Childcare for any budget
At Ducklings Childcare in Huddersfield, we offer fully flexible and affordable childcare options to support families. If eligible, two-year-old children can receive 15 hours of funded childcare, totalling 570 hours per year. Three and four-year-olds may qualify for 15 to 30 hours of funded childcare.
Fully flexible hours
We appreciate that every parent and carer has different requirements, so we offer the ability to stretch your funded hours to include school holidays or keep them for during term time only. We don’t have set sessions and can cater for busy parents or carers working shifts.
Supporting your challenges
We understand the financial challenges parents and carers face, which is why we offer additional support. Care to Learn payments assist those in school or sixth-form college, while tax-free childcare benefits can be claimed through Universal Credit.
Affordable adventures start here
Our payment system is designed with convenience in mind. Choose our pay-as-you-go option, with fees calculated per hour, day, and week. Plus, enjoy a 10% discount on full week bookings. Rest assured, our fees include all meals, snacks, drinks, baby wipes, sun cream, and nappy cream during your child’s time with us.
Joining our family
To join, please fill in our Registration Form and pay one week’s fees as a deposit. We accept various payment methods, including cash, card machine, BACS transfer, and childcare vouchers.
Nursery Education Funding Hours Per Day
| Hours | Daily Rate | Daily Care Charge | Total Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £0.00 | £1.38 | £1.38 |
| 2 | £0.00 | £2.76 | £2.76 |
| 3 | £0.00 | £4.14 | £4.14 |
| 4 | £0.00 | £5.52 | £5.52 |
| 5 | £0.00 | £7.00 | £7.00 |
| 6 | £0.00 | £8.00 | £8.00 |
| 7 | £0.00 | £8.50 | £8.50 |
| 8 | £0.00 | £9.00 | £9.00 |
| 9 | £0.00 | £12.42 | £12.42 |
| 10 | £0.00 | £13.80 | £13.80 |
Correct as of 1 April 2025
Free place AM – 8:45am to 11:45am
Free place PM – 12:30pm to 3:30pm
10 hours per day is the maximum number of funded hours per day set by Kirklees Council
Non-Funded Hours Fees
| Hours | Daily Rate | Daily Care Charge | Total Per Day |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | £7.12 | £1.38 | £8.50 |
| 2 | £14.24 | £2.76 | £17.00 |
| 3 | £21.36 | £4.14 | £25.50 |
| 4 | £28.48 | £5.52 | £34.00 |
| 5 | £41.25 | £7.00 | £48.25 |
| 6 | £50.00 | £8.00 | £58.00 |
| 7 | £53.00 | £8.50 | £61.50 |
| 8 | £55.00 | £9.00 | £64.00 |
| 9 | £57.00 | £12.42 | £69.42 |
| 10 | £58.80 | £13.80 | £72.60 |
Correct as of 1 April 2025
More information on Ducklings Childcare fees
Payment
Deposit to secure your place
If you are accessing a totally funded free place no deposit or monies are required prior to commencing your contract.
If you are accessing a funded place with a daily care charge or a non-funded place a week’s payment is required to secure your place, this will cover your first weeks fees. You will be invoiced on your first day in the setting to cover the childcare hours until the end of the month. You will then be invoiced on a monthly basis and fees are due on the 1st of the month.
Fees and daily charges include
All food, drink and snacks, wipes, suncream and all the activities provided by Ducklings Childcare which includes but is not limited to: Kixx Football, Pyjama Drama, Baby Ballet, Mini Professors and trips to the local nursing home. We do not have any hidden charges.
Please note
Over 75% of our nursery fees go directly to our team and enable us to employ highly qualified practitioners at a high level of adult to children ratios. Our team are our greatest asset, and we recognise their worth and invest in them. Due to this we have a high retention of staff and are able to offer continuous childcare and support to you and your child.
Support Schemes
The following schemes are available to save you money on your childcare fees:
Tax Free Childcare
The government have set up a scheme whereby they will pay for a portion of parents childcare fees, for parents who are both in employment. You can set up an account and for every £8 you pay into the scheme the government will add £2. To start benefiting from this go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Universal Credits
Universal Credits are paying up to 85% of childcare costs for eligible families. To look at the benefits of this go to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Government Funding Explained
The Early Years Funding can be complicated, especially as it’s often advertised as free which is misleading as the funding rate does not cover the cost of delivery. On the website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk under the heading “How it works” it states that “Government funding is intended to pay for 15 or 30 hours a week of high quality, flexible childcare. The 15 or 30 hours must be able to be accessed free of charge to parents.
Government funding does not cover:
- Meals
- Nappies
- Additional hours
- Additional activities such as trips”
Terms & Conditions of Payment
Fees are to be paid a month in advance and are due on the 1st of every month unless previously arranged with management. Fees are paid from the 1st day of each month until the last day of each month. If fees are not received on the 1st of the month you will be sent a reminder. If fees are not received on the 4th of the month a 10% charge of the whole invoice will be added, and your place will be suspended until payment is made. If the fees are not paid by the 7th of the month your contract will be terminated, and any outstanding fees will be sent to our legal department who will seek to recover these through the small claims court. Please be aware that this can have an impact on your credit rating.
When you sign for a place at Ducklings Childcare you are allocated that place and them times to attend. Therefore, if you are absent or on holiday all fees remain payable in full. If your contract falls on a bank holiday these are also payable. The only time you do not pay fees is if we have decided to close the setting for example due to an emergency.
When does my child become eligible for funding?
Funding is only available the term after a child reaches their milestone age as shown in the table below:
| Term | A child turning 9 months, 2 or 3 years between | Must apply before cut off date | Can be funded from |
|---|---|---|---|
| Autumn Term | 1st September to 31st December | 31st December | 1st January |
| Spring Term | 1st January to 31st March | 31st March | First week after Easter holiday |
| Summer Term | 1st April to 31st August | 31st August | 1st September |
You must apply for your eligibility code during the term before your child becomes eligible to claim the funding. If you apply after the cut off date, you will not be awarded the funding until the following term.
Join Ducklings Childcare, where we make quality childcare accessible and convenient for every family. Contact us today to learn more or secure your child’s place.
Hours
Monday to Friday
7:30am to 6:00pm