the Information Commissioners Office

What if I want to change my childcare provider? 

You can change provider subject to giving us 2 calendar months’ notice, if notice is not given, we will claim 4 weeks funding as a notice period unless there are exceptional circumstances and will invoice you for any remaining fees in lieu of notice.

Where can I get more information? 

You can visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk   /  www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds or speak to us.

testimonials

What Parents Say

I have been so impressed with Michael’s development since he has started at Helitots. His time in the baby room run by Gayle and Verity was a lovely environment for him to settle and the range of activities he gets involved in is impressive. The Staff really helped his transition into the Nursery environment and took into account that I was still breastfeeding and struggling to transition to a bottle. He has recently moved into the Toddlers room where he does baking, a variety of play and lots of other activities,. Amy and Emily are really enthusiastic, he is so happy when I collect him. Michael was able to feed himself early and eats a varied diet, he is well mannered and when we ask him to do something he will listen. We feel this is comes from the Helitots environment where the experienced Staff really nurture, look after him and instil good manners and the correct amount of discipline, they have respect from Michael, and this is mirrored at home. Managed by Steve, who in my opinion is a magician at getting the children to sleep so easily, and has a lovely relationship with all the children, I can’t recommend Helitots enough, I only wish we had sent his older sister to Helitots too!

To ALL staff (past and present) at Helitots, We owe you the biggest thank you. You have helped not just Noah, but Evie & Aerin to grow, develop and become the children they are. When you rely on full time nursery care, where your children often do 40 hour week too, knowing you have a place for them that is safe, fun, educational and all the things in between cannot really be put into words. For the last 6 years their dad, Paul, has worked away so having the stability & familiarity of the nursery and staff has been a life line at times. We will always be grateful for everything you have done for our children. All 3 have been ready for school, are confident, easily make friends and (if we do say so ourselves, although they have there moments!) are pretty great kids. Never underestimate what you do. We always remember our first teachers at school, but it starts way before that and I know we will always remember all those at Helitots who have quite often been there and spent more time with, our children than we have and been there second parents. All the best for the future, you really are outstanding. Love Elle, Paul, Evie, Aerin & Noah xxx

Staff

At Helitots Day Nursery we believe that our children deserve the right to receive the best individual attention, a guarantee to care and an education of the highest degree. We provide a high ratio of quality early years childcare staff specialists and extremely skilled staff are fully trained with recognised qualifications in childcare.

Additionally, all our staff have undergone an enhanced Disclosure and Baring Service DBS formally criminal Records bureau (CRB).

We are proud of our staff retention rate and we put this down to careful selection. Janice and myself believe in looking after our staff and we hope we provide a fun and happy enviroment which benefits the children and staff.

Also, all our staff at Helitots have a Paediatric First Aid qualification.

When a child begins at Helitots they are allocated to a key person. This key person will have a special responsibility of building strong relationships with the children in their small group and will be the point of contact to parents who wish to discuss their child's development.