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Applying For A Place
Choosing a pre-school for your child is an important decision and one that should be carefully considered.
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Choosing a pre-school for your child is an important decision and one that should be carefully considered. We understand that finding the right pre-school can be a complex and stressful process, which is why Little Willows work to give you all the information you need upfront. We welcome parents/carers to come and visit us and see what a normal day at the pre-school looks like. When you visit us be prepared with questions to ask to help you reach your decision. For more information, please refer to the Admissions, Fees and Attendance Policy.
If you have decided that you would like to arrange a visit please contact us.
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Deposit
If your child’s place will be fee paying, then a deposit is required to secure your child’s place. This deposit will be returned to you at the end of your child’s final term, subject to there being no outstanding amounts due to the pre-school. The deposit will also be returned should you wish to withdraw your child before this time and the correct notice of withdrawal has been provided.
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Withdrawal
Four weeks’ notice is required to withdraw your child from the pre-school.
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Further Information
Further information regarding how to prepare your child for starting pre-school, including uniform requirements and more, can be found in the Handbook or the Parent Information Zone.
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Register your child today
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Early Education Funding for 3 & 4 Year Olds
In Warwickshire, all children become eligible for Universal Early Education funding following the beginning of the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. The free universal entitlement is for 15 hours per week (38 weeks).
Eligible working parents of 3 and 4-year-olds can access an additional 15 hours of childcare, known as the ‘30 Hours or extended’ entitlement.
Further information and applications should be made at www.beststartinlife.gov.uk. Working parents/carers will receive an eligibility code, and the parent/carer must reconfirm their eligibility every three months by logging into their secure account.
The Early Education funding for 3 & 4 year olds will be eligible as follows (all dates are inclusive):
For a child born between: Will be eligible for a free place from: 1st January – 31st March The start of the Summer Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age. 1st April – 31st August The start of the Autumn Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age. 1st September – 31st December The start of the Spring Term following their 3rd birthday until statutory school age. Children must remain in the setting until the ‘headcount day’ to be eligible for the funding. Parents and carers will be liable for all costs incurred should a child be removed before this qualifying period. Parents are asked to complete and sign a ‘Funded Childcare Entitlement Parent/Carer/Guardian Declaration’ form that establishes a written agreement between the pre-school and the parents/carers setting out the agreed hours of attendance and the free entitlement claimed.
Funding may be shared between multiple providers on a pro-rata basis according to the amount of free provision taken at each provider (no more than two providers in one day).
Free funding may not be used for Breakfast and Tea Club. A maximum of 6 hours free funding may be used in any one day at the pre-school. If using the free funding for a 6-hour block in one day, the session must commence at 8:30 a.m.
Fees for 3 & 4 Year Olds
If you would like your child to attend for more than the universal free 15 hours and you are ineligible for the extended funding, you can pay for additional sessions/wrap-around care. Details are available from the pre-school and on this link. Please see additional information about paying fees in the section below.
Early Education Funding for 2 Year Olds
2Help (Disadvantaged 2-year-olds Entitlement)
2Help is an entitlement for eligible families receiving some additional forms of government support. A 2-year-old child will be entitled to the 2Help funding when both of the following criteria are met:
- From the term after the child has attained the age of two.
- The child or parent meets the eligibility criteria (through a successful application at www.warwickshire.gov.uk/childcarecosts).
The following table shows when a child is eligible to receive the 2-year-old 2Help funding entitlement (all dates are inclusive).
For a child born between: Will be eligible for a free place from: 1st January – 31st March The start of the Summer Term following their 2nd birthday 1st April – 31st August The start of the Autumn Term following their 2nd birthday 1st September – 31st December The start of the Spring Term following their 2nd birthday Two-Year Funding (Working Parent Entitlements)
Eligible working parents of 2 year olds can access up to 30 Hours (or extended) free funding (over 38 weeks). Further information and applications should be made at www.beststartinlife.gov.uk.
The Early Education funding for 2 year olds will be eligible as above. Working parents/carers will receive an eligibility code, and the parent/carer must reconfirm their eligibility every three months by logging into their secure account.
Children must remain in the setting until the ‘headcount day’ to be eligible for the funding. Parents and carers will be liable for all costs incurred should a child be removed before this qualifying period. Parents are asked to complete and sign a ‘Funded Childcare Entitlement Parent/Carer/Guardian Declaration’ form that establishes a written agreement between the pre-school and the parents/carers setting out the agreed hours of attendance and the free entitlement claimed.
Funding may be shared between multiple providers on a pro-rata basis according to the amount of free provision taken at each provider (no more than two providers in one day).
Free funding may not be used for Breakfast and Tea Club. A maximum of 6 hours free funding may be used in any one day at the pre-school. If using the free funding for a 6-hour block in one day, the session must commence at 8:30 a.m.
Fee Paying Two Year Olds
Fees are payable for children who are not eligible for Early Education funding (2 year olds). Details are available from the pre-school and on this link.
All Fees
Fees should be paid monthly in advance. Fees are due for all periods of absence during the term. Each child’s attendance at the pre-school is conditional upon continued payment of the required fees. A minimum of two sessions is required to enable your child to settle into pre-school routines. Payment should be made by bank transfer. The pre-school also accepts payments via the government tax-free childcare scheme. For more information and how to apply visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk.
The fees are reviewed on an annual basis by the Board of Trustees effective from September each year.
For further details with respect to funding and admissions, please see the policy in the policies section of the website.
