Fees and Funding | Hopscotch Preschool

Fees

Hopscotch Preschool tries to work with all families and their budget.

Hopscotch encourages prompt payment but recognises that at times some parent/carers may experience financial difficulties. We will ensure that no child/children/families are penalised should this situation arise. Hopscotch will endeavour to arrange a payment plan that is acceptable to both parties, enabling the child/children to continue to attend. All financial matters will be dealt with the utmost sensitivity and consideration and in confidence.

Payment of Fees

Payment can be made weekly/monthly in advance by cash or bank transfer.

In the event of non payment:

The Manager will liaise with the parent/carer concerned.
A payment plan will be agreed if necessary.
Where unmet payments continue the owner will liaise with the parent/carer to arrange payment options.
Where there is no resolution the child's/children's place may be withdrawn.

Tax Credits

Hopscotch Preschool is registered with Ofsted, therefore, where appropriate, parent/carers can claim child tax credit. Details are available upon request.

Childcare Vouchers

Hopscotch is registered with Computershare and accepts childcare vouchers. Details are available on request.

To help Preschool run efficiently we would be very grateful if your fees for the half term could be paid in full within the first 2 weeks of each half term. If, however you would prefer to pay our fees weekly, please pay for the week's sessions on the first day your child attends.

Late payment will incur a 20% fee (accumulated each week the fees remain unpaid) or £10.00 charge, whichever is the highest amount. It may also result in your child's place being withdrawn and given to a child on the waiting list.

Prices Westergate

9 months - 2 years = £6.80

2 Years - 3 years = £6.40

3 years - 5 years = £5.80

Prices Fontwell

2 years - 3 years = £6.40

3 years - 5 years = £5.80

Please remember you are paying for your child's place within our Preschool and therefere if your child is absent for any reason (sickness, holiday etc) you will still be charged for the sessions.

Early Years Funded Entitlement

What is Early Years Funded Entitlement?

All 3 and 4 year olds are eligible to access up to 15 hours Universal Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) a week (up to a maximum of 570 hours per year).
Eligible working parents can apply for EYFE for Working Families, providing access to:

Extended EYFE for 3-4 year olds, granting an additional 15 hours per week on top of the Universal EYFE (totalling up to 30 hours weekly or a maximum of 1140 hours annually).
up to 15 hours per week (or up to 570 hours annually) EYFE for Working Families. From April 2024, children can begin accessing this, the term after they turn 2 if approved. From September 2024, children can begin accessing this from the term after they turn 9 months old if approved.
From September 2025, children aged 9 months and above can access up to 30 hours per week (or a maximum of 1140 hours annually.

Some 2 year olds can access a maximum of 15 hours of EYFE per week (or up to 570 hours per year) if their families meet specific criteria under the Local Authority (LA) Issued Free Childcare for 2 year olds.

See below for information on when children become age eligible for the various entitlements:

9 month olds

A child born on or between;......1st April and 30th June.......Will be of eligible age for 9 month old EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.........APRIL - after turning 9 months

A child born on or between;......1st July and 30th November.......Will be of eligible age for 9 month old EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.........SEPTEMBER - after turning 9 months

A child born on or between;......1st December and 31st March.......Will be of eligible age for 9 month old EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.........JANUARY - after turning 9 months

2 year olds

A child born on or between;......1st January and 31st March .....Will become eligible for 2 year old EYFE for Working Families* or 2 year old LA Issued EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.......APRIL - following their second birthday*

A child born on or between;......1st April and 31st August .....Will become eligible for 2 year old EYFE for Working Families* or 2 year old LA Issued EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.......September - following their second birthday*

A child born on or between;......1st September and 31st December .....Will become eligible for 2 year old EYFE for Working Families* or 2 year old LA Issued EYFE* from the start of term beginning in;.......JANUARY - following their second birthday*

3 and 4 year olds

A child born on or between 1st January and 31st March......Will become eligible for Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* and Extended EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* from the start of term beginning in;.......APRIL - following their third birthday

A child born on or between 1st April and 31st August......Will become eligible for Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* and Extended EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* from the start of term beginning in;.......SEPTEMBER - following their third birthday

A child born on or between 1st September and 31st December......Will become eligible for Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* and Extended EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds* from the start of term beginning in;.......JANUARY - following their third birthday

*Subject to approval of application at childcarechoices.go.uk or subject to approval by their Local Authority.

