3–4 year olds

Funding

3–4 year old funding

All three and four year old children are entitled to an early years place at a nursery or pre-school before they reach school age. This can be offered as 15 hours per week term time only or a stretched offer to cover 570 hours throughout the year.

30 hour funding for 3 and 4-year-olds

If you are a working parent, you may be entitled to 30 hours of funding term time for childcare. This can also be offered as a stretched entitlement of 1,140 hours per year.

Read our updated leaflet about 3 and 4-year-olds 30 hour funding here.

You might also find this flowchart on how and when to apply helpful.

For more information about 3-year-olds funding, visit our Family Information Service here.

If you have any further questions about the childcare funding, please send an email to: fis@reading.gov.uk

When can your child start and when can you apply?

Born Between	Can Start From	For 30 hours, MUST apply before
1 January to 31 March (inclusive)	Summer term (April)	31 March
1 April to 31 August (inclusive)	Autumn term (September)	31 August
1 September to 31 December (inclusive)	Spring term (January)	31 December

Ready steady nursery!

We know how important it is for children to be school ready and therefore we run groups that enable parents and children to understand the transition to school/nursery process. We offer practical sessions that really help the children when they start school/nursery.

Click here for our Facebook page where the most up to date programme is available or please contact us at readingchildrencentres@brighterfuturesforchildren.org where we will be happy to answer any queries you may have.

Childcare

There are several different types of childcare options (settings) in Reading that may suit your family’s needs.

You can find information about these here.

What is the Early Years Foundation Stage?

The Early Years Foundation Stage is the standards for learning development and care of children from birth to 5 years. Ofsted registered childminders, pre-schools, nurseries and reception classes must follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

You may find it helpful to read the following documents:
UK Government Overview

Action for Children Parents Guide

What are the prime areas of learning and why are they important?

Prime areas are the building blocks for all other learning. They are fundamental, work together, and move through to support development in all other areas. The three prime areas of learning are:

Personal, Social and Emotional Development
Communication and Language
Physical Development

What are the specific areas of learning and why are they important?

In addition to the prime areas, the setting must also support children in four specific areas once they reach the age of 3 years, through which the three prime areas are strengthened and applied. The specific areas are:

Literacy
Mathematics
Understanding the world
Expressive arts and design

Special needs support

Support is available to parents, carers, families and young people with SEND.

Click here for a range of information including local services and charities, national services and charities, support groups, and where to get help and advice.

Tiny Talkers

Tiny Talkers is a fun group opportunity to access communication support and advice on speech development. This group is developed in partnership with our speech and language colleagues.

Speech and language drop-in clinics

You can access the speech and language advice and support from all Children’s Centre hubs.

Under 5s