Fees & Funding

Fees

Please contact the individual setting for an up to date price list.

Fees are inclusive of:

  • Freshly prepared healthy home cooked food including:
    • Breakfast
    • Mid morning snack
    • Two course Lunch
    • Afternoon Tea
  • Extra curricular classes from our visiting ballet teacher, Spanish or French teacher (depending on setting) and football coach.
  • Elm Cottage personal nursery rucksack.
  • Wet wipes are provided however parents are required to provide nappies and cream.
  • Recommended daily portions of milk for all children however formula is provided by parents.

Fees have been calculated on a yearly basis taking into account Bank Holidays and the Christmas closure. Fees are then divided by twelve to give a monthly fee. There are, therefore, twelve equal monthly payments due each year.

Fees are expected to be paid by the 20th of each month in advance of childcare. 

For example for February fees they would need to be paid in full by the 20th of January.

Our preferred method of payment is by standing order.

Late Fee Charges.

We have a daily late fee charge of £5 per day for any late payments received after the 20th of the month. Should payment not be made by the first of the following month you could risk losing your child’s place.  We are always happy to discuss and help families where possible so please speak to the setting manger with any concerns.

 

 

Help Paying for Child Care

Free/subsidised places

15 hours free Childcare

Currently all children from the age of three are eligible for 15 hours of free childcare per week for 38 weeks per year.

At Elm Cottage we open from 8.00am-6.00pm five days a week and for 51 weeks of the year. Thus catering only for families who need our service all year. We therefore operate the free places system as subsided places. The funding we receive for term time only is stretched over the whole year and divided by twelve, reducing the monthly fee payable throughout the year. This makes it easier for parents to set up regular standing order payments with their bank.  Some two year olds will also be eligible for 15 funded hours a week for 38 weeks, although parents will have to apply see here. ​

30 hours free Childcare

You may be able to receive a further 15 hours of free/ subsidised Child Care (totalling 30hrs) available for 3-4 year olds.

To receive this funding parents will need to apply to HMRC  for eligibility click here.

Tax Free Child Care

This is an online savings account and for every £8.00 you put in the government adds a further £2.00 to a maximum of £2,000 per child.  For eligibility click here.

Click here for useful information on how to use Tax Free Childcare.

This article is a Q&A with HMRC regarding TFC payments with a number to call should payments be delayed-0300 123 4097

When using Tax Free Childcare please be aware that the fee’s still need to reach our account by the 20th of the month in advance. For example for February fees they would need to be paid in full by the 20th of January.  We have found there are often delays when paying by TFC or Vouchers so please factor this in when meeting deadlines to avoid any nursery late fee charges.

Child Care Vouchers:

Some employers provide assistance towards the cost of nursery fees. Employees can choose to have some of their salary paid in child care vouchers. In doing this you do not have to pay tax and NI on the portion of the salary that is paid in vouchers.

When using vouchers please be aware that the fee’s still need to reach our account by the 20th of the month in advance. For example for February fees they would need to be paid in full by the 20th of January.  We have found there are often delays when paying by TFC or Vouchers so please factor this in when meeting deadlines to avoid any nursery late fee charges.