Childcare for any budget
At Ducklings Childcare in Huddersfield, we offer 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.
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.
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.
Joining our family
To register, simply pay a £25 deposit along with one month’s fees, which will count towards your first month. We accept various payment methods, including cash, card machine, BACS transfer, and childcare vouchers.
Funded Hours Fees
| Session | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full day | 7:30am to 5:30pm | £12.50 |
| Half day | 7:30am to 12:30pm or 12:30pm to 5:30pm | £6.25 |
| Late collection | 5:30pm to 6:00pm | £7.50 |
Non-Funded Hours Fees
| Session | Hours | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Full day | 7:30am to 5:30pm | £66.00 |
| Half day | 7:30am to 12:30pm or 12:30pm to 5:30pm | £45.00 |
| Late collection | 5:30pm to 6:00pm | £7.50 |
More information on Ducklings Childcare fees
Funded hours 7:30am to 5:30pm
| Hours | Cost per week | How the hours can be used |
|---|---|---|
| 30 hours funding (Term time) | £37.50 for funded hours | 3 full days |
| 20 hours funding (Stretched) | £25.00 for funded hours | 2 full days |
| 15 hours funding (Term time) | £18.75 for funded hours | 1 full day and 1 half day |
| 10 hours funding (Stretched) | £12.50 for funded hours | 1 full day |
Payment
Deposit
A £25.00 non-refundable administration charge and a month’s fees are required to secure any place at Ducklings Childcare. The months fees then count towards your first month at the setting. Your place is not guaranteed until these are received in cleared funds. Following your visit to the setting we will temporarily hold a place for you for five working days. We will then contact you to see if you require a place, if no contact is made or monies received this place will be offered to another family.
Remaining Balance
Please note that 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 in 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 its often advertised as free which is misleading as the funding rate does not cover the cost of delivery. Section A1 paragraph 30 in the Government Policy states that the “funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the cost of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services.”
Our consumables charge includes but is not limited to: Meals, snacks, drinks, resources, gifts for family, nappy cream, suncream, PPE, access to Iconnect (our online learning journal), visitors, stay and plays, graduation, Christmas party, Christmas dinner, local community outings, parents meetings and Mini Professors who visit on a weekly basis.
When you sign up 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 contracted day falls on a bank holiday these are also payable. The only days that are NOT payable is the week we are closed between Christmas and New Year.
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. If funds are not received on the 1st of the month we will send a reminder. If fees are not received on the 2nd 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 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