Fees, Funding & Invoicing
We are a registered provider of free nursery places for children aged 2-4 years (please note, eligible working parents are entitled to 30 hours free childcare a week once their child is 9 months old). Whilst some eligible children are entitled to up to 30 free childcare hours a week, all children are entitled to 15 hours childcare from the term following their 3rd birthday, i.e. from 1st September, 1st January or 1st April. You can check your eligibility and apply via this government website
Childcare & Early Years Education - Best Start in Life
Children can start with us the September following their 2nd birthday, regardless of funding entitlement.
Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of funded, high-quality, flexible early education and care. There must not be any mandatory charges for parents in relation to the funded hours. Government funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional services. Providers can charge for consumables, meals and snacks, extra activities and additional hours provided they are not mandatory charges or a condition of accessing a place.
Voluntary Chargeable Extras
- Consumables – Charges for meals and snacks is voluntary. However, if payment is not received for these items, this service will not be provided for your child.
- Non-Food Consumables - We do not charge for non-food consumables such as nappies, wipes or formula/milk. These should be provided by the parent/carer.
- Activities – Parents will receive correspondence regarding any voluntary activity charges, as and when appropriate.
We will provide parents with funding forms which are to be completed and returned to us before the beginning of each term. It is the parent’s responsibility to apply for their child’s funding, ensuring they apply before the deadline set out by Essex County Council below.
For your information, eligible working parents can apply for their 30 hours free childcare code up to 16 weeks before their baby turns 9 months (i.e. when their child is 23 weeks old). When parents can claim funded hours from, will depend on the date their child turns 9 months old.
|
When your child turns |
Date you can claim |
Deadline for applying |
|
Between 1 September and |
1 January |
31 December |
|
Between 1 January and 31 March |
1 April |
31 March |
|
Between 1 April and 31 August |
1 September |
31 August |
To find out more about the funding your child is entitled to and apply, please visit this website: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
Prior to receiving funding, you will be invoiced half termly for fees. Payment is to be made within 14 days of the invoice date and is to be made via our payment system SchoolMoney. You will receive an email and a text once your payment is live on our system.
Average fees with 30-hour funding
Average fees with 15-hour funding
Funding and Forms
