Supporting Your Family
There are various schemes that support families with childcare costs. What works best for you and your family will depend on your household circumstances, but we will help work out the most cost-effective way to meet your childcare needs.
All Derwent Stepping Stones settings offer funded sessions to children who qualify, in many cases allowing families to access heavily reduced or even free nursery and childcare places. One of our staff members will be very happy to discuss your options with you, but these are the key options for accessing reduced price and free childcare in Derby.
Tax Credits & Universal Credit
Tax Credits and Universal Credit help support families with children and working people on low incomes. See here for advice on Tax Credits, and here for advice on Universal Credits. or phone 0345 300 3900.
Employer Vouchers
Although the scheme is closed to new participants we still accept many brands of vouchers.
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare helps working parents with the costs of childcare. For every £8 a parent pays in, the government will pay in an extra £2. Parents can receive up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards their childcare costs. The scheme is available for children up to the age of 12. Both parents will have to be in work, each earning at least £139 a week and less than £100,000 per year.
2-Year-Old Funding
If you have a household income of less than £16,190 a year and are receiving Working Tax Credits, or are on certain benefits, you may be entitled to up to 15 hours of funded childcare a week. If you qualify, you will receive a funding approval letter from Derby City Council.
3 and 4-Year-Old Funding - for Everyone
All children are entitled to funded early education the term after they become 3. The funding is for 570 hours per year and is often provided for 15 hours per week over 38 weeks per year, like school terms. We can be more flexible and offer sessions to suit your family’s needs across the whole year, just ask one of our staff for details.
3 and 4-Year-Old Funding - Extended Offer
Working families can benefit from a further 570 hours of free early education per year. To qualify, both parents must be working (or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family) and each parent earns at least £139 and less than £100,000 per year.