Early Learning Funding Entitlement
Downham Nursery School is listed with Norfolk County Council as an approved provider to offer the Early Education funding entitlement for all children from the age of 9 months onwards has agreed to meet the conditions of the current Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities.
The nursery is registered to accept the 15 hours offer for children aged 9 months and onwards who are eligible and is now also registered for the 30 hours offer to eligible parents of 3 and 4 year olds.
The Early Education Funding (Grant) is available to all children aged 3 years and over from the term after their 3rd birthday, for the 15 hours universal offering.
Government funding is intended to cover the delivery, of 15 hours or 30 hours free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the cost of meals, consumables, additional hours, or additional services.
The Nursery is open daily for 8am-6pm for 51 weeks of the year. (For full fees please see sessions and fees sheet)
The Nursery offers the free Early Education Funding which is available for 38 weeks of the year.
The 15 hours free entitlement is offered as follows:
Sessions of 3 hours – a morning session 8.30am-11.30am or afternoon - 12.30pm- 3.30pm
5 mornings or 5 afternoon sessions- A total of 15 hours free Early Learning (Grant)
The lunch hour 11.30-12.30 is not included in the free hours, parents can take their child home or pay for the additional hour if they wish, the fee for this is £10
Additional hours are charged per half hour (For full fees please see sessions and fees sheet)
The 30 hour free entitlement is offered as follows:
For example: 8.30am-11.30am grant sessions, lunch 11.30-12.30, charged at £5 per half hour afternoon session 12.30-3.30pm, 6 hours a day 5 days a week= 30 hours free grant sessions a week.
Parents receive an invoice showing the free grant hours claimed on their behalf for the term. Any additional hours are charged at the rate stated in our fees information.
If a parent/carer is not satisfied that their child is receiving the free entitlement correctly, a complaint can be raised directly to the nursery manager.
The Registration fee of £15.00 is payable when we have confirmed a place for your child, this is not refundable. For families claiming a funding entitlement, this registration fee is voluntary. Places at our nursery are in high demand and we would request that you do not register your child with multiple nurseries as if your child does not join us, another child who wanted a place could have been told that we have no availability. We do not ask for deposit (£0 charge). We ask families to provide a packed lunch for their child attending during the lunch hour. Morning and afternoon snacks are charged at 60p per snack. If parents are unable to pay this charge they should contact the nursery manager to discuss an alternative option, for example families are welcome to provide their child with a healthy snack from home instead.
The nursery is open all year round, with the nursery offering optional holiday care facilities for working parents who require care all year around. Parents are sent a separate booking form for holiday care and are invoiced for this separately. There is no Early Learning Funding (Grant) available for holiday care.
Payment
Payment is made in advance. The Nursery will accept payment in all Childcare Vouchers, Cash, cheques and direct debit.
The information on how to pay by internet banking is included on our Nursery invoice.
Payment terms are as follows-
The nursery invoices parents each term: September-December
January- March
April- July
Each invoice shows the full amount payable, the invoice also gives parents the option to pay the amount in 3 instalments (usually on the 4th of each month), which will also include an administration charge.
Parents who withdraw their child from the nursery are required to give one month’s notice in writing to the nursery manager. Or pay a month’s fees in lieu of notice.
If payment is not made we follow the procedure as illustrated below:-
After one week a reminder copy of the invoice is sent.
After Two weeks, if no payment is made,
A reminder letter is sent with a copy of the Invoice and a late fees payment of £10 is applied
If no payment is made after several reminders, we inform the parent that their child cannot attend until the debt has been cleared. A warning letter is sent advising that the debt will be passed to our agents for recovery.
All nursery fees are reviewed every school year (September) and a copy of the fees are sent to all parents before the start of the summer holidays to provide 6 weeks notice and give the opportunity to discuss any concerns with the nursery manager.
Parents are still required to pay the full fees for their child’s non-attendance due to illness or holidays. Except in exceptional circumstances when the child is absent for a prolonged period due to ill health. The parents are invited to a meeting to agree a retainer fee to keep their child’s place open.
The nursery is closed for all bank holidays and staff development days which are not invoiced for.