Payment of Fees

Statement of intent

We aim to provide high quality yet affordable care and education for all children.

From April 2024 the government starting rolling out the new funding for working families who have two year olds who are now eligible for Nursery Education Funding (NEF) which equates to 15 hours of funded education per week for children aged 2 -5 years. The term after they are three some families maybe eligible for the 30 hours funding. Some families who meet the criteria for extra support due to fininicail difficulties may be eligible for the disadvantaged NEF funding after their 2^nd birthday if they meet the criteria.

You can find out more at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Hours that are not funded can be paid for.  The rate is reviewed annually. 

Our current payment rates are: (from January 2024)

£6 per hour for 3 year olds (e.g. a 3 hour session would be charged at £18)

£6 per hour for 2 year olds (e.g. a 3 hour session would be charged at £18)

Lunch club (Porchester Road): £4.50 for the 45 minutes

Parents/carers are informed of any increases to hourly rates with a minimum of 1 months notice.

Process for payment of fees:

• Fees are paid in advance.

• An invoice will be issued and emailed to the parent/carer. We encourage all fees to be paid electronically. We also accept all childcare vouchers, please arrange this with the setting.  If electronic payments are not possible please speak to the preschool Manager.
• Invoices are paid monthly in advance.  Weekly payment options can also be arranged with agreement with the Manager prior to child’s first session.

Banking Payment – You can make electronic payments via your internet banking. Bank details are listed on each fees invoice. Please reference your payments with your child’s name and invoice number.

Sickness and Holidays taken during term time

• Should your child take a holiday during term time, session fees and/or lunch fees are still due and will need to be paid.
• Should your child be absent due to sickness or any other reason, session fees and or lunch fees will be due and need to be paid.
• In extreme circumstances e.g. extended overseas travel or your child being cared for out of the area for period of time, please speak to the Manager or Deputy to discuss fees.

Late/Non-payments

All fees must be paid in advance. Late payment fees will be charged as follows.

If payment has not been received by the day the child attends the following charges will be automatically added to the outstanding fees.

1^st attendance – fees outstanding -  £5 charge

2^nd attendance – fees still outstanding – additional £5 charge

3^rd session  - fees outstanding – a further £5 charge.

If payment has not been made, preschool reserves the right to cancel the booked sessions and offer them to families awaiting places.

If the child’s fees have not been paid, the preschool will pursue payment of the fees using a debt collection agency if deemed necessary.

• If the fees have not been paid, when your child becomes entitled to their funded sessions a funded place will not be offered to your child, it will be offered to the next child on our waiting list. In extreme circumstances you can make prior arrangements with the Manager to extend your instalment period.
• If you refuse to pay all outstanding fees later than arranged and your child’s place has already been filled by another child, your child will go back on our waiting list until we have a place available.
• If fees remain outstanding and a sibling is on our waiting list, a place will not be offered to that sibling until all outstanding fees are paid.

Change of Sessions/Leavers

• If you no longer require any sessions, you must give 4 weeks written notice of your required change.  If you are leaving the setting, 4 weeks written notice is also required.  All fees are due until the end of the 4 weeks and must be paid in full.