Funded Childcare Hours at an Islamic Nursery in Tower Hamlets: How They Work

You can use government-funded childcare hours at an Islamic nursery in exactly the same way as at any other registered nursery. Eligible working families in England can get 30 funded hours a week for children aged nine months to four years, and every three- and four-year-old qualifies for at least 15 hours. Daffodil Nursery in Tower Hamlets offers both funded and non-funded places for children aged two to five.

This guide explains what the schemes are, who qualifies, how to apply, and what to check with any nursery before you accept a place, whichever setting you choose.

There are three main routes, all run by the government and delivered through registered childcare providers:

30 hours for working families (9 months to 4 years). Since September 2025, eligible working parents can claim 30 hours of funded childcare a week for children from the age of nine months until they start school. Both parents (or a lone parent) normally need to be in work and earning above a minimum threshold, and you can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.

15 universal hours (3 to 4 years). Every three- and four-year-old in England is entitled to 15 hours of funded early education a week, regardless of whether the parents work. No application code is needed for this universal entitlement. You take it up through a participating provider.

15 hours for some two-year-olds. Families receiving certain government support may qualify for a separate 15-hour scheme for two-year-olds, even if they don't meet the working-parent criteria.

The funded hours are usually taken as 30 (or 15) hours a week across 38 weeks of the year, roughly school term time. Many providers also offer a "stretched" arrangement: fewer hours per week spread over more weeks, which suits parents who work year-round. Ask each nursery which patterns it supports.

Can I use funded hours at an Islamic nursery?

Yes. The funding follows your child, not a type of provider. Any nursery registered to deliver the entitlements can accept your funded hours, an Islamic setting included. The early education itself follows the same national framework everywhere: the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS), the statutory curriculum for children from birth to five.

That means choosing an Islamic nursery is not a trade-off between funding and faith. Your child receives the same funded entitlement and the same EYFS coverage they would anywhere else, alongside the daily rhythms of an Islamic environment. If you'd like a plain-English tour of what the EYFS actually involves, read our guide What is EYFS?

At Daffodil Nursery, children aged two to five learn through the EYFS with both a funded route and a non-funded route available. The nursery is part of Daffodil Education Group and shares a site with Daffodil Preparatory School, so children can continue into Year 1 without changing building, ethos or friends.

How to apply, step by step

For the working-families entitlement:

1. Check your eligibility on GOV.UK. The main tests are that you're in work (or about to start a job) and earn above the minimum threshold.
2. Set up a childcare account through GOV.UK. You can apply from when your child is 23 weeks old.
3. Receive your 11-digit code. This is the proof of eligibility you give to your chosen nursery.
4. Give the code to the nursery, along with your National Insurance number and your child's date of birth, so they can validate it with the local authority.
5. Reconfirm every three months. You must sign in to your childcare account each quarter to confirm your details are still correct. Set a phone reminder, because a lapsed code can interrupt your funding.

Timing matters: entitlements generally begin the term after you become eligible, so apply well before the term in which you want the hours to start. For the universal 15 hours there's no code: speak directly to the nursery.

What funded hours cover, and what they don't

The funded hours cover early education and care during the agreed sessions. Providers may ask parents to pay for extras such as meals, nappies or additional hours beyond the funded allocation. Under the scheme rules, paying for these extras must not be a condition of taking up a funded place. If you don't want to pay for them, your provider should agree an alternative arrangement with you.

Sensible questions to ask any nursery before accepting a place:

• Which entitlements do you deliver: the 30 hours, the universal 15, the two-year-old scheme?
• Can I take the hours term-time only or stretched across the year?
• What extra charges apply, and what are the alternatives?
• What happens if I want more hours than my funded entitlement?

How it works at Daffodil Nursery

Daffodil Nursery takes children from age two to five and offers both funded and non-funded routes, so families can combine their government entitlement with additional paid sessions if they need a longer day. Current session patterns and any applicable charges are set out on our nursery funding and fees page, which we keep up to date as the government schemes change.

Because the nursery sits within an Islamic school community, the early years experience and the family's values point the same way from the start. When the time comes, there is a familiar path into the Preparatory School next door for ages five to eleven. If you're still weighing up when to begin, our guide When should my child start nursery? walks through ages, readiness signs and settling in.

Frequently asked questions