Welcome to the First Steps Pre-School website. 

Our aim is to offer children aged 2-5 years high standards of care and education in a safe, stimulating and exciting environment.

The government has confirmed that:

From April 2024, all eligible working parents of two-year-olds will be able to access funding for 15 hours per week of education and care.

From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged nine months up to three-years-old will able to access funding for 30 hours per week of education and care.

As with the current offers, all entitlements apply over 38 weeks of the year, though providers have the option of 'stretching' the offers over a longer period of time.

Eligibility Criteria 

The government has confirmed that the new offers are for working families only and that the eligibility criteria will be the same as for the existing 30-hour for three- and four-year-olds.

This means that parents or carers will need to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours at the minimum or living wage but no more than £100,000. This applies to each parent in dual-parent households, though there are exceptions where one parent is in receipt of Incapacity Benefit, Severe Disablement Allowance, Carer’s Allowance, Limited Capability for Work Benefit or contribution-based Employment and Support Allowance and their partner is working.

Did you know that if your annual household income is less than £16,190 or you are in receipt of an eligible benefit your two year old could qualify for up to 15 hours free of funded childcare a week.