Gavin Roberts, Head of Juniors at Rendcomb College, said: “I am very pleased to announce we will be offering 30 hours of free childcare to eligible families from September. We are bucking the trend by choosing to offer the additional free hours as many nurseries have already opted out.”

Rendcomb College was founded in 1920 and the 3-18 day and boarding school for boys and girls continues to remain true to its original values of providing an inclusive and broad-ranging education for its pupils. Speaking about the school’s ethos, Gavin said: “By introducing the 30 hours we are once again broadening access to a Rendcomb education. We have also reviewed our fee structure across the Junior School from Reception to Year 6 with some fees lowered by around 30 per cent.

“Our Nursery enjoy enriched activities on-site including two Forest School sessions per week, buddy reading with older Junior School children, specialist music and movement sessions and of course, the annual Nativity production! We are in the most wonderful rural location which provides the perfect setting for our youngest pupils – I encourage parents to be in touch with our admissions team to find out more and to book in a visit.

“Our aim is to provide childcare that fits around each family and we offer two nursery sessions each day, morning and afternoon. We also provide wrap-around-care across the whole Junior School with an early morning club from 7.45am and an after school club until 6pm should parents need to be more flexible with their daily routines. Children are typically booked in for a minimum of three sessions per week in the Nursery.”

Rendcomb College’s Nursery is nestled within the Junior School and has its own courtyard garden and dining room which are specially equipped for young children. Children may join the Nursery in the term they turn 3-years-old and all drinks, snacks and lunches are included in the sessions.

The Government funded childcare and early years education requires parents to meet specific criteria such as working and each earning at least £120 a week (on average) and not more than £100,000 each a year.

All 3 and 4-year-olds in England already get 15 hours a week, or 570 hours a year of free early education. If parents are living and working in England, 3 and 4-year-olds may be entitled to 30 hours free childcare; an extra 570 hours of free childcare a year, 1140 hours in total.

Examples

For a child in Nursery, the funding starts from the term after your child’s 3rd birthday. If a child does a full 5 day week, 9am-3.30pm each day, parents will need to pay for 30 minutes per day. If the child stays beyond our normal end time of 3.30pm, the standard Wrap Around Care charges will apply. The 30 hours' funding cannot be used against Wrap Around Care charges.

For a child in Reception, the funding ends at the end of the term in which they turn 5-years-old. A child does a full week which is 8.30am-3.30pm, so parents will be required to pay for 1 hour per day. If the child stays beyond our normal end time of 3.30pm, the standard Wrap Around Care charges will apply. The 30 hours' funding cannot be used against Wrap Around Care charges.

Find out more about applying for 30 hours free childcare on the Government’s website: https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/moreinfopar/2/?returnURL=%2Fpar%2Fapp%2Fapplynow