For parents
Parent Page
Our go-to hub for families: funding and childcare codes, SEN support, day-to-day essentials and helpful advice.
Funding & childcare codes
Getting your free childcare codes
A step-by-step guide to the government childcare schemes, and how to get your codes to us.
30 hours funded childcare
Working families in England can get up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for children from 9 months old up to school age, depending on eligibility. You apply through your Childcare Account on GOV.UK and, if eligible, you receive a code to give to us.
Apply in good time: codes must be issued before the term starts, and you will need to reconfirm your details roughly every three months to keep the funding.
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare can help with costs on top of funded hours. For every £8 you pay into your online childcare account, the government adds £2 — up to £2,000 per child each year. You set up an account on GOV.UK and use it to pay us directly.
You can usually use Tax-Free Childcare alongside the 30 funded hours, as long as you are eligible for both.
Funding for 2-year-olds
As of September 2025 your 2-year-old may be eligible for 30 funded hours of Preschool. This is not universal funding but is for working families and if you are eligible, then you will need to apply for a code this term. If you apply for a code, please can you email it to 'manager@greatdoddingtonpreschool.co.uk' with the subject – 2 year funding code.
Once you have your code: email it to manager@greatdoddingtonpreschool.co.uk and we will take it from there. If you are unsure about any step, just ask — we are happy to help you through it.
SEN support
Support for every child
We are not a dedicated specialist setting, but every child is known, valued and supported as an individual here. Our experienced team — including our named SENCO, Karen — keeps a careful eye on each child's development, so if any additional needs do arise, we can identify them early and work closely with you.
Where extra support is needed, we will put a plan in place together, adapt our activities and environment, and signpost or work alongside outside professionals and local authority services. You will always be involved, and your child will always be included in everything we do.
If you have any concerns about your child's development, or simply want to talk something through, please come and chat to us — no question is too small.
Spare Clothes
If your child goes home in any spare preschool clothes, we would greatly appreciate if you could return them clean at your earliest convenience. Thank you for you help.
Please check all Preschool bags and make sure that they contain a full change of clothes, and if your child is prone to accidents, please make sure there are multiple pairs of pants, socks and trousers.
Uniforms
The preschool uniform policy is for each child to wear a uniformed royal blue polo shirt and/or sweatshirt, own bottoms can be worn. Various other logo items are also available to buy. Uniforms can be ordered here from The Uniform Shop, Wellingborough.
All children are asked to bring with them a named bag containing the following items each day:
- Spare change of clothes (all clothes should be named)
- Outdoor coat
For those children who wear nappies, a nappy box is provided at preschool for each child and you should keep this stocked please. We will let you know in good time when the nappies/wipes/cream are running low.
Plimsolls/Indoor shoes
We are based mainly outside and are very often in wellies. When the children come inside we ask that parents provide plimsolls or other slippers/shoes that can be kept at preschool. The reason we ask for plimsolls/indoor shoes is in the event of a fire; we would need to evacuate the children from the building and if they have not got footwear, then they will have to go out in their socks. Plimsolls are great indoor shoes as they keep the floors clean from mud and rain, they are comfy and easy to get on and off, but they have hard soles and if needed can be worn outside.
Please remember to label all of your child's belongings!
Helpful advice
Ideas for weekends and holidays
A growing collection of ideas and advice for families — from things to do in the holidays to simple activities to try at home.
Out and about locally
Family-friendly places to visit around Great Doddington and Wellingborough — walks, parks and days out.
Rainy day activities
Simple, low-cost activities to keep little hands busy indoors when the weather turns.
Getting ready for preschool
Tips for settling in, what to pack and how to make those first mornings easier for everyone.
Visits welcome
Come and see us
To apply for a place, please get in touch to book a visit and find out more about us.