Little Acorns Moulton

Sessions, Admissions, Fees and Funding

Admissions and Fees

Registration

When an enquiry regarding places is made, parents or carers will be given all the relevant information, including:

  • Information regarding availability of places
  • Details of the Admissions and Fees policy
  • Application to join, registration form, Tapestry and parental consent forms, all of which must be returned before a child can start.

If a place is available, the child will be able to attend as soon as the completed forms are received, including a copy of the child’s birth certificate and proof of address.

If no places are available, the parent(s)/carer will be informed, and the child’s name will be added to the waiting list. As soon as suitable places become available parents will be informed.

Session Structure

  • Breakfast Club – 8:00am – 9:00am (Monday 8:00am – 9:15am)
  • Morning Session – Monday 9:15am – 12:15pm
                              Tuesday – Friday 9:00am – 12:15pm
  • Lunch Session – 12:15pm – 12:45pm
  • Afternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm
  • After School Club – 3:45pm – 4:15pm

Fee structure

Fees are charged as follows (Privately paid) …

  • Breakfast Club – £6.00
  • Morning Session – £20.00 (Includes consumable charge)
  • Lunch Session – £3.50
  • Afternoon Session – £20.00 (Includes consumable charge)
  • After School Club – £5.00

Please note: When accessing above 30 hours government funding; Monday Morning Session and Monday Lunch Session are privately paid sessions.

We recognise that childcare can be costly, so we encourage eligible parents or carers to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit or Tax-Free Childcare. We are registered to take childcare vouchers from a variety of sources, information about these can be obtained from the management.

  • Fees are payable monthly in advance, within 7 days from date of invoice
  • A £20 fee will be charged for any late payment of privately paid for sessions unless an agreement is in place
  • Fees can be paid by electronic transfer or cash
  • Fees are charged for booked sessions whether the child attends or not
  • Fees are charged for term times only, bank holidays and training days are not charged.

 

Consumable charge

A £2.00 consumable charge is charged for each morning and afternoon session booked. This charge is compulsory for all privately paid for sessions and is voluntary for all Government Funded sessions. Please see below a breakdown of the consumable charge…

Snack and Food Consumables (£1.00 per day, per morning and afternoon session) – All children are able to access snack time throughout the morning and afternoon sessions, each day. Snack consists of a variety of carbohydrate foods, which children can choose from, and a choice of fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition, children are provided with fresh drinking water and milk, milk alternatives are available to support allergies and preferences. Opt-out options available.

Non-Food Consumables (50p per day, per morning and afternoon session) – This consists of the setting providing items such as wipes to ensure the cleanliness of all children, spare nappies when needed, nappy cream, disposable gloves for toilet accidents, nappy changes and handling any bodily fluids and in the summer providing suncream.

Activities and Resources (50p per morning and afternoon session) – This supports us in providing extra-curricular activities that are over and above the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) provision. Included in this cost are: celebrations such as all children’s birthdays, Christmas, Easter, other cultural events and celebrations and providing a graduation ceremony at the end of the year. In addition, learning opportunities such as purchasing caterpillars to care for and watch grow and change, cooking and baking and growing and planting outdoors.

Should you wish to opt out of some or all of these charges, please speak to a member of staff where the following alternative arrangements can be put in place:

Parents will be required to provide a morning and/or afternoon snack which is fully prepared and reflective of a balanced diet, bring in wipes, nappy bags, nappies and disposable gloves.

 

 

Using Your Government Funding Entitlement at Little Acorns Pre-School

Eligibility of children to the free entitlement
for 2, 3- and 4-year-olds

  • For 3- and 4-year-olds eligibility is based solely on the birth date of the child, which entitles them to 15 hours government funding. The eligible birth dates are shown in the table below:

A child born between:

Birthday

Start of Eligibility (Funded from)

1st April to 31st August (inclusive)

The start of the Autumn funding block (September) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age.

1st September to 31st December (inclusive)

The start of the Spring funding block (January) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age.

