Early Years Funding.
The Centre accepts all children who are entitled to government funding, but does not offer 'free places' as such. The Centre will apply to the Local Education Authority for Nursery funding on behalf of the parent/carer's behalf and any funding received is used to offset against any nursery fees.
Funding available depends on child age...
A child becomes eligible for government funding on a specific date (the start of the funding period) after they are 9-months-old, their 2nd or 3rd birthday (depending on the type of funding).
Funded 2's...
- Children from families in receipt of certain benefits could be eligible for a maximum 15-hours of nursery funding per week.
- Eligibility starts from the funding period after the child turns 2-years-old.
- Enquiries and applications for this funding can be made to Cambridgeshire County Council Education Welfare Benefits Team...
- Eligibility code is issued by the LEA which must be provided to the childcare setting with eligibility continuing until child is eligible for the Universal entitlement at age 3.
- Eligibility code does not need to be re-confirmed once issued.
Working Parents Extended Entitlement...
- Children from families who meet certain criteria are eligible for a maximum 30-hours of nursery funding per week.
- Eligibility starts from the funding period after the child turns 9-months-old*.
- Enquiries and applications for this funding can be made through the governments 'Best Start in Life' website...
- Applications must be made in the funding period prior to the funding period in which the parent/carer requires the funding to start. Codes issued in one funding period cannot be used to claim funding in that funding period.
- Eligibility code is issued by HMRC which must be provided to the childcare setting with a National insurance Number associated with the code application.
- Eligibility codes must be renewed through the 'Best Start in Life' website on a 3-month rolling basis. Changes in family circumstances can impact eligibility.
- When a child turns 3-years-old, the funding will change to a maximum 15-hours extended entitlement (Working Parents Code) per week, and a maximum 15-hours Universal entitlement.
Universal Entitlement...
- ALL children over the age of 3-year-old are entitled to a maximum of 15-hours of nursery finding per week.
- Eligibility starts from the funding period after the child turns 3-years old.
- Parents/carers do not have to apply to the LEA or Government for the funding. The childcare setting will make the application on behalf of the parent/carer.
- Eligibility remains until the child starts mainstream Primary education.
*Please note that the Centre currently does not allow children under the age of 2-years-old to attend the nursery. Children can start to attend from their 2nd birthday and as such if a WP funding code has been issued in the previous funding period, that code may be able to be used to claim extended funding from a child's start date.
For ALL types of government funding, parents/carers will be required to complete and sign a County Council Funding Agreement and provide proof of ID for the child concerned. These two documents will allow the Centre to make the relevant funding claim on behalf of the parents/carers. The Centre is unable to determine eligibility for Funded 2's or WP entitlement.
Nursery Fees.
Fees for non-funded nursery hours/sessions:
Any hours for which your child attends the nursery, for which he/she is not eligible for funding, the nursery will charge an hourly rate depending on the age of your child...
Fee per...
hour
2½ hour session
3 hour session
3½ hour session
all day 6 hours
2-years-old
£5.30
£13.25
£15.90
£18.55
£31.80
3-years-old and above
£4.80
£12.00
£14.40
£16.80
£28.80
Payable hours arise when either...
- your child attends nursery before the term after their third birthday, and is not eligible for government childcare support (nursery/early years education funding) from the age of two; depending on funding eligibility, or
- you agree a weekly pattern of booked nursery hours which are greater than the number of hours which your child receives funding for.
Invoicing...
The Centre will email parents a monthly invoice, usually at the start of a calendar month, making charges for the weeks ending in that calendar month and a statement at the end of the calendar month detailing any outstanding, or unpaid, amounts.
If your child is due to attend a Nursery session where fees would be payable, and is unable to attend due to sickness or holiday etc., fees are still payable. Non-payment of fees may result in your child forfeiting his/her non-funded places at the Nursery. The Centre reserves the right to charge a late fee if your child is not collected at the end of the session. For further information see the policies section.
Additional Fees
The Centre DOES NOT make a charge or ask for a contribution towards the costs of any of the following:
- Deposit to secure a funded nursery space,
- Snack or food and drink which may be provided throughout the nursery day,
- Art and craft supplies,
- Toys books, etc.,
- Sun cream.
The Centre does reserve the right to make charges for the following...
- Nappies and wipes, etc.,
- Additional activities which are not part of the core EYFS curriculum or trips, etc.
Other Funding Available
Early Years Pupil Premium:
EYPP is additional funding which the nursery may receive to improve the education which is provided for disadvantaged 2-, 3- and 4-year olds. EYPP is assessed by the LEA from information supplied by parents/carers on the County Council Funding Agreement.
Disability Access Funding:
DAF is additional funding which the nursery may receive to help children in receipt of DLA and accessing their entitlement to free early learning childcare.
SEN Inclusion Fund:
SENIF is intended to help the nursery meet the needs of pre-school children over 2-years-old with SEND who are taking up their free entitlement. All funding award decisions are made by SEND specialists at County Council and are not made by the Centre.
Other types of inclusion funding may be available depending on the needs of the child concerned. Any funds received will be used to provide 'enhanced support' in the way of additional staffing and may not necessarily be used to provide a specific one-to-one staff member for that child.
Other sources of funding:
The centre is happy for other agencies or third parties to provide funding for children attending the nursery. Where funding is offered, the parent/carer or agency should inform the office and the agency or third party will need to complete a funding agreement covering invoicing and payment arrangements.
Applications for SENIF and other similar types of inclusion funding will be made by the centre management under guidance of the SENCo(s), parents/carers will be consulted at all times. Any amounts received from any funding source cannot and will not be passed to the child's parents/carers.