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 (universal funding)
• 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 (except universal funding which is available to all children). 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.

Please note that funding does not start immediately after your child’s birthday, but from the start of the academic term following your child’s birthday.

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 for full daycare tenures. 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 Full Daycare Offer

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

• additional hours beyond the funded entitlement,

• meals and refreshments,
• consumables and care items, and
• specialist Montessori sessions and all other enrichment.

These elements are charged as part of our separate full daycare fees because they are items and services that are not covered by government funding and are integral to the quality and continuity of our provision.

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 provider. Funded hours form one part of our overall provision.

In line with statutory guidance, access to funded hours only is not dependent on the purchase of additional services. Where applicable for funded-only places only, reasonable alternatives may be available, including allowing parents to provide their own items or opt out of optional services.

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 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, such as the Workplace Nursery Scheme.

For more information please speak to us.