1st January to 31st March (inclusive)

The start of the Summer funding block (April) following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age.
  • All 2-year-olds who have met the eligibility for 2 Year Funding, can continue to receive a place once they have taken it up, even if there is a change in the child’s circumstances, until the child reaches the date stated in the Free Entitlement table when they can begin accessing the universal offer. This provides a seamless transition between funded programmes.

The following dates apply to children who are accessing a place based on 2 Year Funding eligibility:

BirthdayStart of Eligibility (Funded from)
1st April to 31st August (inclusive)The start of the Autumn funding block (September) following their 2nd birthday until they become eligible for the Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds.
1st September to 31st December (inclusive)The start of the Spring funding block (January) following their 2nd birthday until they become eligible for the Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds.
1st January to 31st March (inclusive)The start of the Summer funding block (April) following their 2nd birthday until they become eligible for the Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds.

Delivery of the Funding

  • The Free Entitlement is designed to offer 3- and 4-year-old children, access to a maximum of 15 hours of Funded Early Learning provision per week for 38 weeks of the year.
  • The Working Parents Entitlement is designed to offer children from the age of 9 months, access to a maximum of 30 hours of Funded Early Learning provision per week for 38 weeks of the year.
  • From the start of the funding block following their 2nd/3rd birthday or after becoming eligible to 30 Hours Working Parents Entitlement, until they reach compulsory school age, every child is entitled to a maximum of 570 hours (15 hours per week) or 1140 (30 hours per week) a year split into 3 funding blocks of funded Early Learning over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year.
  • The Free Childcare and Education for 2-year-olds is a targeted entitlement for 2-year-olds and a universal offer. For children accessing a place via the Online Eligibility Checker (OEC) route, each eligible child is entitled to a maximum of 570 hours split into 3 funding blocks of Funded Early Learning a year over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year and starting with the funding block following their second birthday.
  • In addition to the Online Eligibility Checker there are separate criteria for discretionary places. These places can be accessed as soon as the place has been approved by West Northamptonshire Council, and the child has reached their 2nd birthday.

Funding Structure

The following guidelines apply to delivery of the Free Childcare and Education for 2-year-olds, the Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds and 30 Hours Working Parents Entitlement.

Free Childcare and Education for 2-year-olds

Up to 15 hours funding per week to be accessed from the following options…

  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 9:00am – 12:45pm

Or

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 12:45pm – 3:45pm

Or

  • Two Days 9:00am – 3:45pm (Tuesday – Friday)

Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds

Up to 15 hours funding per week to be accessed from the following options…

  • Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 9:00am – 12:45pm

Or

  • Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday & Friday – 12:45pm – 3:45pm

Or

  • Two Days 9:00am – 3:45pm (Tuesday – Friday)

The Working Parents Entitlement

Up to 30 hours funding per week to be accessed during the following times…

DaySessions
MondayAfternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm
TuesdayMorning Session – 9:00am – 12:15pm
Lunch Session – 12:15pm – 12:45pm
Afternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm
WednesdayMorning Session – 9:00am – 12:15pm
Lunch Session – 12:15pm – 12:45pm
Afternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm
ThursdayMorning Session – 9:00am – 12:15pm
Lunch Session – 12:15pm – 12:45pm
Afternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm
FridayMorning Session – 9:00am – 12:15pm
Lunch Session – 12:15pm – 12:45pm
Afternoon Session – 12:45pm – 3:45pm

Funding the provision for 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds and charges

  • Families are not required to pay any hourly top up rates, for any element of their child’s entitlement which is being funded by any of the above programmes. 
  • We do not charge families fees in advance for the Free Childcare and Education for 2-year-olds or the Free Entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds to be refunded at a later date. 
  • We charge for additional sessions that families choose to take outside of the free entitlement.
  • Monday Morning Sessions and Monday Lunch Sessions are available to all children at a privately paid rate, which is detailed in the above fee structure, when accessing above 30 hours government funding.