Our Funding and Fees Information

Funding Information – Little Bears Nursery

Little Bears Nursery offers a range of funding options to support parents with their childcare needs. Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) is offered over 38 weeks per year, in line with local school terms.

Parents who qualify for Government Tax-Free Childcare may use this alongside their Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) to help with childcare costs.

Once funding begins, we calculate your total childcare cost and spread this evenly across the year to create a more consistent monthly invoice. Any ad-hoc sessions booked will be invoiced separately.

The Department for Education has issued guidance stating that Early Years funding covers the cost of childcare provision and staffing only. It must not be used to cover consumables, food, or additional activities. Due to the high running costs within the Early Years sector, these items are chargeable and are not included within your FEEE.

Using your 15 hours FEEE (38 funded weeks)

If you receive 15 funded hours, you may use them in the following ways:

• Option 1:

  • 1 Full Day (8:00am – 6:00pm) using 10 hours
    Charge: £12.00 per day for food, consumables and activities

  • 1 additional Full Day using the remaining 5 hours
    Charge: £35.00 per day for food, consumables and activities

• Option 2:

  • School Day (9:00am – 3:00pm)

    • Uses 5 hours per day

    • Up to 3 days per week
      Charge: £25.00 per day for food, consumables and activities

Using your 30 hours FEEE (38 funded weeks)

If you receive 30 funded hours, you may use them in the following ways:

• Up to 3 Full Days (8:00am – 6:00pm) per week
  Charge: £12.00 per day for food, consumables and activities

• Up to 5 School Days (9:00am – 3:00pm) per week
  Charge: £25.00 per day for food, consumables and activities

Unfunded weeks

During unfunded weeks, a minimum two-session retainer is charged. These sessions can be used to access childcare during this period.

Two-Year-Old Funding

Two-year-old funding is available to families living in England who receive one or more of the following:

• Income Support

• Income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• Universal Credit

• Child Tax Credit or Working Tax Credit

• Child is looked after by a local authority

• Child has an EHC Plan or receives Disability Living Allowance

Only one form of two-year-old funding can be used at any one time.

Additional sessions (outside funded entitlement)

Any sessions booked beyond funded hours will be charged as follows:

• Full Day (8:00am – 6:00pm): £62.00

• School Day (9:00am – 3:00pm): £45.00

Opting out of charges

Parents may opt not to pay for food, consumables and activities in accordance with Essex County Council funding terms and conditions. Alternative arrangements will be discussed with parents.

Food, consumables and activities include:

• Daily home-cooked meals

• Educational trips

• PE lessons

• Talk Boost and targeted interventions

• Music and video licences

• Engagement events

• Outsourced activities

• Software packages and Tapestry subscriptions

• Ongoing investment in new resources

For more information on funding and fees please fill out the form bellow and we will get in touch.

To access our fees information please fill your details on the right hand side and we will be able to get the relevant information over to you.