Fees and funded Childcare
At ABC at the Mill, we provide high quality childcare and early years education all year round, offering reliable support for busy families. Open 51 weeks of the year, we close only for bank holidays and the Christmas to New Year period, giving children a consistent, nurturing environment where they can learn and grow.
What is Funded Childcare?
Funded childcare is a government supported scheme designed to help parents manage the costs of early years education. Depending on your child's age and your working status, you may be eligible for a specific number of funded hours per week to use at our Ofsted registered nursery.
Best Start in Life
The 'Best Start in Life' website provides a clear and helpful guide to the childcare support available for families in the Congleton area. It brings together information on funding options, eligibility, and childcare support schemes in one place, making it easier for parents to understand how funding can be combined to support their child’s early years journey with us.
Who is eligible?
- Your child is aged 11 or under (or 16 if disabled)
- You and your partner (if you have one) are working, employed or self-employed
- You each earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at National Minimum Wage
- Neither parent earns more than £100,000 per year
- You are not receiving Tax-Free Childcare alongside childcare vouchers or certain other childcare support schemes
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme designed to help working families with childcare costs. For every £8 you pay into your online childcare account, the government adds an extra £2, helping you save up to £2,000 per child each year (£4,000 for eligible disabled children). The funds can be used to pay nursery fees directly to registered childcare providers, including ABC at the Mill.
Tax-Free Childcare
How to apply and how it works
- Check your eligibility on the GOV.UK Tax-Free Childcare website
- Set up your online childcare account
- Pay money into your account
- The government top-up is added automatically
- Select ABC at the Mill as your childcare provider and send payments directly to us
- Parents need to reconfirm their details every 3 months
When to Apply
It is important to apply for funding the term before your child is due to start their funded place. Deadlines typically fall at the end of August, December, and March. Applying early ensures your code is validated in time for the new term.
Nursery Fees Information
Below you can find our latest fee structure and funded childcare documentation for the current academic year. Please click to enlarge or download the provided document.
