​​Funded Only Places 

We offer funded-only early education places at our Bentley and Kingsley nursery schools. Funded hours are provided free of charge and families are not required to purchase private hours, food or any other optional service.

 

Funded entitlements

Subject to eligibility, we offer:

• The Working Parent Entitlement for eligible children from nine months old until they start school

• Early Learning for Two-Year-Olds for eligible children

• The Universal Entitlement for all three- and four-year-olds

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Eligibility for the Working Parent Entitlement must be confirmed and reconfirmed through HMRC.

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Our funded-hours structure

Dottie Tots provides funded hours as a stretched offer across 51 weeks of the year.

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Working Parent Entitlement

Up to 21 funded hours each week, provided through up to three seven-hour sessions from 10.00am to 5.00pm.

 

Universal Entitlement and Early Learning for Two-Year-Olds

Up to 11 funded hours each week, provided through:

• One seven-hour session from 10.00am to 5.00pm

• One four-hour afternoon session from 1.00pm to 5.00pm on another day

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Our stretched offer may not use a child’s full annual entitlement at Dottie Tots. Subject to eligibility and the required declarations, families may be able to use remaining funded hours with another provider.

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Applications and availability

Funded places are subject to eligibility, availability, age-group capacity, staffing ratios and our published session patterns. An entitlement does not guarantee a place at a particular nursery or in a particular attendance pattern.

Applications are considered in accordance with our Admissions Policy. We consider the child’s needs and whether the requested start date and attendance pattern correspond with the place available.

Access to a funded place is not conditional on purchasing private hours or optional services. Families wishing to purchase childcare outside the agreed funded sessions may apply for a separate private booking, subject to availability.

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Optional food provision

Families may choose to purchase nursery-provided food:

• Hot lunch: £3.50 per booked day

• Snacks: £2.00 per booked day

• Tea: £2.50 per booked day

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Food provision is optional. Families who do not purchase it may use the reasonable alternatives set out in our Food Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy. Choosing not to purchase nursery food will not affect access to a funded place.

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Funded-only deposit

A refundable deposit of £75 may be requested to secure a funded-only place. This is not a charge for funded hours and is refunded after the child starts in accordance with the Funded Only Place Agreement. Please speak to us if this would cause difficulty.

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Applying for a place

To ask about availability or apply for a funded-only place, please contact us at hello@dottietots.co.uk.

Places are offered in accordance with our Admissions Policy and are subject to eligibility and availability.

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Information updated 1 September 2026