Funding Policy 2026

At Shepperton Organic Day Nursery provided there is availability we offer funded places for 9 months-4 years old children. Government funding only covers the cost of the provision and the delivery the Early Years Foundation Stage during the funded hours and not the cost of essentials required for your child’s safe and healthy development in the stimulating environment we provide where children have amazing opportunities to learn and explore.

At this nursery we do not charge parents for food or any extras during the funded hours.

Universal Funding

All 3 and 4-year-old children of qualifying age are entitled to a Universal Entitlement place of up to 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year during term time, regardless of their family circumstances, income level or whether they are working. Children become eligible for a funded place from the first school term after their third birthday and remain eligible up until the term after their fifth birthday or when they start a school Reception Class place, whichever is the sooner.

Extended Free Entitlement Funding (FE)

Provided they are eligible working parents of 3 and 4 year old children can claim 15 hours Extended Free Entitlement funding in addition to 15 hours Universal Funding, bringing the total to 30 Hours funding.

Working Parents Entitlement (WPE)

9 months-3 years old children become eligible to receive a total of 30 hours funding from the start of the next full term after turning 9 months old or following their second or third birthdays. For example, a child born between:

  • 1st January and 31st March will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from the 1st April.
  • 1st April and 31st August will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from the 1st September.
  • 1st September and 31st December will be eligible for the Free Entitlement from the 1st January.

In order to claim Funding Entitlement:

  • Both parents are working (or the sole parent is working in a single-parent family). This includes parents who are employed and self-employed.
  • Each parent earns a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage, and less than £100,000 per year.

Delivery of Early Years Funding

At Shepperton Organic Day Nursery, we offer funded places to eligible 9 months-5 years old children subject to availability. In line with government requirements these hours are offered in blocks over set days as outlined below.

Funded offer: 3 hrs 45 mins (15 hours funding) or 7 hrs and 25 mins (30 Hours Funding) over 3 days.

Details of funded and non-funded hours available:

  • 11 hrs and 10 mins (15 hours funding) over 3 days for 3 year olds and over

  • 7 hrs and 30 mins (30 Hours Funding) over 3 days for children under the age of 3 years old

  •  7 hrs and 30 min ( 30 Hours Funding) over 3 days for 4 year olds and over

i. Where any EYFE funding (Universal 15 Hours or Extended 30 Hours) is not received by the Nursery (in whole or in part), or the application rejected by the local authority for whatever reason, Parents are responsible for paying all amounts due to the Nursery.

ii. Where a child starts at the nursery in the Summer Term (i.e April-July), the funding will be divided to include the summer school holidays.

iii. Where a funded place is agreed to commence midway through a term and funding has been allocated and paid to another provider prior, it is the Parents’ responsibility to request the funding to be released from the previous provider so that funding can be applied to their child’s nursery fees for the remainder of the term at Shepperton Organic Day Nursery .In the absence of this arrangement it will be the parents’ responsibility to pay the requisite full fees.

iv. Where a place is terminated, depending on the time of year of the end of that Notice Period, adjustments are made by the accountant for over or under-allocation of funding due to the Spread Calculation.

v. We permit splitting of EYFE Hours between the Nursery and other providers, at the discretion and specific prior approval of the Head Teacher. vi. Where a child leaves Nursery midway through a term, funding won’t be released to the child’s new nursery ( except in exceptional circumstances, see Declaration Form).

vii. Where a child starts nursery mid-term, the nursery will allocate the received funding amount to the remaining months of that term.

viii. All funded places are subject to availability and at the discretion of the Director.

Monthly Fees and Invoices

• At Shepperton Organic Day Nursey parents are invoiced monthly for the unfunded hours. EYFE rules require the funded hours to be shown at £0.00 value. At this nursery we only charge children for unfunded hours. Therefore, invoices will only show fees for non-funded hours. Extra, ad hoc session bookings, and any extras will be shown on the monthly invoice either in arrears or in advance, depending on the time of the month in which they are requested and/or taken.

• The Nursery ‘spreads’ the total annual EYFE amount over 12 months. This is called the ‘Spread Calculation’. We do this because the Nursery invoices monthly not termly; working Parents are usually paid monthly and this enables Parents to have a consistent monthly amount for budgeting purposes. This is called a ‘full year’s funding entitlement’.

• Additional Childcare Hourly Costs (over and above the EYFE) will be based on our published Standard Default Rate which may be discounted depending on how many sessions and type of sessions are included in the regular booking pattern. This is also spread over 12 months as per the Annual EYFE to give a monthly amount.

• Any extra ad hoc session bookings, and any extras will be shown on the monthly invoice either in arrears or in advance, depending on the time of the month in which they are requested and/or taken. • Extra ‘(exceptional’) bookings/sessions, where available, are charged at the current Ad-Hoc Sessions Rate. • All funded places are subject to availability and at the discretion of the Director.

EYEF Attendance only Subject to availability and at the discretion of the Director a child who is entitled to EYEF funding can attend nursery during the funded hours

Parent’s Fees and Funding Declaration Form

I understand that 38 weeks Entitlement and working Parents Funding is spread over 51 weeks. As such I agree to pay for the weekly unfunded hours and services as outlined in this agreement. These include: Unfunded nursery fees cover all the expenses involved in the continuity of the nursery so we do not charge parents for the following in connection with the entitlement hours:

● Published fees (any difference between Vineyard Organic Day Nursery’s normal charge to parents and the funding they receive from AfC to deliver free places).

● The supply of or use of any materials, including but not limited to, craft materials, crayons, paper, books, instruments, toys, or other equipment or learning resources that are necessary for the effective delivery of childcare.

● Business running costs, including but not limited to rent, staff wages, cleaning materials, insurance or utility bills such as energy, gas or water.

● Food prepared with organic fresh ingredients and nappies

● Non-refundable deposits as a condition of taking up a child’s entitlement place.

● General charges, including but not limited to, non-itemised enrichment charges, sustainability charges, business continuity charges, additional charges, enhanced ratios, hourly rates, or any other supplementary charges on top of the free hours.

● Any additional fees such as extra attendance and late collection charges.

I understand that Early Years Funding is structured to cover the 38 weeks per year during term time. Since Vineyard Organic Day Nursery is open for 51 weeks per year, the funding is stretched to cover the full number of weeks that the nursery is open. Therefore 38 weeks of funding stretched over 51 weeks of the year equates to11.18 hours each week when claiming 15 Hours Funding and 21.92 hours weekly, if my child is in receipt of 30 Hours funding, each. Therefore, my child can attend funded nursery hours, in respectively 3.72 hours (15 hours funding) /7.45 hours (30 hours funding) over 3 days, Tuesday-Thursday. I am happy for Vineyard Organic day Nursery to receive confirmation and future notifications from AFC of the validity of my child’s working parent entitlement eligibility code.