Free entitlement delivery

Government childcare offers

Best Start In Life

The Best start in Life website provides detailed information on the current Government childcare offers.​

Free entitlements

As there is a variety of offers, Please see what best suits your circumstances.

Age 9-23 months

  • 30 hours  – if your child is 9 month old before 31st December for Spring, 31st March for Summer or 31st August for Autumn term then they may qualify for 30 hours from the  following term

Age 2-3 years

  • 15 hours with letter from Lewisham council 
  • 30 hours  – if your child turns 2 year old before 31st December for Spring, 31st March for Summer or 31st August for Autumn term then they may qualify for 30 hours from the  following term

Age 3-4 years

  • 15 hours to all parents (universal entitlement)
  • 30 hours for working families 

Terms and conditions

In order to manage the increased administration, we kindly ask parents to

Universal offer:

    • provide a copy of their child’s birth certificate or passport to confirm their age 
    • (from 2026) bring in a proof of address to be checked (copy not needed)
    • sign the parent declaration form when required 

Expanded offer:

    • check their entitlement on government approved site Best Start in Life

    • provide the 11-digit confirmation code to enable the setting (Seedlings Day Nursery or Little Seedlings Nursery) to apply for the funding  

    • provide the registered parents’ NI number (only one NI number is required)

    • keep the setting updated in writing via email of any changes to their entitlement, codes or circumstances that may affect their entitlement 

    • check their entitlement before every new term (by 31st August for Autumn term, by 31st December for Spring term and by 31st March for Summer term)

    • understand that the setting can only offer funded places, if the codes have been verified and are valid for the period that your child is enrolled for 

    • understand that managing these different types of funding requires a lot of administration 

The setting will 

    • run the eligibility checker and inform the parents when their code is due for renewal – sometimes the Portal may be behind with the updates 

    • add children to the relevant portal and submit records before the deadline 

    • issue invoices detailing the free hours and the additional hours that are chargeable 

    • keep accurate records of children’s funding 

    • answer any questions in writing via email

    • We are happy to advise or help with the application but cannot make decisions for you.

 

When will your child become eligible for a free place?

A child born on or between:

01 January and 31 March

Will become eligible for a free place from 1st April following their 9 month’s, 2nd or 3rd birthday

01 April and 31 August

Will become eligible for a free place from 1st September following their 9 month’s, 2nd or 3rd birthday

01 September and 31 December

Will become eligible for a free place from 1st January following their 9 month’s, 2nd or 3rd birthday.