FEES FOR 2024 - 2025

Effective from January 2025, our hourly rate is:

£8.00 for children aged 3 - 5 years

£8.75 for children aged 2

Full day attendance is 6 hours. Half day attendance is 3 hours. Invoices are issued in advance of each half term. Fees are payable within two weeks of the date of invoice.

FAIR FUNDING & CONSUMABLES SUPPLEMENT

We also charge a £1.35 per hour ‘fair funding and consumables supplement’ for additional services for all children, to cover the cost of your child’s consumables (including snacks), as well as baking, messy play and craft supplies. It also covers the cost of other groups or outside agencies that we arrange to come into the Preschool and our various events/parties throughout the year.

Early Years Funding

1. Universal funding for 3 – 4 year olds

Universal entitlement funding of 15 hours a week is available for all children the term after their third birthday. Please note that for the purpose of eligibility, the Department of Education states that terms are from 1st January, 1st April and 1st September irrespective of the actual date the term starts.

Taken over term time all children are eligible for a a maximum of 15 hours of funding per week for 38 weeks per year. You can book a mixture of funded hours and full price sessions. The minimum daily booking is 3 hours.

You will receive the necessary form to complete the term before your child is eligible for funding. The Chesterfords Community Preschool processes the Early Years Funding application and receives the funding direct.

2. Extended funding for 3 - 4 year olds

Extended funding (up to a total of 30 hours) of funded childcare is available to working parents of 3 - 4 year olds. The Chesterfords Community Preschool is now able to offer the full 30 hours of funding per week for 38 weeks, subject to eligibility.

Children become eligible in the term after they turn three (see  above). In addition both parents must be working, or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family, and each parent earns on average:

· A weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage or national living wage; and

· Less than £100,000 per year

Eligibility for the additional funded hours will be determined by the HMRC which has developed and will maintain a system where parents will undertake their own eligibility check twice per term.

If a parent loses eligibility they will receive a ‘grace period’ – this means they will be able to keep their childcare for a short period.  Once the ‘grace period’ has lapsed, the parent should still be entitled to the universal 15-hour entitlement.

3. Funding for 2 year olds

- Eligible working parents

Currently, eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access up to 30 hours of childcare support as noted above. From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours of childcare support. 

You apply online via the Gov.uk website once you have checked the eligibility criteria. If you are eligible, please provide us with the relevant code in order to access these hours. 

- Other criteria

Other than the above funded hours for eligible working parents, funding for two year olds is dependent upon eligibility and must be made through the local children’s centre or Essex County Council. If you wish to apply for 2 year old funding the Chesterfords Community Preschool can advise you and help you complete the application.

CHILDS BIRTHDAY              FUNDING AVAILABLE FROM:

1st April to 31st August                    1st September after 3rd birthday

1st September to 31st December      1st January after 3rd birthday

1st January to 31st March                 1st April after 3rd birthday

BURSARIES

The Management Committee of the Chesterfords Community Preschool is committed to broadening access to the Preschool by offering to eligible parents’ financial support with the payment of childcare fees. Bursaries are awarded at the discretion of the Management Committee." 

Please download for further information.