Free Nursery Child Care Peterborough

Are you eligible for free child care in Peterborough? You might be surprised!

We have set out some easy to read information for you below. You can also book your places ONLINE here.

Jungle Tots highly recommends reading the attached document from Peterborough Council. We try and make life easy for parents – it is one of our aims as a nursery – hence we have summarised the main points below.

Please note the child care is free, you will still have to pay for any extras like snacks, lunch and any trips and bring in nappies and wipes if needed. We try and keep all costs to a minimum for you.

Do all 2 year olds get funding?

Your 2-year-old can get free childcare for 2 sessions per week at Jungle Tots Day Nursery Peterborough if you live in England and get one of the following benefits:

  • Income Support
  • income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
  • income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
  • Universal Credit and your household income is £15,400 a year or less after-tax, not including benefit payments
  • tax credits and your household income is £16,190 a year or less before tax
  • the guaranteed element of Pension Credit
  • the Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)

Please follow this link to apply for 2 year old funding ( you need to apply first)

Do all 3 and 4 year olds get child care funding?

GREAT NEWS: All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to up to 570 hours per year ( which is equivalent to 2 sessions per week at Jungle Tots Day Nursery) for FREE. Your child needs to be 3 before the first day of one of the three terms (see below) and we have some funded places available to start in September 2021. You DO NOT need to apply for this funding.

This is sometimes referred to as 15 hours free childcare but means 15 hours over 38 weeks. Most nurseries have to employ staff for 52 weeks of the year therefore spread this funding over 52 weeks which is just over 11 hours per week ( or 2 sessions per week at Jungle Tots Day Nursery)

You may be eligible to get extended 3 and 4-year-old funding for DOUBLE the hours. You can follow this link (press here) to see if you are eligible for 4 sessions per week (sometimes called 30 hours funding).

Eligibility for this EXTENDED 3 and 4 year old funding ( or 4 sessions) depends on the following and you need to apply for it

  • if you are working
  • your income (and your partner’s income, if you have one)
  • your child’s age and circumstances
  • your immigration status

When can my child start nursery?

Lastly, you child must have reached the corret age by the first day of term. Thre are 3 terms for day nursery and the cut off dates are

  • 1st January
  • 1st April
  • 1st September

For example, your child must have turned 3 before the 1st of September to be eligible for the universal 15-hour funding (2 sessions per week for 51 weeks). If you missed the first part of the term you can join us at any time during any term. As long as your child was at the correct age at the start of term.

We really hope this all makes sense. If you have any questions, please just contact our manager and she will be delighted to help. She understands it it not easy working it all out and will make you feel at ease. You really can ask her anything 🙂 .

How long are sessions at Jungle Tots Day Nursery and how many can my child attend?

Jungle Tots, like many nurseries run 2 sessions per day, both 5 hours long.

8am to 1pm and 1pm to 6pm.

You can pick any sessions you want ( subject to availability) but you then stick to these sessions as we need to arrange the staff and ratios correctly to look after your children. As you can imagine it would be impossible to manage if everyone kept changing sessions! It helps your child as well to have a consistent routine each week.

15 hours funding you get 2 sessions each week for 51 weeks of the year ( we are closed for 1 week at Christmas)

30 hours funding you get 4 sessions each week for 51 weeks of the year (we are closed for 1 week at Christmas)

We know this is slightly confusing as 4 sessions is only 20 hours but the 30 hours is worked out for 38 weeks of the year. Jungle Tots have to employ staff for 52 weeks of the year so we spread the funding throughout the year.

You can pay for more sessions if you wish and many people do as Jungle Tots is so good for your child’s development. You can see the fees here.

How do I book my place?

You can BOOK your place for free childcare at Jungle Tots Day Nursery Peterborough starting in September 2021 here. If you would prefer you can contact us and come for a show round with your family. We would love to welcome you all to Jungle Tots Peterborough.