Admissions
Admissions will be treated on a first come, first served basis. Children may attend Totterdown Preschool when they reach 2 years of age and can remain with us until they are due to make the transition into school. We intake at the beginning of the three terms in January, April and September and will aim to accommodate each child from the date specified on their application form . We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, but ask that children who are two attend for a minimum of 6 hours per week over two sessions and for children who are three and above, 15 hours per week. This is to ensure that children benefit from continuity and stability in their learning environment. A notice period of at least 6 weeks is required should your child need to leave. If you wish to adapt their sessions then this needs to be communicated before the start of the new term of which these changes will take place. We accept all types of funding.
Forms
Charges and funded entitlement
Totterdown Preschool adheres to a transparent policy regarding charges and fees. Our policy is to ensure all parties are aware of what charges are made and what they cover. We believe they are competitive, fair and ensure that the service provided to your child/ren is above and beyond the government’s
recommendation ‘of the delivery of high-quality education through the EYFS’.
Totterdown preschool complies with the EYFS and Surrey Provider Agreement and the terms set out within them. It is agreed between Totterdown Preschool and Surrey on the provider agreement that “Government funding is intended to cover the costs to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of funded, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, consumables, additional hours or additional services”.
Therefore the ‘consumable fee’ applied is for the above and not a ‘top up fee’ or the difference between our normal charge and the amount received from Surrey County Council to deliver funded places.
Totterdown Preschool charges an admissions fee of £50 that is payable when you complete and hand in the registration forms. Without this payment we cannot put your child on our register. This can be paid, either in cash or via bank transfer, and will be refunded/partly refunded at the end of your time with us.
Therefore, charges beyond funding are as follows:
These charges are reviewed termly and are subject to change.
Totterdown Preschool accepts all types of funding, and a *consumable fee is applied at the rate of £1.25 per hour.
Additional Services per week
All children will take part in a range of additional services each week, and parents will be asked to pay for these, if they occur on the day that their child attends.
Totterdown preschool complies with the EYFS and Surrey Provider Agreement and the terms set out within them. It is agreed between Totterdown Preschool and Surrey on the provider agreement that ‘(Extra-curricular activities and outings): These are additional services and parents can expect to pay for these, however providers should be mindful of the cost to parents’.
The additional services have been calculated as being £12 per child per week, in addition to the consumable fees stated above.
These prices are subject to change and review.
All charges will be itemised for reasons of transparency, on your termly invoice. This invoice will be emailed to you, and you can pay it as a whole, in two half termly payments or monthly. There is a cut-off date each term, when all outstanding payments need to be made. If there are still outstanding payments after this date then Totterdown Preschool reserve the right to charge a late fee of £50, this will increase by £10 for each day it is not paid.
Funding
Universal funding runs from the term after a child turns 3 and provides 15 hours of early funded education. Working parents funding for both 2-year-olds and 3- year-olds may run from the term after turning 9 months old and can also provide an additional 15 hours of early funded education. If a child’s birthday falls during the middle of a term, then any new charges will not be applied until the term after their birthday. This is also applicable to our charging rates.
All children who are accessing the 3 year old funding must do a minimum of 12 hours over a minimum of 2 days.
All children who are accessing the 2 year old funding must do a minimum of 6 hours over a minimum of 2 days.
Please note: if you are eligible for working parent funding for 3 and 4 year olds, you should use the universal element of this first, followed by the working parent part. This is ensures that if you fall out of being eligible for working parent funding, then you will still be able to claim 15 hours under the universal claim.
If you choose to change providers mid term, then please be advised, Totterdown Preschool will hold onto your childs funding until the following term.
Once days are chosen, then these cannot be changed mid-term, and any change is subject to availability and at the discretion of the preschool. Swapping funded days is also not permitted. Totterdown Preschool reserve the right to charge an admin fee of £50 for any changes that are made.
TOTTERDOWN PRESCHOOL CHARGING BREAKDOWN
(Please note we require all 3-year-olds to access at least 12 hours per week over two days and 2 years olds at least 6 hours per week over 2 sessions)
The below chart gives you an outline of fees, for both a privately paid place and a funded place with consumables.
*Admission fee: this covers the cost of registering your child and receiving a welcome pack, including jumper, bag and bottle. Should you decide that these are unwanted then confirm on the registration form and £50 will be deducted from your final invoice should no outstanding monies be owed. If you decide that you would like the pack, then £10 will be deducted from
your final invoice should no outstanding monies be owed. Please note failure to turn up and commence your registered place will result in the refund being withheld.
*Consumable fee is the enhanced provision that we provide to give the children an enriched experience: this includes nappies, nappy bags and wipes, daily snacks, experience days i.e. visiting professions; extracurricular sessions i.e. yoga; phonics; ingredients for cooking and enhanced messy play; celebration resources i.e. Christmas, graduation, pancake day, Easter treats, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, etc.
*Forest school days are on Wednesdays and Thursdays, should you not wish for your child to participate then then please consider your child not attending those days. Priority for these days will be given to children who wish to attend forest school.
*Please note that whilst the above charges are voluntary, there is an expectation that parents will pay, as should even a small minority of parents choose not to pay and we cannot reach a sustainable level of
income, we will face closure. Please note that no refunds will be given for sickness or for unexpected closures as resources are bought in advance and if suppliers still need to be paid. If you are planning to go on holiday and are able to give us a terms written
notice then we can deduct payment from your invoice.
For children claiming EYPP or FEET we offer an alternative provision, please come and speak to us.
