Getting the best out of your child’s funded hours: term time versus stretch weeks
Families can access up to 15 or 30 hours of early education funding per week, this means that a child is entitled to a maximum of 570 or 1140 hours per academic year, subject to eligibility. Funded hours can be taken over no fewer than 38 weeks and up to a maximum of 51 weeks per year, however not all providers are able to accommodate this flexibility.
Although funded provision must be available over at least 38 weeks of the year; the regulations do not prevent it being stretched over more than 38 weeks of the year, to enable the place to be delivered more flexibly i.e. taking fewer hours per week over more weeks of the year.
You must agree a set pattern of attendance with your Childcare providers, and this must be recorded on the Early Years Parent Funding Agreement.