Funding and payment

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Payment and funding options:

  • Yes, we have a number of places in our nurseries to accommodate funded children.  Please ask our nursery manager when applying if we have a space.  

  • Yes, we are a registered credit, please speak to our nursery manager who can help and guide you through the process.  Find out more about the Universal Credit.

  • Yes, we have a number of workplace nursery partners.  Please call our Central Support on 020 7384 6099 to find out if your company is signed up or to find out more about how to sign up.

  • There are varying levels of support available to fund childcare and these depend on your personal circumstances.  Review the government schemes and see what’s right for your family.

    With more employers recognising the challenges of family life, it’s worth checking if your employer provides any childcare schemes or incentives.

Childcare funding process:

Consumable charges for funded hours:

  • In all of our nurseries we stretch funding which means you are able to access 11.18 hours (universal funding) or 22.35 hours (extended funding) each week for 51 weeks of the year.

  • Every child is eligible for 15 hours of funding the term after your child’s third birthday, working parents may also be entitled to 30 hours

    Eligible working parents may be entitled to 30 hours of funding from the team after their child turns 9 months. Some families who receive additional support from the government may also be entitled to two year old funding. Please note, that families eligible for both the working element and the 15 hours for families receiving support,  you cannot take up both offers and should apply for the 15 hours for families receiving support.

    Funding eligibility can be found here

    More information regarding Early Years Funding can be found here

  • Each funding entitlement scheme has different rules. Our nursery managers will guide you, however its imperative that you provide the funding scheme with the documentation they require and provide our nursery manager with the right eligibility criteria.  Failure to provide this may result in the Nursery being unable to claim the funding, and in this instance, you would be wholly responsible for any fees incurred at the standard daily rate.

    It is worth noting that should your child leave us mid-term then it is possible that the Local Authority will claim back part or all of the allocated funding which may result in you having an outstanding balance with us. The Local Authority in some cases will contact you directly to claim back overpayments.

  • Payments are received on a termly basis – Autumn, Spring and Summer over a total of 38 weeks. Dates and weeks vary throughout the year; however, this information is readily available from your Nursery Manager or your Local Authority. 

  • A consumable charge covers the cost of physical items your child uses during their funded sessions, specifically food and drinks (including formula milk), essential non-food consumables such as nappies, wipes, nappy cream and sun cream, and the extra-curricular activities that take place at nursery. These items are not covered by government funding, which is why we charge for them separately.

  • No. In line with DfE guidance, the consumable charge is entirely voluntary. You are welcome to provide your own food, nappies, wipes, sun cream and any other consumables for your child. If you prefer to do this, simply let your Nursery Manager know and ask for a copy of our food from home policy. Opting out of consumable charges will never affect your child's funded place with us.

  • This is detailed on each nursery's fee sheet and is broken down as:

    • Food (all meals, snacks, drinks including formula milk):

    • Non-food consumables (nappies, wipes, nappy cream, sun cream, emergency medication): £2.00

    • Activities (extra-curricular activities at nursery):

    If your child attends 2 funded days per week, the monthly charge is shown clearly on the nursery fee sheet.

    If your child attends 3 funded days per week, this charge is equally clear on the nursery fee sheet (the third funded day is a partial day, so the consumable charge for that day is less). These amounts are calculated over 51 weeks and spread equally across 12 months.

  • No. We do not charge top-up fees for funded hours. The government funds the cost of your child's care; we do not charge more than the funding rate for that care. The consumable charge is a separate, voluntary charge for the physical items your child uses, which government funding is not designed to cover. The funded hours themselves remain completely free.

  • Yes. Your invoice will clearly show the consumable charges as separate line items:

    • Food charges

    • Non-food consumable charges

    • Activities charges

    This is in addition to the deduction shown for your funded hours and any balance owed for private (non-funded) hours. Private hours remain fully inclusive of all meals and activities.

  • If you accept the consumable charge, you will pay the applicable monthly amount as detailed on the nursery fee sheet. If you choose to opt out and provide your own items, there is no charge.

    Please speak to the Nursery Manager about your preferred arrangement before your child's funded hours begin.

  • Yes. Fees for private sessions, which are any hours you pay for above your funded entitlement, remain fully inclusive of all meals, snacks, drinks, and activities. The consumable charge only applies to government-funded hours.

  • The consumable charge will be applied from the start of your child's funded hours. You will receive an updated invoice showing the charges as separate line items. If you have any questions, please speak to your Nursery Manager.