Funding Support at Orchidale

At Orchidale Nursery, we’re passionate about making childcare both accessible and affordable for families. From April 2025, all 3- and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week. At our all-year-round nursery, we stretch this to 11.18 hours weekly across the year, so you benefit from consistent support every week.

Working parents of children aged 9 months to 5 years can access 30 hours of funding, stretched to 22.36 hours per week. This stretched model means your hours are spread evenly across the year, giving you reliable childcare you can plan around. We’re open all year (except Christmas week), so you’ll never be left without support during school holidays.

To qualify for 30 hours, parents must work 16+ hours per week, and it applies to:

• 👶 All children aged 9 months

• 👧 All 2-year-olds

• 🧒 All children aged 3 to 5 years

📅 Deadlines for 30-Hour Codes

To secure your 30-hour code, apply by:

• 31 December 2025 – for funding from January 2026 (Spring term)

• 31 March 2026 – for funding from April 2026 (Summer term)

• 31 August 2026 – for funding from September 2026 (Autumn term)

💡 Our nursery recommends applying earlier to avoid delays:

• 15 December 2025 – Spring term

• 15 March 2026 – Summer term

• 15 August 2026 – Autumn term

👉 Check eligibility and apply via the Best Start in Life website or GOV.UK.

🌟 Value-Added Experiences at Orchidale Nursery

At Orchidale, we believe children thrive when they’re given the chance to explore, create, and connect with the world around them. That’s why we enrich every funded hour with unique clubs and experiences:

• 🐑 Farm School – Hands-on learning with animals and the environment.

• 🏖️ Beach School – Discovering marine life, environmental care, and coastal adventures.

• 🌳 Forest School – Building resilience, independence, and a love of nature.

• 🪚 Woodwork Club – Encouraging creativity, problem-solving, and practical skills.

• 🍳 Cooking Club – From allotment produce to open-fire cooking, children learn life skills.

• 🌱 Gardening Club – Teaching sustainability and healthy living through planting and growing.

• 🚌 Minibus Adventures – Weekly trips to farms, trails, and community spaces that bring learning to life.

💬 Why Parents See Real Value at Orchidale

While funding helps with affordability, the true value lies in the quality of care and experiences your child receives. Parents consistently tell us their funding goes further at Orchidale because their children gain:

• Confidence and independence

• A love of learning and the natural world

• Skills that prepare them for life beyond nursery

By choosing Orchidale, you’re not just securing childcare — you’re investing in your child’s future.

💷 Tax-Free Childcare Explained

Alongside funded hours, many families also benefit from Tax-Free Childcare. This government scheme helps working parents save up to 20% on childcare costs. For every £8 you pay, the government adds £2 — up to £2,000 per child per year (or £4,000 if your child has a disability).

You can use this account to pay nursery fees, and it works alongside your funded hours. Many Orchidale families find that combining Funded Early Entitlements with Tax-Free Childcare makes nursery far more affordable, while still giving their child access to the very best experiences.

🎉 Conclusion: Why Orchidale is the Best Place to Use Your Funded Hours

Choosing where to spend your funded hours is about more than just covering childcare — it’s about giving your child the best possible start in life. At Orchidale, every funded hour is transformed into an opportunity for growth, discovery, and joy. With our unique clubs, year-round reliability, and nurturing environment, your child will gain so much more than care — they’ll gain confidence, independence, and unforgettable experiences.

✨ Invest your funded hours at Orchidale, and watch your child flourish.