You can find out more about the above entitlements, including eligibility criteria and how to apply (if required) by visiting

www.westsussex.gov.uk/fundedchildcare

Funded Places and Waiting List

A waiting list will be kept of any children who would like a funded place, with priority of places offered in the following order:

The age of the child.
Where 3 & 4 year old places are available, hours will be prioritised for children who are eligible to access the Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) - both Universal and Extended.
Where 9 month - 2 year old places are available, hours will be prioritised for children who are eligible to access the Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) - both LA Issued and Working Families Entitlement.
Length of time on the waiting list.
Siblings already attending the setting.
The vicinity of the home to the setting.

No child is guaranteed a place until the written contract has been completed and signed by all parties. Further, an Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) place is not guaranteed until completion of the Parent Declaration form.

We ask for parents/carers to let us know as soon as possible if a place is no longer required prior to your child's scheduled start date.

All admissions to the setting will ensure fair access to educational opportunity for all and will comply with all equality's legislation.

Early Years Funded Entitlement at Hopscotch Preschool

Hopscotch Preschool Westergate and Fontwell are registered with West Sussex County Council (WSCC) to provide Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) hours under the following schemes:

Universal EYFE for 3 and 4 year olds
Extended EYFE for 3-4 year olds under the Working Families Entitlement
LA Issued EYFE for 2 year olds
EYFE for 2 year olds under the Working Families Entitlement

Hopscotch Preschool Westergate is also eligible for:

EYFE for 9 months - 2 years under the Working Families Entitlement

We are also in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Fund for eligible children.

Pattern of Delivery

At Hopscotch, children can access their Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) in the following pattern:

Westergate

The remaining Extended EYFE hours for 3 & 4 year olds can be accessed at our sister setting -

Hopscotch Westergate and Fontwell both offer EYFE for 38 weeks per year and is open at least 38 weeks per year. Parents will be informed if we are open more than 38 weeks per year and given the chance to pay for the extra week or refuse the sessions.

Children eligible for up to 15 hours per week can access up to 570 hours per year, and children eligible for up to 30 hours per week can access up to 1140 hours per year. See the table below for details on the number of hours you can claim per week at Hopscotch Preschool.

Hopscotch Preschool Fontwell

Hopscotch Preschool Westergate

(for 30 hour per week EYFE see the table below for details on the number of hours you can claim per week at our siter setting Westergate)

Fontwell

Accessing Early Years Funded Entitlement at Hopscotch Preschool Westergate & Fontwell

The provision of Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) includes the delivery of early years education and childcare, and we deliver this in line with the requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). Parents/carers will be required to complete a Parent Declaration form before they begin accessing their EYFE sessions at Hopscotch Preschool. A new copy will need to be completed if your personal details or you child's EYFE hours change. Children are required to attend their EYFE sessions prior to and at headcount for Hopscotch to claim EYFE funding from WSCC for them.

Please note there are no conditions to accessing EYFE places at Hopscotch including:

No requirement to access a minimum number of hours or sessions.
No requirement to access additional paid-for hours.
no requirement to take up additional paid services, such as lunch, consumables, extra classes, and trips.
No requirement for children to use all their EYFE solely at Hopscotch Preschool Westergate or Fontwell. Children may access EYFE sessions at a maximum of two different sites per day.

Should you choose to withdraw your child, Hopscotch requires four weeks written notice for EYFS sessions, inclusive of holidays and periods of closure. If you move to another provider within West Sussex after the notice period, your new provider can contact us to request transfer of any remaining funding we have claimed on your child's behalf.

If your child misses EYFE sessions due to illness, holidays or any planned or unplanned absence, these hours will not be available at a later date. If either Hopscotch Preschool Westergate or Fontwell are unexpectedly closed during your child's regularly scheduled EYFE sessions, due to illness or other unforeseen reason, these hours will be offered at an alternative time or at our sister setting subject to availability and where reasonable.

