Early Educators Montessori Nursery
Fees and Funding
We aim to make our fees as affordable as possible, but we also need to be able to invest in staff training and development, and maintain the highest standards of provision.
We do not charge registration fees and we do not ask for a deposit.
We do expect weekly or monthly payment for nursery fees to be paid up front at the beginning of each week/month, which is standard practice for all childcare providers.
We don’t charge for bank holidays, or for training days each year.
We do, however, charge for days which children don’t attend through illness or holidays, apart from exceptional circumstances. Discounts are available for siblings and details of government funding is provided below.
We ask for a voluntary contribution of
1 pound per week
towards the cost of snacks in order to minimise the shortfall between the funded amount and the cost of the session being provided.
Two year old Funding
What is it?
- Two year funding allows 15 hours childcare per week (term time only) or 11 hours per week (all year round).
- Once you have made your termly funding claim either ‘Term Time only’ or ‘All Year Round’ you will NOT be able to change or amend your claim until the next term.
- Once awarded 2 year old funding continues even if your circumstances change or if you choose to move to another nursery.
- Parents of entitled children will be issued with an eligibility letter via the local authority.
Your 2-year-old child can get funded childcare if you receive one of the following:
- Income Support
- Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA) based on income.
- Employment and Support Allowance (ESA) related to income.
- Universal Credit
- Tax credits and you have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
- The guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
- Support through part 6 of the Immigration and Asylum Act
- The Working Tax Credit 4-week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
- Your child can also get funded early education and childcare if any of the following apply:
- They’re looked after by a local council
- They have a current statement of special education needs (SEN) or an education, health and care (EHC) plan
- They get Disability Living Allowance
- They’ve left care under a special guardianship order, child arrangements order or adoption order
Be aware that after receiving the letter, you would need apply online at: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Three and Four year old Funding
15 Hours – Every three and four year old child
- Every child is entitled to free nursery education for up to 15 hours a week from the term after their third birthday.
- You can use these 15 hours to extend your child session.
- Three/Four year funding allows 15 hours childcare per week (term time only) or 11 hours per week (all year round).
- Once you have made your termly funding claim either ‘Term Time only’ or ‘All Year Round’ you will NOT be able to change or amend your claim until the next term.
- You just need to register to the nursery and the funding will be applied automatically.
30 Hours
- Available if both parents are working.
- 30 hours funding allows 30 hours childcare per week (term time only) or 22 hours per week (all year round).
- You need to register online at www.childcarechoices.gov.uk you will be issued with a “code” that will be required by the nursery.
- The funded hours do not cover the cost of ‘extras’ such as meals, snacks (we charge 1 pound per week) and extracurricular activities.
If you are not eligible for the 30 hours, you can still access the 15 hours
Other financial help that you may be eligible for:
Tax Free Childcare
- To qualify, parents must both be working and each earning at least £120 per week and not more than £100,000 each per year.
- Up to 20% per child under 12, per year, towards childcare costs.
- For every £8 you pay in, the government will top up an extra £2.
- You can only pay for childcare from the account and the childcare provider must be signed up for Tax-Free Childcare.
- You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare if you’re eligible for both.
Child Tax Credits
- Child Tax Credit has been replaced by Universal Credit for most people.
- The amount you can get depends on how many children you have got.
- Child Tax Credit will not affect your Child Benefit.
- If your child is 16, you can claim up until 31 August after their 16th birthday
Universal Credit
- Tax credits will gradually be replaced by universal credit.
- You will be notified in advance when the time comes for you to move from tax credits onto universal credit.
- There are other childcare schemes that you can use at the same time
- The amount you’ll receive depends on how much you earn from paid work, how much your childcare costs each month and how many children you have. If the amount of childcare you use changes so does the payment you receive
We understand that funding can be slightly overwhelming so please get in touch if you need any help.