All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible for up to 15 hours a week of free nursery provision from the term after their 3rd birthday and some children may be entitled to an additional 15 hours of full nursery education. Find out more from the Cumberland Families Information website.  This is based on children attending nursery for 38 weeks of the year for 5 x 3 hour sessions per week, either every morning or every afternoon, although other flexible options may be available.  Various 'settings' provide nursery education where parents can access this free entitlement, including:

  • nursery classes in 'maintained' infant and primary schools
  • maintained nursery schools
  • pre-school playgroups
  • private nurseries
  • academies which are registered to provide nursery education.

Find nursery settings in your area

 

If your child's third birthday falls between:Your child will become eligible from:
1 January and 31 MarchThe start of the Summer Term (April)
1 April and 31 AugustThe start of the Autumn Term (September)
1 September and 31 DecemberThe start of the Spring Term (January)

Some 2 year old children are also entitled to free places.  Contact the Children and Families Information Service for more information - Telephone: 03457 125 737.

30 Hour Free Childcare

 Title  Date  Size
No documents found.

For community and voluntary controlled nurseries: 

 

Children born betweenDate of entryClosing date for applications
1 September 2020 to 31 December 2020January 202429 September 2023
1 January 2021 to 31 March 2021April 202415 January 2024
1 April 2021 to 31 August 2021September 202428 March 2024
1 September 2021 to 31 December 2021January 202527 September 2024
1 January 2022 to 31 March 2022April 202515 January 2025
1 April 2022 to 31 August 2022September 202531 March 2025
1 September 2022 to 31 December 2022January 202626 September 2025
1 January 2023 to 31 March 2023April 202615 January 2026
1 April 2023 to 31 August 2023September 202627 March 2026
1 September 2023 to 31 December 2023January 202728 September 2026
1 January 2024 to 31 March 2024April 202715 January 2027
1 April 2024 to 31 August 2024September 202725 March 2027
1 September 2024 to 31 December 2024January 202830 September 2027
1 January 2025 to 31 March 2025April 202815 January 2028
1 April 2025 to 31 August 2025September 202824 March 2028
1 September 2025 to 31 December 2025January 202929 September 2028
1 January 2026 to 31 March 2026April 202915 January 2029
1 April 2026 to 31 August 2026September 202926 March 2029
1 September 2026 to 31 December 2026January 203029 September 2029
1 January 2027 to 31 March 2027April 203015 January 2030
1 April 2027 to 31 August 2027September 203025 March 2030
1 September 2027 to 31 December 2027January 203127 September 2030
1 January 2028 to 31 March 2028April 203115 January 2031
1 April 2028 to 31 August 2028September 203128 March 2031
1 September 2028 to 31 December 2028January 203226 September 2031
1 January 2029 to 31 March 2029April 203215 January 2032
1 April 2029 to 31 August 2029September 203226 March 2032
1 September 2029 to 31 December 2029January 203330 September 2032

For academies, voluntary aided and foundation schools:

Check with the individual school for the closing date.

Before you apply for a nursery place, please make sure that you have read through the important information leaflet that includes the admissions policy for community and voluntary controlled nurseries.

Download the application form and return it to your preferred school.

If you are unable to download an application form, please contact the School Admissions and Appeals Team and we will post one to you:

Email:  school.admissions@cumberland.gov.uk - application forms only

For all nursery or eligibility code queries, please contact the Children and Families Information Service

Telephone: 03457 125 737
Email:childrens.information@cumberland.gov.uk

Attendance in a nursery class does not guarantee a place in the reception group at the school.  It is not a factor in allocating places at community and voluntary controlled schools and many other schools.

 Title  Date  Size
31/08/2023 70k
31/08/2023 221k

Find a childcare provider.

Please contact the nursery you are interested in for information about their establishment and applying for a place with them.