www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs
www.gov.uk/childcare-calculator
These websites explain different help that is available, who qualifies and how to apply.
We provide childcare (Monday to Friday) from 0730 to1800 all year round.
We are registered with the Local Authority to offer funded education places to 9 months old 2, 3 and 4-year-olds.
Some 2-year-old children are entitled to up to 15 hours early education for 38 weeks per year (i.e 570 hours per year*).
Criteria for this entitlement can be found at: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
The Local Authority must approve a child’s entitlement. Details on this can be found at Swindon.gov.uk.
Further hours are charged at the rate of £4.80 per hour.
We are able to split these hours over more than 38 weeks.
All children with working parent entitlement are entitled to funding through the Early Years Entitlement of up to 30 hours per week 38 weeks per year (i.e. 570 hours per year*), from the term after their third birthday.
Criteria for this entitlement can be found at: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk
Further hours are charged at the rate of £7.00 per hour.
We are able to split these hours over more than 38 weeks.
Fees for children who do not claim early years funding at my setting are £7.00 per hour.
Children are registered for a number of hours per week with fees being invoiced on a monthly basis.
Fees are due in advance of childcare being provided. Fees must still be paid if children are absent for short periods of time, e.g. due to illness or being on holiday. If your child has to be absent over a long period of time, please talk to me to discuss any fee arrangements. Any discussions will be completely confidential.
To keep getting your Tax-Free Childcare, you must sign into your government childcare account every 3 months to reconfirm your eligibility.
We do accept Childcare Vouchers. Details can be found at www.gov.uk/childcare-vouchers-better-off-calculator.
Parents/carers may be entitled to additional Working Tax Credits or the childcare element of Universal Credits towards payment of childcare used at my setting.
Fees will be reviewed as required and a month’s notice will be given to all families of any increase agreed.
Non-payment of fees will be dealt with promptly, according to my Collection of Unpaid
Fees procedure below. Persistent non-payment will mean the loss of any non-funded hours for your child.
Where no payment of fees has been made by a parent/carer for 4 weeks, they will be invited to discuss the matter with me, confidentially.
Following discussion, agreement reached regarding payment will be put in writing, to include timescales.
If discussion is declined, or if a payment method is not committed to, we will inform the parent/carer in writing that no further (non-funded) hours will be available to their child until arrears have been paid in full.
If the issue remains unresolved, we will seek legal advice and may terminate the contract, potentially with immediate effect (see also exclusion policy).
We will at all times respect confidentiality and aim to work with parents/carers to reach a positive and realistic solution.
