About Us

Pricing Policy

We believe in providing the highest possible quality care, this comes from the qualification and experience of our staff. Also the ratio of 1 adult to 5 children as opposed to the legal requirement of 1 adult to 8 children. We believe our ratio provides generous care and attention for every child that attends our Nursery. However, this does incur extra staffing costs, which are reflected in our pricing.

 

Invoicing and Payment

For parents that receive Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) of 15 of 30 hours;

  • Free Early Education Entitlement places are given on a first come first serve basis.
  • Lenham Nursery reserves the right to limited 30 hour places offered to maintain sustainability of business need.
  • You MUST complete and return a Parental Declaration Form issued each term.
  • Your child MUST attend the hours you wish to claim during Headcount week (2nd week of each new term) Lenham Nursery cannot claim for hours your child does not attend.
  • You are responsible for any wrap-around-hours “Parent paid hours”.

For parents that are not yet receiving funding or have additional wrap-around-care

  • Invoices are due in advance 7 days from invoice date unless a payment plan is in place.
  • Invoices are created each term (approx 12 weeks) 3 times per year.
  • Invoices will be emailed during the 2nd to last week of each term.
  • Payment Plans are available and will be calculated at weekly/monthly/ basis.
  • Payment Plans must be paid at the bringing of each week/month your child attends (in advance).
  • Payment arrangements for half term payment plans must be paid at the beginning of each new half term in advance.
  • You are at risk of defaulting wrap-around-hours for your child if there is an outstanding balance on your account moving forward into a new term.
  • Payments may be made via cash, or online banking.
  • We accept childcare vouchers or Tax-free Childcare.
  • Fees continue to be payable if a child is absent for any reason including illness or holidays taken during term time. The only exception is where the Nursery is forced to close at short notice in exceptional circumstances.
  • The Nursery requires 4 weeks’ notice in writing if you decide to withdraw your child from the provision.

Procedures for default on invoices

  • Accounts that are 5 working days Late, will receive a reminder letter.
  • 7 days preceding the first reminder letter, another reminder letter will be sent and £10 late payment fee will be added to your outstanding account.
  • Any wrap-around hours will cease immediately to prevent further charges at this time.
  • Outstanding balance cleared your wrap-around hours will resume.
  • Outstanding balance after one term will result in £20 late payment fee and your account past to our legal representatives to start proceedings to claim the debt.
  • Failure to pay your outstanding balance after one term The Management Committee reserves the right to suspend or withdraw a child’s place over non-payment of fee and will result in your child’s funded and wrap-around place given to the next child on the waiting list.

Contributions

‘Voluntary contributions’ and ‘donation’ are added to all invoices 35p per session – Contribution to the day to day care costs for each child for consumables eg. Suncream, Nappies, Nappy Sacks, and Wipes. Donation to craft and activity materials e.g paint, glue, paper, playdough ingredients.

New Children to the Setting

All agreed sessions with wrap-around hours will be confirmed in writing and secured with a refundable deposit of £tbc through your half term balance. Please pay by BACS to CAF Bank Account No. 00025101 Sort Code 40 52 40

Government Funding

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Free Early Education Entitlement

Free for 2 Entitlement of 15 hours per week is offered to children from the term after their 2nd birthday (means tested criteria to fulfil).
Free Universal Early Education Entitlement of 15 hours is offered to all Children aged 3 – 4 the term after their 3rd birthday.

*Free Extended Early Education Entitlement of 15 hours is offered to children aged 3 – 4 the term after their 3rd birthday to parents who fulfil the required criteria. Lenham Nursery requires you to give your 11 digit code to start your claim the term before you wish to claim and update your childcare account three times per year to maintain validation of entitlement. Please see termly newsletter for cut of dates.

* Limited Spaces available for 30 hours Free Early Years entitlement
Further information can be sourced at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Tax-Free Childcare

If you’re a working parent, you could get £2 from the government for every £8 you pay for childcare. If your eligible, you’ll get a Tax-Free Childcare account. It works a bit like a bank account, with you and the government paying money in. You can then use this to send money straight to your childcare provider’s bank account.

When you apply, you’ll be considered for both these services through the same application. You’ll only be asked to decide which support you want if you’re on tax credits or using a childcare voucher or salary sacrifice scheme. You should check what help you could get with childcare costs, using the childcare calculator. This will help you decide which is best for you. https://childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk/

Late Pick Up

In the event of a late pick-up we reserve the right to make a charge of £20 per hour to cover staff overtime costs that will be incurred.

Sessions

All increases or decreases in hours must be discussed with the manager in advance, who will advise you, if your requirements can be met. Any additional hours will be invoiced from the first day of the new sessions.

Parents are required to give Lenham Nursery 4 weeks’ notice in writing if you wish to withdraw your child from Lenham Nursery. Parents will be responsible for any ‘Parent paid hours’ during the notice period. This does not apply to a child accessing a completely free Early Education Entitlement place.

Trips, Visits and Special Events

From time to time we offer parents and children the opportunity for special educational or leisure visits. Parents may be required to attend these occasions with their children to maintain ratios. In order to make these events possible voluntary contributions to cover the cost of transport or entrance fees would be appreciated. We will endeavour to give as much notice as possible for these events. Lenham Nursery will normally be closed when such a trip is taking place.