Funding and Fees

For all funded places, please refer to
https://www.beststartinlife.gov.uk, where you will find a calculator for your individual circumstances you can also apply here.
Alternatively, you can contact Zoe Bedford-Cooper (Business Manager) at zoeggvp@gmail.com for assistance.

Goudhurst Village Preschool offers three types of funding:

  • Free for 2 Funding

  • Universal Funding for all 3- and 4-year-olds (starting the term after the child turns 3)

  • Working Families Entitlement for eligible 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds

Free for 2 Funding (2-Year-Old Funding)

Some eligible 2-year-olds may be entitled to 15 hours of free funding per week.

To check whether you are eligible, please visit:
https://www.kent.gov.uk/education-and-children/childcare-and-pre-school/free-childcare

If you are eligible, please let us know as soon as possible and email confirmation to Zoe or Jo.

Funding will start the term after your child turns 2.
Additional hours may be purchased and will be invoiced termly at £8.25 per hour.

3 & 4 Year Old Funding (Universal 15 Hours)

Your child will be entitled to 15 hours of Universal free funding per week (570 hours per year) once they turn 3. Funding begins the term after your child’s third birthday, as shown below:

A child born between:

  • 1 April – 31 August (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 1 following their third birthday (after the summer holidays).

  • 1 September – 31 December (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 3 following their third birthday (after the Christmas holidays).

  • 1 January – 31 March (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 5 following their third birthday (after the Easter holidays).

To receive this funding, you must complete a funding form and sign the parent declaration at the preschool. You will need to provide:

  • A copy of your child’s birth certificate or passport

  • Your date of birth and National Insurance number

If you wish your child to start before their third birthday, or attend more than the funded 15 hours, additional hours will be charged at the preschool’s current rate of £8.25 per hour. Funded hours will be deducted from your total weekly hours.

If you are eligible for an additional 15 hours (30 hours total), please see below.

Working Families Funding (2–5 Year Olds)

We reserve the right to offer a limited number of places (up to 10) for the full 30 hours funding.

If you wish to claim this funding, please contact Zoe Bedford-Cooper or Jo Galloway as soon as possible to secure a place.
You will need to:

  • Complete the 30-hour section of your funding form

  • Provide your eligibility code and National Insurance number

We cannot process funding without these details.
Parents must reconfirm their eligibility code every three months with KCC. If this is not done on time, the additional funding will not be received for that term. This responsibility lies with the parent/carer.

A child can start their funded childcare place the term after they become eligible and receive a valid code, whichever is later.

Term start dates: 1 September, 1 January, and 1 April.

A child born between:

  • 1 April – 31 August (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 1 following their second birthday.

  • 1 September – 31 December (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 3 following their second birthday.

  • 1 January – 31 March (inclusive)
    Funding starts at the beginning of Term 5 following their second birthday.

Funded hours will be deducted from your total weekly hours.
If you claim the full 30 hours and attend preschool for five full days, an additional 2.5 hours per week will be charged at £8.25 per hour.

For help with funding or to discuss what is available to you, please contact Zoe Bedford-Cooper (Business Manager) at zoeggvp@gmail.com.

Fee Structure

At Goudhurst Village Preschool, we believe in open communication with parents/carers and staff. This fee structure is provided to ensure clarity and transparency.

Fees are fully inclusive of all drinks and snacks.
We are open for 38 weeks per year and closed on Bank Holidays.

If your child receives Free Early Education and a funded session falls on a Bank Holiday, an alternative session will be offered where available.

Fees

Fees are payable within 14 days of receiving an invoice and are reviewed termly.

Hourly Rate: £8.25

Full Day (9:00am – 3:30pm): £53.63

Morning Session (9:00am – 12:00pm): £24.75

Afternoon Session (12:30pm – 3:30pm): £24.75

Morning with Lunch (9:00am – 1:00pm): £33.00

Voluntary Contribution

We work hard to provide a wide range of additional activities and experiences, including daily snacks, French lessons, and all arts and crafts materials, at no extra cost.

We ask for a voluntary contribution to help support these activities. Contributions are entirely optional, and we are grateful for all support.

Closures

Should the preschool be unable to open due to unforeseen circumstances (excluding severe weather such as heavy snow), parents will receive a refund or credit for chargeable sessions.
Funded children will be offered a replacement session where available.

If closure occurs partway through a session, a refund will not be issued.
If the preschool is closed on a Bank Holiday, funded children will be offered alternative sessions to compensate for lost hours.

Late Pick-Up

Children must be collected promptly at the end of their session.

  • Up to 15 minutes late: £1.50

  • Every additional half hour: £2.25

Please phone ahead if you anticipate being late due to unforeseen circumstances—we will always aim to be flexible and understanding.

Late Payments

Fees must be paid within 14 days of the invoice date unless an alternative arrangement has been agreed with Zoe Bedford-Cooper.

If you are experiencing financial difficulty, please speak to Zoe in confidence so that alternative payment arrangements can be made.

If fees remain unpaid without communication, a payment plan may be offered. Continued non-payment may result in the withdrawal of your child’s place and, if necessary, legal action.

Children receiving Free Early Education will be unable to access additional paid hours until outstanding fees are settled.

Additional Information

  • Registration Fee: £100 per child (non-refundable)

  • Notice of Leaving: One month’s written notice is required. Failure to do so will result in no refund of fees paid.

  • Payment Methods: Cash, cheque, or BACS
    (Please make cheques payable to Goudhurst Village Pre-School. BACS details are included on invoices.)