Stretched funding at Playmates
Funding is usually described as 15 or 30 hours a week over 38 weeks. Stretching spreads the annual entitlement across more weeks, so the number of hours each week is lower.
Playmates offers stretched patterns of 11 or 22 hours a week over 51 weeks, depending on entitlement and the agreed booking. We close for one week at Christmas.
The team will confirm your child’s weekly pattern and full annual funded allocation, including how any remaining annual hours are used, in your agreement.
Funded hours are free. For families using funded childcare, including stretched funding, food contributions are completely voluntary: £4 for a morning including lunch, £1 for an afternoon, or £5 for a full day. Children receive meals even if parents do not contribute. Please tell the team whether you wish to contribute. Any agreed contributions and additional private childcare are itemised separately; declining optional extras does not affect access to funded childcare.
Estimate your childcare cost
Choose sessions and funding to see an indicative weekly total and monthly equivalent.
Open the fees calculatorSession options
Morning sessions run 7:45am–1:15pm (5 hours 30 minutes), afternoons 1:15pm–5:30pm (4 hours 15 minutes), and full days 7:45am–5:30pm (9 hours 45 minutes). Funded afternoons and mixed patterns may be available, subject to capacity and your agreed allocation.
Fees and optional chargesFunded places for three- and four-year-olds
All three- and four-year-olds in England can receive 15 hours a week of funded early education over 38 weeks, from the term after their third birthday. Eligible working families may receive the 30-hour entitlement.
Check funded early education (opens in a new tab)Funded childcare for working families
Eligible working families in England can access 30 hours a week over 38 weeks for children from the term after they turn nine months until school age. Eligibility depends on your circumstances.
Apply through the official service, give your code to the nursery and reconfirm your details every three months.
Check eligibility and apply (opens in a new tab)Funded places for two-year-olds
Some two-year-olds qualify for funded early education through a separate entitlement where the family or child receives additional support. North Northamptonshire Council provides information and an eligibility checker.
Check two-year-old funding with the council (opens in a new tab)Tax-Free Childcare
Playmates accepts Tax-Free Childcare. Check the official information to see whether you qualify and how to pay through your childcare account.
Explore Tax-Free Childcare (opens in a new tab)Childcare vouchers
We accept childcare vouchers. Employer voucher schemes are closed to new applicants, but some families who already joined a scheme can continue using them. Ask the team about paying with your existing provider.
Read the rules for existing vouchers (opens in a new tab)Other help, including while studying
Other support may be available through Universal Credit or while you study. Use GOV.UK to check your circumstances and the support you can combine.
Tax Credits have ended. If you previously used them towards childcare, check the current benefits information.
Useful official information
Eligibility is decided by the relevant scheme. Funded places and session patterns are subject to availability and your agreed booking.