What we offer

🌿 Funding Explained

At Marden Pre‑school, we aim to make childcare as accessible and flexible as possible for our families. We offer a range of government‑funded options and support schemes to help with the cost of early education and childcare.

Early Years Funding We Accept

We accept government funding for:

9‑month‑old children
2‑year‑olds
3‑ and 4‑year‑olds

This includes:

15 hours universal funding
An additional 15 hours (30 hours total) for eligible working families

Funding can be used flexibly across our opening hours to suit your childcare needs.

When to Apply for Funding

To receive funding for the next term, applications must be submitted by:

31 August – for Autumn Term
31 December – for Spring Term
31 March – for Summer Term

Applying by these dates ensures your child’s funded hours are in place for the start of term.

Tax‑Free Childcare

We are registered for the Government’s Tax‑Free Childcare scheme.

This means:

For every £8 you pay into your childcare account
The Government adds £2
Giving you £10 to use towards your childcare bill

This can save families up to £2,000 per year per child.

Learn more at: Tax‑Free Childcare – GOV.UK

Childcare Voucher Schemes

Marden Pre‑school is registered with a range of employer childcare voucher schemes. If your employer offers childcare vouchers, you can use them with us to help reduce your childcare costs.

Flexible Use of Hours

We understand that every family’s needs are different. That’s why we offer:

Flexible use of funded hours
Options to stretch funding
Support in planning your child’s sessions
Guidance on combining funding with paid hours

Our Manager is always happy to help you understand your options and choose what works best for your family.

🌼 Key Person Approach & Smooth Transitions

Every child who joins Marden Pre‑school is welcomed into the setting and introduced to their keyperson. This trusted adult helps them settle in, build secure relationships and feel confident in their new environment. Through positive interactions with both adults and peers, children develop a wide range of early learning skills that prepare them for the next stage of their education.

We have strong, long‑standing links with Marden Primary Academy, and we work closely with the school to ensure a smooth and confident transition to Reception. For children moving on to Marden Primary, we offer gradual transition sessions over a period of time. These visits help children become familiar with the staff, classrooms and wider school environment, supporting a calm and reassuring start to their primary school journey.