​What government funding is available for preschool fees?

Government funding and tax breaks are available to help you with preschool fees.There is some funding available for 2 year old children in special circumstances. However most families do not receive government funding until the term after their child is 3 years old. There are four schemes:

1. FEE, or 15 hour funding
2. 30 hours funding
3. 2 year old funding
4. Tax-free childcare

FEE, or 15 hours funding

​The government FEE funding is 15 hours a week. We offer this over 38 weeks for 3 to 4 year old children. This covers school term time which is why Rushmore House Montessori preschool and Orpington Montessori preschool follow the Bromley school term times. Orpington Holiday Club, which is open in the school breaks, is not eligible for this funding. More information is available on this web page:
www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds

30 hours funding

You can receive funding for 30 hours per week if both parents are working and in special circumstances if one parent is working. This funding is for children that are 3 to 4 years old. There are lots of rules for eligibility, the following web page explains them:
www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare
You will need to apply on the government website. From this application you will be told of your eligibility for both the 30 hours funding and Tax-Free Childcare. Rushmore House Montessori preschool offers 30 hours funding places, Orpington Montessori preschool does not offer this funding.

​2 year old funding

Government funding for 2 year old children is available under special circumstances. These are explained in this web page:
www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds
Most families do not receive this funding.​

Tax-Free Childcare

​​The Tax-Free Childcare scheme replaced the former Childcare Voucher scheme. In the current scheme the government pays part of your childcare costs. This makes your childcare costs tax free. This scheme can be used to help with payments to both our preschools and Orpington Holiday Club.

Most families can use this scheme. The eligibility rules are listed here:
www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare