Government-Funded Childcare at Newpark

Newpark delivers government Early Years funding entitlements for children from 9 months to the start of school, in line with statutory guidance and local authority requirements.

This includes:

• 15 hours per week for all 3 and 4-year-olds
• 30 hours per week* for eligible working families (children aged 9 months to 4 years)
• 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds
• 15 hours for eligible children aged 9–23 months

Eligibility depends on individual family circumstances. Families must apply for and provide a valid eligibility code before funded hours can be allocated.

Further information is available at:
www.beststartinlife.gov.uk

How Funded Hours Are Delivered

Government funding is provided for 38 weeks per year (term time only). This means that:
• 15 hours per week × 38 weeks = 570 funded hours per year, and
• 30 hours per week × 38 weeks = 1,140 funded hours per year*.

As Newpark operates on a year-round model, funded hours are stretched across the year to support consistency of care. This means:

• 15 funded hours becomes 11.4 hours per week when stretched across 50 weeks, and
• 30 funded hours becomes 22.8 hours per week when stretched across 50 weeks*.

Funded hours are provided:
• in continuous blocks,
• clearly separated from paid hours, and
• with the funded element shown at £0.

* For children attending on a two-day full-daycare pattern, funded hours are capped at 10 hours per day under government funding rules. This means a maximum of 20 funded hours per week can be applied to these bookings. This is a statutory requirement and not a Newpark policy.

What Funding Does Not Cover

Government funding contributes only towards core childcare and delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). It does not reflect the true cost of delivering the standard of care provided at Newpark.

Funding does not cover:

• Three meals per day, all snacks and drinks including dairy and alternative milks.
• Consumables (e.g. nappy cream, nappy bags, sunscreen, baby formula milk and other personal care items.)
• Enrichment and specialist education (e.g. Montessori teaching and resources, gardening, sports classes, drama, music, foreign languages, outings, and other extended curriculum activities)
• Enhanced staffing, training and resourcing beyond statutory minimums
• Additional services beyond the funded entitlement (e.g. Complete Guides, parent events, parent videos, etc)

As a Montessori nursery, Newpark is built around:
• highly trained practitioners,
• carefully prepared learning environments,
• small-group teaching, and
• enriched educational experiences.

Government funding alone does not sustain this model. Without additional charges, we would be required to reduce staffing, resources, specialist provision and the overall educational offer, which we believe would directly compromise children’s outcomes and wellbeing. Our daycare fees therefore reflect the real cost of delivering high-quality early years education.

Additional Charges and Our Standard Offer

While funded hours are delivered at £0, Newpark’s service is designed as a comprehensive, full-day Montessori programme. The majority of families choose to access this full provision, which includes:

• meals and refreshments,
• consumables and care items,
• specialist sessions and enrichment, and
• additional childcare beyond the funded entitlement.

These elements are charged separately because they are not covered by government funding and are integral to the quality and continuity of our provision.

In line with statutory guidance, access to funded hours is not dependent on the purchase of additional services. Where applicable, reasonable alternatives may be available.

However, parents should be aware that Newpark’s educational model, staffing structure and learning environment are built around our full service offering.

Availability of Funded-Only Places

Newpark operates as a full-day, year-round nursery group. Funded hours form one part of our overall provision.

Where a place based solely on funded hours is requested, this will be considered in line with operational capacity and the structure of our provision. As a result, fully funded (no additional charges) places are subject to restricted availability. Our priority is to ensure that any place offered allows us to maintain the quality, staffing and learning environment for all children in our care.

Your Daycare Fees in Relation to Funding

Our published fee tables show the monthly cost of your child’s full daycare place separate to any funded hours. This reflects:

• the attendance pattern agreed,
• the funded hours delivered at £0, and
• the remaining care, meals, resources and educational provision required to deliver our full Montessori programme.

If funding eligibility changes or a valid code is not provided, full fees remain payable in accordance with our terms and conditions.

Further Support with Childcare Costs

Many families combine funded hours with:

• Tax-Free Childcare
• Employer childcare schemes

For more information please speak to us.