11 Harold Road, Upper Norwood, London, SE19 3PU - 020 8771 7727 - info@firststepdaynursery.co.uk 


TAX-FREE CHILDCARE


We accept payments through the Government’s Tax-Free Childcare scheme. This allows eligible working parents to get up to £2,000 per child, per year, towards childcare costs. To find out more and check your eligibility, visit gov.uk/tax-free-childcare.


WORKPLACE VOUCHER SCHEMES


We accept most childcare vouchers, which are directly paid into the Nursery account by the childcare voucher provider and are offset against your monthly invoice. Voucher schemes operate through your employer deducting from your gross salary before Income Tax and National Insurance and is used to provide childcare vouchers for the same amount. You can achieve savings of up to 47% with some schemes. 



FUNDING AND SUPPORT


The best place to discover what financial support is available to help you access childcare is Best Start in Life.


We offer both 15 and 30 hours of funded childcare for eligible families, helping to make early education more affordable and accessible.


Fifteen Hours Funding

  • All 3 and 4-year-olds in England are entitled to 15 hours of funded childcare per week (for 38 weeks per year), starting from the term after their 3rd birthday. This is available to all families, regardless of income.
  • Some 2-year-olds may also be eligible for 15 hours funding if you receive certain benefits or meet other criteria.


Thirty Hours Funding

  • All eligible working families can claim 30 hours of funded childcare per week (for 38 weeks per year), starting from the term after their child turns 9 months, right up until they start school.
  • To qualify you (and your partner, if you have one) should:
    • Be in work or starting a new job, on sick leave or annual leave, or on shared parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave.
    • Earn at least the equivalent of 16 hours per week at the National Minimum or Living Wage. 
    • Each have an adjusted net income below £100,000 per year.
  • For full eligibility criteria please visit Eligibility | Best Start in Life


Please be aware that funding does not automatically apply from your child’s relevant birthday.









The Nursery cannot apply for your funding code on your behalf, but we do require you to provide your funding code before the start of each term so that we are able to verify and claim your funding. 


WHAT WE CHARGE


We are a full-time private day nursery and provide both 15 and 30 Hours funding. We follow an academic school system, with three terms (Autumn/Spring/Summer) per year. Funding is offered during term-time only for a total of 38 weeks per year. Our standard fee rates apply outside of the sessions listed below and outside of term.


  • The Nursery day is 8am-6pm (10 hours total per day).
  • Fifteen Hours can be spread into sessions of either 9am-12pm or 2pm-5pm across the full week (five days), or three days with sessions of 9am-2pm or 1pm-6pm. 








  • Thirty Hours is spread in sessions of 9am-3pm across the full week (five days). We are unable to offer thirty hours over three full days. 





  • If you are entitled to 15 or 30 Hours funding then the sessions you choose (depending on your entitled hours) are completely free.


  • Extra hours and days booked outside of your free entitled funded hours are charged at our standard fee rates and are subject to availability. 
    • Our hourly rate is £19 for all age groups.
    • Our ad-hoc day rates (where no funding is applicable, such as outside of term) are dependent on age:
      • 0-2 years: £98
      • 2-3 years: £97
      • 3-5 years: £96
  • Children doing term-time only (funded hours) bookings are charged for all meals and snacks provided by the Nursery at a flat rate of £16 per week for Fifteen Hours and £26 per week for Thirty Hours during term time.
    • This charge is payable the first day of term.
  • Please speak with management if you wish to provide your own meals and snacks. You will be required to sign an agreement following our full food safety and allergen policies. In this instance, no charge is applicable for meals and snacks.
  • We do not charge for consumables such as baby wipes or educational supplies.  
  • We offer voluntary extracurricular classes in addition to our standard provision, which are are charged separately and payable the first day of term.
    • Ballet classes every Tuesday: £5 per session
    • Football classes every Wednesday: £3 per session
    • Music and Movement classes every Friday: £3 per session


We also offer fixed bookings for those who wish to do the same days throughout the year, both during and out of term. If you are entitled to funding this means you will pay a reduced amount during term (where funding is applicable) and our standard fee rates out of term (where funding is not applicable). Please click here for a detailed look at all of our fee options and booking patterns. 


Please feel free to contact us to discuss your specific booking requirements and we can help find the most affordable options for you!​​​