Unfunded Sessions provided above the Government Funded Nursery Education Entitlement will be charged as follows:

• 2 year olds - £8.00 per hour
• 3 and 4 year olds - £6.50 per hour (this rate applies from the term after a child’s 3rd birthday)

If your child stays on over the lunch period there is also a lunch cover fee that will be charged on a pro rata basis depending on how long the lunch period is at the setting your child attends.

The costs of each session will be clearly indicated on your booking form and invoice.

• Breakfast club provision (Lawns Nursery only) - £5.50

• 3 and 4 year old children are entitled to 15 hours of free preschool education for 38 weeks a year. This is effective the first term after their 3rd birthday: September, January or April.
• When the parents of 3 or 4 year olds choose a Biggleswade Academy Early Years setting, we will apply for the funding on their behalf. - 30 hours of preschool funding may be available. Parents can check if they qualify by using the Childcare Choices website (www.childcarechoices.gov.uk).
• 2 year old children may also attend a Biggleswade Academy Early Years setting. If eligible for 2 year old funding, we will apply for the funding on their behalf. 2 year olds who are not eligible for funding will be invoiced for their sessions.
• Please note that session requests are not guaranteed until you receive a confirmation email.
• To ensure a high quality provision, fees remain payable during periods of non-attendance and holiday during term time.
• All fees must be paid in advance. If fees are not paid in advance the Trust will follow its late fees procedure.

• The Free Early Education Entitlement is a government grant which enables all 3 and 4 year olds to receive free nursery education, with approved providers, from the term after their 3rd birthday until they reach compulsory school age.
• FEEE is also available for some 2 year olds whose family meet a specified financial criteria; or where there is an identified special educational need or disability; or the child receives Disability Living Allowance; or the child is looked after by the Council or there is an adoption order.
• Currently, a child is entitled to a maximum of 570 hours of Free Early Education per year which must be taken over a minimum of 38 weeks. At Biggleswade Academy Early Years settings, this is equivalent to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year during term time.
• Eligible working families can also apply for up to 30 hours per week of Free Early Education, a maximum of 1,140 hours per year.
• Children must attend for a minimum of 2 days per week to receive their 15 hours or 30 hours entitlement.
• If parents require more than their 15 or 30 hours free entitlement per week, additional sessions will be payable at the unfunded rate. You will be invoiced for the cost of these sessions.
• Session times are fixed and fees will not be reduced if parents collect their child before the end of a session.
• When a child is eligible to receive FEEE, parents will be required to sign a termly ‘Parent Declaration Form’ stating the number of FEEE hours their child receives at a Biggleswade Academy setting. This form must be completed and signed in order for a child to receive their free hours.
• Parents will be reminded to return their completed form however, failure or refusal to sign and return the form by the specified deadline will result in loss of FEEE funding and parents will be liable for the full cost of their child’s place at the current rates and will include the four weeks notice period (if applicable). Non payment of fees will be subject to the ‘Late payments fees’ procedure.

• Fees are invoiced in advance of each month and are payable by the last working day of the month preceding the care being provided i.e. December Invoices are due for payment by the last working day of November. If your child starts part way through a month you will receive an invoice immediately for the part-month.
• Payment can be made by Bank Transfer quoting your invoice number as your reference. Our bank details are printed on the invoice. We also accept payments by Childcare Vouchers and from Tax Free Childcare Accounts.
• If parents/carers have any difficulty paying their fees, it is essential that they inform the finance team straight away. We are always happy to discuss alternative payment plans in circumstances of genuine financial difficulty.

• Where fees remain unpaid by the 5th day of the month we reserve the right to withdraw any non-funded hours immediately until payment is received.
• If fees remain unpaid by the 7th day of the month a £10 late payment fee will be levied per child.
• 14 Days – An electronic reminder sent to parent/carer for fees with 7 days to pay.
• 21 Days - Final reminder sent to parent/carer for fees with a further 7 days to pay along with a formal warning from the Trust that the child’s place will be withdrawn if either payment of the full outstanding amount has not been received or an agreed payment plan to pay the debt has not been put in place.
• If fees remain outstanding, the child’s place will be withdrawn and re-allocated and if any monies are owed, the Trust reserves the right to proceed with the small claims court to recover the debt.

• Parents may choose to move their child to another setting.
• Parents may choose to reduce the number of hours per week a child attends the setting, but will still be liable to pay the same weekly fee.
• Parents/Carers must give 4 weeks written notice if they intend to remove a child from the setting or reduce their number of hours.
• Our staffing levels are determined by the number of children attending the setting.
• When notice is not given, fees in lieu of notice must still be paid.

• Refunds will only be given if an overpayment has been made and it is not possible to carry the fee over to the next week, month or half-term.
• Refunds are not given if your child is absent from their planned time at the setting, such as for illness or holidays, whether or not prior notice has been given.
• If the setting is unable to open for a day, as much notice will be given to parents/carers as possible. We aim to give at least 24 hours notice of such a situation.