Dear Parents,

For the attention of Bunny Room and Rabbit Room only.

As you know, the funding entitlement changed in September 2024. Meaning qualifying children of 9 months and 2-year-olds could have 15 free hours as well as the 3&4-year-old entitlement.

After assessing this for a few months, we are making some essential changes to our delivery of funding starting from January 2025.

We are pleased to announce we are going to offer stretched funded hours. This means your child can access their funding all year round. This will be for Bunny and Rabbit room only. Badger room will continue to run as a traditional preschool room of funded hours, term time only with a holiday club for the rest of the year.

This in itself is better for all children as they then have the consistency all year round and don’t have to have big gaps in their nursery routine like the summer holidays, without being able to attend.

This can also be better for the parents as it means that you can spread the bill over the year and not have to pay full fees if you then opted for your child to attend during the holidays.

The child benefits from a better routine, consistency, social benefits and learning opportunities. It helps them form relationships, gain confidence and prepare them for school.

Even if you are not working, this gives you the opportunity to have time to yourself or one-on-one time with siblings.

We will deliver the funding in 6-hour sessions between 9-3 pm. If your child receives the 15-hour entitlement, they will now be able to access 12 hours per week equaling two 6-hour sessions 48 weeks per year instead of the previous 38 weeks per year. If your child receives the 30-hour entitlement, they will now be able to access 24 hours per week equaling four 6-hour sessions 48 weeks per year.

We will remain closed for two weeks over Christmas and will now have a designated 2-week ‘holiday club’ where funding isn’t eligible on the last two weeks of August.

Breakfast and Afterschool club will be charged as an hourly fee.

Please see attached fee structure.

If you have any questions, please contact us on office@hadlowsaplings.com

As always, we appreciate your continued support of Saplings.

Saplings Fee Structure from 1st May 2025

• Fees are invoiced monthly in advance.  
• 12 and 24-hour funded children can only use their funding hour sessions between 09:00-15:00, for 6-hour sessions, 48 weeks a year.
• Before and after school club charged an hourly rate until 4 pm, after 4 pm, charges apply until 6 pm.

• All children are entitled to 15 hours of government-funded childcare, the term after they are 3 years old. Funding is stretched across 48 weeks, this equates to 12 hours per week.
• Non-funded days can include sessions from 07:45–13:00, 07:45–16:00, 07:45–18:00, or 13:00–18:00.

• Payment must be made within 30 days of receiving the invoice. A 5% penalty will be applied to any overdue amount.

• Nappies and wipes, as well as breakfast, snacks, and evening meals, are included in the fees.       

• Fees are reviewed annually, in September and January. We reserve the right to increase the fees. Any changes are based on government funding announcements and may affect our rates.

• Parents will be informed in writing of any changes to the fee structure as soon as possible following a review.

• Please note that funding is not accepted during the last two weeks of August. If you would like your child to attend during this period, you must book their sessions in advance.
• Booked sessions for non-funded children during the last two weeks of August are payable.
• We accept the following payment types.  

• Bank Transfer, Cash, Employer's Childcare Vouchers, Tax-free Childcare Vouchers