To enable us to sustain ourselves and provide an enriching environment for the children in our care, for our
FEEE/Working Families Entitlement children, we request a voluntary consumables contribution of £3.75 per session. However,
where parents are unable or unwilling to pay for these extras, you have the option to supply your snacks, consumables and resources per session instead.
FEEE funding is given to providers to support children’s
learning and development while accessing standard pre-school provision only.
As a pre-school, we use it to deliver the EYFS curriculum. Funding is spent on staff costs, rent, utility costs,
cleaning and other resources such as books, puppets, story sacks, craft resources – paper, card, paint, glue, wool, pipe cleaners, stickers, scissors, pencils, pens, crayons, aprons, cars, trucks,
trains and wooden track, Happyland buildings, track and characters, dolls, clothing and buggies, puzzles, construction bricks – wooden, Lego (big and small), role play clothing, balls, bean bags,
hoops, balance boards, stepping stones, slide, wooden tunnel, sand, water and appropriate toys, staffing to meet playroom ratios.
Without your support with the consumables contribution, we would be unable to go above and beyond the curriculum to provide these additional activities, resources and an enriching environment.
This contribution is broken down into a cost per session but is used to cover all resources used by your child throughout the year. (Note: Committee fundraising activities generate the funds needed to enable us to
purchase larger resources, e.g. garden toys, tables, chairs etc.)
For a full breakdown of what is covered in our consumables contribution, please have a look at our Fees policy.
Why do I have to pay a Risers' fee?
- Risers Fee: £45.00 for additional activities in the year before
starting Primary School (for 38 weeks).
During Risers sessions, your child will participate in activities designed to help them transition to school. These activities include inviting outside
professionals for music sessions, sports coaching, and dance lessons. We also organise Christmas and ‘End of Year’ parties, featuring traditional party games and gifts for the children.
The children in Risers will have the opportunity to create gifts for special occasions, including Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, and
festivals such as Diwali and Christmas.
If you are unable to pay the additional charge for Riser’s activities, please contact our Finance Officer.
When will I receive an invoice?
Invoices are sent electronically at the end of each
term for the next term's fees and are due by the last working day of the term. For example, they are sent in
November (Autumn term) for the Spring term attendance.
Can I use my childcare voucher?
Our fees can also be paid using childcare
vouchers/tax-free childcare (TFC). If this is your preferred option, please speak to our Finance Officer for further details.
Do I get a refund if my child is off sick or is on holiday?
Fees must still be paid when your child is
sick or on holiday, except in exceptional circumstances at the discretion of the trustees.
How much notice must I give if my child isn’t settling into pre-school?
If you wish to withdraw your child from the pre-school, please provide a written notice to admin@buttsburypreschool.org.uk. You are required to give at least four weeks'
term-time notice. If no notice is given, you will be required to pay fees equivalent to four weeks of term time, as outlined in our Fees policy.
Funding Available to Parents
Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) and 2-Year-Old Working Families Entitlement
From September 2025, eligible parents of children under 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of funded childcare per week.
As a pre-school, we offer funded places in all our sessions, 38
weeks per year, Monday to Friday between:
Morning - 8.30am – 11.30am
Afternoon - 12.00pm – 3.00pm
All day – 8.30am – 2.30pm/3.00pm (depending on your 15 or 30 hour
entitlement)
NOTE: Bank Holiday Monday – you will not receive
your funded entitlement on these days as the pre-school is closed.
A child is entitled to funded early years provision if they are of the relevant age, under compulsory school age, and
their parents meet specific criteria listed on the given website: https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/eligibility-checker
Parents can apply for this funding using the
link https://www.gov.uk/apply-free-childcare-if-youre-working
The application takes about 20 minutes, and you may find out if you qualify immediately, but it can take up to 7 days
for a full response. Once approved, you'll receive a code that you must give to your childcare provider.
Remember to reconfirm your eligibility every 3
months. If you applied more than 3 months before the term starts, you'll need to reconfirm in your account to keep your code valid.
If you have a tax-free funding account, you may need to wait for reconfirmation before applying for your code. If
eligible, apply for your code and provide us with the number starting with a 5. We'll include it for your child's funding, showing a zero charge for funded hours but detailing a consumables
contribution on the invoice.
Some 2-year-olds may also access funded childcare if parents receive certain benefits. This funding becomes available in
the term after the child turns two. For more details, please speak to our
Finance Officer or check online at https://www.essex.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs
Currently, all 3 and 4-year-olds can access 15 hours of
funded care per week for 38 weeks a year, regardless of their parents' income or work status. Starting in September, eligible working families with 3 and 4-year-olds can access an
additional 15 hours, totalling 30 hours per week. Essex Early Years will inform us of eligibility criteria each term, usually in the term after the child’s third birthday. Our Finance Officer will
contact parents in advance, asking for a completed declaration form, which will be emailed and should be returned by the specified date.
Early Years Pupil Premium
The Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is extra
funding for early years providers to help improve children's learning and development. To qualify for EYPP, children must be receiving funded education for 3 and 4-year-olds. If
eligible, the pre-school will give you a form that needs to be filled out each term.
Disability Access Funding
If your child receives Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) and Disability Living Allowance (DLA), the pre-school
can get Disability Access Funding (DAF). This is a one-time annual payment made to a single provider and cannot be split
between multiple providers. Parents must choose which setting will receive the DAF payment.
The purpose of DAF is to help the childcare provider improve access to funded early education for the child. The payment
goes directly to the provider and cannot be used for childcare fees or to provide extra FEEE hours.
If you have any other questions about our pre-school fees, please contact us.
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