Nursery Admissions and Free childcare entitlement for early years
At St. Matthew's we offer both 15 hour and 30 hour provision.
September 2026 intake
Our biggest intake is September, to apply for a September 2026 start, your child must have been born between 1 September 2022 and 31 August 2023.
The closing date for maintained nursery places is 31 March 2026.
Early intake
Throughout the year we do offer early intake should there be space, If your child is born between 1 September 2022 and 31 March 2023 you will be considered for a place starting April 2026.
Applications to our Nursery are made through the Stockport Council online education portal. To make an application please click here
Funding Hours
Currently all 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare, however for working parents that meet the below criteria you may be entitled to 30 hours funded childcare. If you don't, we still offer a bookable Nursery top up should you wish to have your child in school full time. These are booked via our school spider app and cost £30 for a full day (8.50am - 3.00pm) or £15 for half a day (8.50am - 12.00pm or 12.00pm - 3.00pm). To have your child attend the full day you can book 3pm - 3.20pm for £2.50, this is to cover the additional staffing.
30 hours’ free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds
Parents will be able to access 30 free hours of childcare per week if they meet the criteria. This works out at 1,140 hours of free childcare over a year, which can be spread over 52 weeks a year or during term time only, or any combination that works for you.
Am I eligible?
all parents (whether two-parent family or lone parent) are working and earning the equivalent of 16 hours a week (you do not have to actually work 16 hours a week) at the national minimum wage or living wage (includes income received from tax credits or universal credit);
one/both parents is away on leave (maternity, paternity etc);
one/both parents is on statutory sick pay;
includes zero hours contracts and self-employed;
one parent is employed and the other parent has either: substantial caring responsibilities, and/or disability, is a foster carer with their own 3 and 4 year old children;
income cap of £100,000 for either parent;
parents who are in training will not be eligible.
You can check your eligibility at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Here at St Matthew’s, we can now offer the full 30 hours in our teacher-led nursery class for 38 weeks of the year (during term time). We also offer wrap around childcare through our breakfast club from 7.45am and our after school rainbow club 3.20pm - 6pm for further information click here