Fees and Funding
Our nurseries are unique settings and provide an outstanding experience and service and our various fee and funding structures reflect this.
We recommend you book a viewing at your preferred nursery, see the features for yourself and discuss the most appropriate funding and pricing options with the manager. The booking and pricing structures are a mix of fixed, flexible, and hourly rates, allowing you to make the choice about when and how much you use the nurseries.
Why choose us?
Our nurseries are family run, with family values, and are strategically led by a fully qualified teacher with over 20 years’ experience in the Early Years sector, who monitors and overseas the curriculum, education and safeguarding
Our nurseries are run day to day by exceptional managers, who go above and beyond daily for the children, staff and nursery. They have full and relevant childcare qualifications to up to Level 5 (degree) and have over 30 years’ experience between them! They have extensive knowledge of how to provide the best support for the children and staff
Our friendly, caring staff are qualified to Level 3 or above (or working towards it) therefore dedicated to being the best they can be to provide the best for the children
Our staff are all Paediatric First Aid trained (they do not have to be) ensuring the children are always in safe hands. All staff receive regular training regarding Safeguarding, and several staff members are trained to Level 3 to ensure there is always someone who can deal with any concerns or allegations
Our settings have dedicated SENCo who are further trained special needs education, who work closely with outside agencies and ensure we provide inclusive settings where all children thrive
FREE 15 or 30 funded hours – you will never be charged for these hours
FREE termly events for families such as stay and plays, Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Grandparent’s afternoon tea etc
FREE hours to use in the summer holidays for those who are eligible (T&C apply)
We also provide...
Book lending scheme and home learning packs
Stay and play sessions
Yoga sessions – for Mindfulness and Wellbeing
‘Wake and Shake’ sessions and ‘Healthy Movers’ – Physical activity sessions
Boogie Mites – Music and Movement sessions linked to learning phonics
Literacy and Maths sessions
Mid-morning and afternoon snack
Spontaneous trips in the local community
Digital learning with adults through on tablets
Digital Learning Journey for parents to access
T&Cs
Term and Conditions can be found in detail on the Registration Form and our 'Booking, Funding and Fee Policy'
Registration
A completed 'Registration Form' and additional fees are required to secure your child's place. Please speak to the managers when enquiring about which additional fees will be relevant to you
Booking Patterns
A minimum booking of 2 x 3 hour sessions are required to enable children to settle and become familiar with the setting and their key workers. Booking patterns are fixed from the start dates but can be changed with notice. Ad hoc sessions can be booked at late notice subject to availability
Invoices
Fees for booked sessions are always payable, there is no reduction in fees for non attendance. They are paid monthly in advance and an invoice is emailed the month before. Fees can be paid by BACs, Childcare Voucher, or Tax Free Childcare account.
Discounts and Offers
Some discounts are available and from time to time, special offers will occur. Please speak to the manager at time of enquiring about any discounts that may be relevant.
Non Payment
Please speak to a manager if you need support with paying for your childcare before any additional 'late fees' are added. We do not want you to accrue any bills you can not pay. We reserve the right to terminate your child's place in the event of non payment, and debt collection agencies will be used to recover unpaid fees.
Termination
Termination of a nursery place will require 4 weeks notice in writing. Any paid fees are non refundable if leaving prior to the end of your notice period.
The nursery reserves the right to terminate any agreement with immediate effect in the case of non payment of fees, a parent or carer displaying abusive, intimidating, threatening or otherwise inappropriate behaviour towards the nursery, our staff or children.
Government Funding Schemes
Government Funded session are available to eligible 2, 3 & 4 year olds. The Government Funding schemes are a great support for families with childcare costs and can be used in conjunction with other money saving schemes such as Working Tax Credit or the Tax Free Childcare account.
We, as a registered childcare provider, can claim funding on your behalf for childcare however, this is only intended to cover the cost of education and childcare, not additional services or consumables. The Government allows settings to charge additional fees these.
It is the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure eligibility is maintained for the schemes, and some proof will be needed by the settings to process the claims.
Click on the link to learn more about funding.
Funding for 2 Year Olds
We accept Government Funding or 2 year olds and this can be taken as 15 hours 38 weeks of the year (because little ones need a break from all that learning at the end of term too!)
Funding for 2 year olds is means tested and will be applicable the term after your child's 2nd birthday
Funding for 3 & 4 Year Olds
All 3 year olds automatically receive 'universal' funding for 15 hours, 38 weeks a year and we provide this term time only.
Some 3 & 4 year olds may be entitled to 15 hours 'extended' funding. This is 30 hours of funding aimed at working parents and as so, we stretch this funding for 22 hours a week for the whole year.
Quality Premium
At Little Pickles we are passionate and committed to providing 'outstanding' settings...our children deserve the best. We charge a 'quality premium' for additional services and consumables which contribute towards how we go above and beyond what is expected of us, providing 'outstanding' value and quality to our families and children. Please speak to the managers about the fee, what it entails and what it would mean to you when you get in touch.
Additional ways to make savings on childcare fees
We appreciate that childcare can be expensive, and understanding options can be overwhelming and confusing but there are ways to make the costs more manageable.
There is additional Government support available and some can also be used in conjunction with others, as well as being used with Funding Schemes. Click on the link to see what options are available to you, you could get up to 85% of your childcare costs paid by the Government. Other support may include...
Universal Credit
Child Tax/Working Tax Credit
Tax Free Childcare Account
