Funding at Sweet Peas

We understand that navigating childcare funding can feel overwhelming, so we aim to make everything as clear and supportive as possible. Below is an overview of the funding options available, when you can access them, and how Sweet Peas helps you through each step.

Some families may be eligible for government-funded hours of childcare. If you choose to use these funded hours at Sweet Peas, they will be applied over 38 weeks of the year, in line with the local authority school term time.

You can check your eligibility and find more information on the Best Start in Life website.

3 & 4 Year Old Funding (Universal 15 Hours)

All children are entitled to 15 hours of Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) from the term after their third birthday. These hours can be used across the week, and we will guide you through the process when your child becomes eligible. Families will be charged for meals and consumables during funded sessions.

We offer a limited number of 15-hours-only term time only places, allocated on a first-come, first-served basis each term. The booking pattern for this is 2 days, 9am – 4:30pm.

30 Hours Funding (Extended Entitlement)

Some families may be eligible for 30 funded hours per week. These will be applied over 3 days a week for 38 weeks of the year, the remaining 14 weeks of sessions will be charged at our private daily fee. This must be applied for directly through the government via the eligibility checker on the Best Start in Life site.

Sweet Peas will let you know when it is time to apply and will ask you to complete the necessary Leeds City Council funding form. Once processed, we will allocate the hours to your invoice each month.

We offer a limited number of term time only funded places, which are reviewed on a termly basis. These are available on a booking pattern of 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday only.

2-Year-Old Funding

Some children may also be entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare from the term after their second birthday, depending on family circumstances. Eligibility can be checked through the Best Start in Life website or via the government’s Childcare Choices service.

We offer a limited number of term time only funded places, which are reviewed on a termly basis. These are available on a booking pattern of 9am – 3pm, Monday – Friday only.

Since my daughter started here she has come on leaps and bounds. Her Social Skills have got so much better. As an only child she did seem to have an issue with sharing and getting along other children but since the staff here have been working with her she is absolutely great now and she has established lots of little friendships.