Understanding Your Funding Options

Navigating early years funding can sometimes feel a bit overwhelming, but we are here to make it as simple and transparent as possible!

For families eligible for full government funding, you are entitled to 1,140 funded hours per year. At Sam and Adam’s Childcare, we want our care to fit seamlessly into your family's routine, which is why we offer two friendly, flexible pathways to utilise your funded hours:

If you prefer your childcare to line up exactly with the standard school calendar, this is the perfect option for you. 

How it is calculated:

We take your annual 1,140 hours and divide them across the standard 38 weeks of the school year.

What you receive:

Your child will receive 30 fully funded hours each week during term time (38 weeks). 

Good to know:

Because the academic year can occasionally run closer to 39 weeks, any extra days or weeks required outside of the standard 38-week funding bracket cannot be covered by the government and will be invoiced separately. 

Choosing our term-time option means your schedule will naturally align with the school holidays. To guarantee that your child’s space is securely held and waiting for them when the new term begins, we charge a Holiday Retainer Fee during the school holidays, which is set at 50% of our normal weekly rate. Because this fee keeps the space exclusively yours, it means we also remain legally available to step in if you ever find yourself needing emergency or unexpected childcare on your usual contracted days!

If you do need us to provide care during these weeks, the fee is simply topped up to our standard hourly rate for the hours used.

If you need consistent, year-round childcare without a gap during the short school holidays, stretching your funding is a fantastic choice. 

How it is calculated:

Instead of cramming your hours into the school terms, we stretch your annual 1,140 hours out over 46 weeks of the year (1140/46 weeks = 24.78 hours). 

What you receive: To keep our monthly invoices crystal clear and straightforward for you, we round this figure slightly so your child receives 24.75 funded hours each week spread across the 46 weeks.

The benefit: While you receive slightly fewer hours each individual week compared to the term-time option, you gain the peace of mind of having reliable, funded childcare right through the year. 

Whichever funding pathway you choose, please note that we stipulate a minimum of 7 hours of childcare per day, per child. Your agreed regular schedule and hours will be formally detailed in your Contract.  We are always available to sit down over a cup of tea and calculate exactly what these hours look like for your specific weekly schedule!

Standard Hourly Rate over and above funded hours or for non-funded children: £7.50 per hour, invoiced monthly in advance.

Settling-In Period: A reassuring 6-week trial period applies to ensure we are the perfect fit for your family.

To keep our days running smoothly and ensure your child is always comfortable, happy, and well-fuelled, here is a quick guide to meals and everyday essentials:

Our All-Inclusive Meal Plan: We charge a set fee of £5.00 per day for all food, drinks, and snacks. This is a standard requirement for all children in our care, as we feel it is incredibly important that everyone sits down to eat the exact same nutritious, balanced meals together as a family. We happily tailor our menus to accommodate specific dietary needs, allergies, and social or ethnic requirements you share with us. 

Everyday Essentials to Provide: Parents are kindly asked to provide their child’s own nappies, wipes, and sun cream of your choice (which we will happily apply following the product's exact instructions). 

Clothing: We love to store spare clothing for your child here at our setting so we don’t have to worry about messy play! When the seasons change, just pass us their outdoor extras like hats, gloves, and scarves to keep in their dedicated space so they are always ready for the British weather!

To secure your child's place in our setting, a one-off deposit is required upon signing the contract. This deposit acts as a commitment bond and reserves your agreed hours ahead of your child's start date.

Deposit Amount: £100

Confirmation of Space: Your child's placement is only fully guaranteed once both the signed contract and the deposit payment have been received.

Refund on Commencement: Once your child starts their placement with us, this deposit will be securely held and fully refunded against your final invoice when your child leaves the setting, provided that the required notice period has been given and there are no outstanding fees. Alternatively, it can be deducted from your very first monthly invoice.

Non-Commencement: If you decide not to proceed with the placement after the contract has been signed and the deposit paid, the deposit is strictly non-refundable. This covers the loss of earnings and the administration involved in withholding the space from other families.

Please Note: In compliance with local authority guidelines, if your child is accessing completely government-funded hours with no additional private hours, this deposit is fully refundable upon your child successfully starting their funded place.