Deposits

There will be no deposit charge.

Additional Services

If parents only want to use EYFE, they won't be charged extra. But if they want, they can choose to pay for extra services, including:

Consumables, such as nappies, wipes, nappy sacks and sunscreen.
Trips and outings (agreed in advance where possible).

Parents are free to provide their own consumables instead, and none of the above services must be provided as a condition of your child accessing their EYFE place.

As Hopscotch Preschool Westergate or Fontwell do not provide food, parents must provide their own products, however please be aware that:

food must adhere to Hopscotch Preschool's healthy eating and allergy policy. Which includes fruit, or healthy alternative, for snacks. Limited processed foods in lunch boxes (such as sausage rolls) along with lots of sweet, sugary food (chocolate biscuits) and NO juice/squash in bottles.
if children attend their EYFE session without sufficient food or consumables (ie; food that does not adhere to our policy), then theses will be provided by Hopscotch at a cost to the parent.

Parents can also pay for additional hours, which are subject to availability. Accessing additional paid-for hours is not a condition of accessing EYFE hours. For more information on charges for additional hours and services, please see our fee policy.

An early start will be charged at an hourly rate.

Support for children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)

Hopscotch Preschool is welcoming of all children and will work with parents and carers to ensure the needs of their children are met. To best support your child, Hopscotch will assess their needs during their settling in period and their regular attendance and consult with you about any needs you or Hopscotch identify.

Inclusion Funding

Inclusion Funding can be applied for by providers signed up to offer Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE) to support them in allowing children with additional needs to access their EYFE. Hopscotch will consult with parents and carers before applying and seek their input into the action plan for the child.

Hopscotch will share this action plan with West Sussex County Council, who will then determine if Inclusion Funding can be provided and how much. Note that if your child has already been approved for Inclusion Funding at another West Sussex provider, some, or all, of this funding may be made available for use at Hopscotch. In this case, we will consult with you further regarding best use of this funding.

Local Offer

You can find information about our Local Offer on request.

Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)

EYPP is additional funding for early years settings to improve the education they provide for eligible children claiming Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE). EYPP is paid to settings alongside EYFE (Extended hours for 3 & 4 year olds are exempt). Children do not need to take up their full entitlement to receive it. EYPP will be paid in proportion to the child's actual EYFE hours.

For Hopscotch Preschool to be able to claim for your child, you will need to provide the following information:

Parent/carer's full legal name.
Parent/carer's date of birth
Parent/carer's National Insurance (NI) number or National Asylum Support Service (NASS) number.
Evidence that the child has been in local authority care for one day or more in England or Wales (if applicable).
Evidence proving the child has been adopted from local authority care, left care through a special guardianship order or is subject to a child arrangements order (if applicable).

Hopscotch Preschool will determine best use of the funding by assessing the needs of eligible children, and in consultation with parents. We may also seek advice from West Sussex County Council for best use.

You can find out more about EYPP by viewing West Sussex County Council's EYPP guidance for more information, including funding amounts at westsussex.gov.uk/eypp

Disability Access Fund (DAF)

DAF is a measure which aids access to early years places by, for example, supporting providers in making reasonable adjustment s to their settings and/or helping with building capacity, be that for the child in question or for the benefit of children attending the setting. DAF is a fund that can be paid once per year.

Children will be eligible for the DAF if they meet the following criteria:

the child is in receipt of child Disability Living Allowance (DLA); and
the child receives Early Years Funded Entitlement (EYFE).

For Hopscotch Preschool to be able to claim DAF for your child, you will need to provide the following:

a newly completed Parent Declaration, completed to confirm you would like [insert provider name] to apply for DAF on behalf of you child; and
A copy of a letter confirming your child's current eligibility for Disability Living Allowance (DLA).

To determine best use of the funding, Hopscotch Preschool will assess the needs of the child, consult with parents, and seek support from West Sussex County Council where required.

You can find out more information by reading West Sussex County Council's DAF guidance for more information, including funding amounts at westsussex.gov.uk/daf.