Fees and funding
Every fee, published here
You should not have to book a tour to find out what preschool costs. Everything we charge is on this page, with nothing hidden.
Our fees
The figures
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Unfunded hours | £12 per hour, not including early start or late finish |
| Lunch hour | £12, bring a packed lunch |
| Snack, per session | £1, optional |
| Snacks, full day | £2, optional |
| Early start from 7.30am | Chargeable, cost on asking |
| Late pick up until 6.00pm | Chargeable, cost on asking |
- Every child attends a minimum of 2 sessions (6 hours) each week, up to a maximum of 10 sessions (30 hours), subject to availability.
- We accept both 15 hour and 30 hour government funding.
- Hours attended beyond your funded hours are charged at £12 per hour.
- Snacks are optional at £1 per session or £2 for a full day. If you opt out, send a healthy snack from home, two for a full day.
Session times and patterns live on the sessions and term dates page. Early drop off is available from 7.30am and breakfast is provided. Late pick up is available until 6.00pm and a light tea is provided. Both are chargeable; ask us for a quote because the cost depends on the times you choose.
Funded hours
Funded childcare, in plain English
15 hours for all 3 and 4 year olds
Every child in England gets 15 funded hours a week from the term after their third birthday, during term time. There is no eligibility test. It happens automatically once you fill in one form with us.
30 hours for working families
Most working parents can claim 30 funded hours a week instead. Broadly, each parent needs to earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours a week at minimum wage and less than £100,000 a year. You apply on the government website and bring us the code. Our full day patterns are designed so 30 hours stretches across a real week here.
Funding for 2 year olds
Eligible working families can also claim funded hours for 2 year olds, and some 2 year olds qualify through other routes, for example where a family receives certain benefits. The checker below covers all of it.
Tax Free Childcare
For every £8 you pay into a government childcare account, the government adds £2, up to £2,000 per child per year. It works on top of funded hours and can cover the extras on this page.
We never guess your eligibility and neither should you. Check in five minutes at childcare.beststartinlife.gov.uk, then ring us and we will work out exactly what you would pay.
What that looks like here
- 15 funded hours covers five morning or five afternoon sessions a week, with nothing to pay but optional snacks.
- 30 funded hours covers five full days on the 8.45am to 2.45pm or 9.45am to 3.45pm patterns, with no lunch hour charge.
- Not sure? Ring us on 01732 840180 with your funding code and we will do the sums with you.
Discounts
Discounts
Discounts are not offered.
Paying
How and when to pay
Invoices are sent out at the beginning of each term, 6 in total over a school year, and are to be paid in full when received. Payment is by BACS.
If a payment is still outstanding at the end of the term you will be charged a late payment fee. If your child is absent for any reason you still pay your full fees.
Questions
Questions parents actually ask
Still doing sums? Bring them with you. We will work out your real weekly cost on the tour.
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