Fees, Funding and Charging Policy
Early Years Entitlement Funding for 3 and 4 year olds
The term after your child is three they are eligible for Government funding for up to 570 hours childcare per year. They can attend for 15 hours per week, 38 weeks of the year or stretch their funding reducing their hours per week, but extending the weeks throughout the year. This depends on the availability of childcare hours throughout the holiday and must be arranged in advance as contracts are for term time only.You can use a minimum of 2.5 hours and a maximum of 10 hours a day between 7am and 7pm. The 15 hours can be shared between two providers.
30 hours Funding
An additional 15 hours funding is available for eligible families. Families MUST apply for this funding / check their ongoing eligibility EVERY term. They MUST supply the eligibility code for the provider to claim the funding from Devon County Council BEFORE the deadline. If you are earning under £100,000 a year and the single parent / both parents are working then you may be eligible. Please check your status through the government website as soon as possible and confirm to myself your code. www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Early Years Entitlement Funding for eligible 2 year olds.
2 year old funding entitles an eligible child to up to 15 hours of free childcare and early learning each week. Your child is eligible if your family is receiving certain benefits, has a household income under £16,190, or if your child has a disability, special educational need, is adopted or placed under a residency order.
Free childcare places start the term after your child’s second birthday, so don’t miss out. To find out more or to check if your child is eligible please visit: www.devon.gov.uk/twoyearoldfunding
Tax Free Childcare
Tax Free Childcare is a new online Government service. For every £8 a parent pays into their Childcare Account, the Government will add an extra £2 to their Childcare Account. Parents can then use that money to pay their Childcare provider.
Employer tax-free Childcare vouchers
I also accept childcare vouchers from your employer which is deducted through your wages. I currently accept through Computershare,edenred and the government vouchers but please discuss any alternative vouchers you may wish to use.
Funding
Parents must complete the Devon County Council information form and proof of date of birth for the child claiming (Passport or birth certificate) for the provider to see and take a copy of. Hours can be shared between providers. They must book the hours they wish to claim from me prior to the term so I can get paid accurately.
Childcare Tax Credit can be claimed to help with your childcare costs
Fees September 2019
Rates £5.00 per hour. (£6.00 per hour for unsociable hours.)
Discounted Session Rates Charged:
Day £43.00 8am - 5.30pm
After school session 3-5.30 £10 per session
Less hours can be accommodated by arrangement, but sorry the daily rate still applies.
Minimum hours (6 hours) can fit in with school day (due to outings).
Before 7.30am / after 6.30pm, by arrangement only - charged at the unsociable hourly rate
Childcare Vouchers accepted.
Early years Entitlement Funding available.
Fees are payable in advance and are payable even if your child is away with illness or absent for other reasons, as the place is booked for them and my costs remain the same. (as per the contract.)
Late Fees - If payment is not made within 30 days a LATE fee of £5 per day (from the original due date) will be applied and an administration charge of £30. In the event of Non-payment of fees I will take legal action and take the matter to court. Costs to be paid by the parent will then include the overdue fpayment, late fees, an administration charge, court costs and legal fees. If the amount remains unpaid this may result in a negative credit rating and a CCJ against the parents. I definitely do not want to do this but I have and I will pursue any money owed to me.
Amendment from September 2017:
Due to increasing costs and the new funding system I am breaking down my fees into 2 parts:
A childcare fee and a supplementary ‘package’ fee*
Above and beyond the care and activities provided I also provide a number of additional benefits that have always been included in my fees:
These include:
Outings - beach, park, woods, aquarium, Woodlands, Bumble, playgroups, entrance fees etc,
Transport for outings
Occasional Treats such as when on outings - hot chocolates, ice creams etc
Healthy snacks and drinks
Sundries such as art and craft supplies.
My new rate = £4.08 per hour childcare / .92p per hour ‘package’ fee = £5.00 per hour.
*This only affects those claiming funded hours because there is a shortfall between the government funded hourly rate and my current hourly rate.*
The discounted day rate of £43 a day still applies so the day rate would be £43 less the funded hours. You can only claim funded hours for the hours that the child actually attends on the regular / contracted hours.
Examples funded hours claimed;
8am - 5.30pm = 9.5 hours = £38.76 funded / £1.24 fee to pay
8.00 - 5.00 = 9 hours = £36.72 funded / £3.28 to pay
7.45 - 4.15 = 8.5 hours = £34.68 funded / £5.32 to pay
Please discuss in advance your funding requirements so I can claim the hours and get paid correctly for the term.
Policy amended May 2019. Package fee not a condition of taking funded place.