Parents’ information for our Ledbury nursery

Nursery Education Funding (EEF)Policy

Information Leaflet- updated for academic year April 2026

From the beginning of the Term following most children's 2^nd birthday,(there are cut off dates) they are eligible for Early Education Funding (EEF) at an Ofsted Registered Early Years Setting. The Funding entitlement is currently for 15 hours over the number of weeks we are open . If both parents work and you are under the threshold, you can claim up to another 15 hours. The amount of EEF paid is set by each Local Authority from their Education Budget, and is not 'ring fenced'. The 2 year working parent funding is £7.51 per  hour you can claim 6 hours a day which makes it  £45.06 a day our r fees are £60 a day,(9am until 3.45) the funded hours are taken from   9 am until 3. pm This leaves a shortfall of £1.37 an hour for the 2 year funding or £8.22  a day .  The three and four year funding is £5.74 an hour leaving a shortfall of £18.84  a day or £3.14 an hour. The funding is available from 9 until 12 pm and 9 until 3pm each day. Parents are asked to complete the Council’s EEF funding form sharing their working parent codes, Ni and DOB. They sign to consent us sharing this information with the EEF team termly. This information is highly confidential and is stored accordingly and only accessed by the manger, All parents share this policy during their initial viewings of the nursery and during our transition session. This information is also published on our website.

SHORTFALL Nurseries cannot use the term top up for this short fall and are now unable to say that it is for the business running costs. We are allowed to ask for a voluntary parental contribution, naming the extras which are funded . Nurseries can also charge for unfunded hours for example the hours beyond 3pm our day lasts until 3.45pm. We can also charge for consumables like food.  However, just to be sustainable most HAVE to make this loss up somehow and do this in many different ways. The most common being loading the non EEF hours, charging a premium for children who are not eligible for EEF, limiting the days or times they accept EEF or limiting the number of children who receive EEF.

OUR SOLUTION TO THE FUNDING SHORT FALL

•             Allows you to use your funding flexibly towards your selected attendance, and not just for set hours.

•             Does not require us to restrict the number of two years olds or three and four year old funded children that{we accept.

•             Enables us to remain registered to receive Earl Education Funding on your behalf.

We ask you to contribute towards the cost of your child's nursery education by meeting the shortfall in the EEF entitlement through the form of a 'Recommended Voluntary Contribution’ VPC and this will replace the fees currently charged for  French and Forest school Music, dance drama, yoga, ICT, gardening . Without your support we may have to seriously consider withdrawing from EEF, or employing some of the techniques used by other nurseries to make up the shortfall.

Quality MATTERS We believe our commitment to quality is evident from the moment you first visit us but, as you can appreciate, the costs incurred in providing such quality is considerably more than the 'average' nursery or a pack-away Pre-School in a Village Hall. However, this isn't recognized by The government as all eligible settings receive the same amount. To us, EEF on its own is financially unsustainable and would severely compromise the quality of our provision.

CHARGEABLE ELEMENTS The Government states that EEF is not intended to cover the costs of meals, consumables or additional services and that settings can :charge for these. Our 'Chargeable Elements' cover predominantly food, however, other items that we can charge for include outings, trips, events, specialist external teachers, forest school. As these are variable throughout the year, it is very difficult to itemize however it has now become a statutory requirement, so it may look high but if you remember the shortfall you will understand the amount we have to charge to remain viable is actually for business running costs .

Sue Davies Proprietor

The Townsend Farm, Stretton Grandison,

Ledbury, Herefordshire. HRS 2TS Tel: 01531 670426 Email: sue@townsendnursery.co.uk

Recommended Voluntary Contribution for 15 hours per week which is 2.5 days less 2 unfunded hours

If you were claiming 15 hours NEF                                                                                    £150 real cost

                                                                                                                          Unfunded hours @£8.88x 2.5 hours =£22.20= £150 - £5.74 x 15=£86.10=£63.90

Short fall £86.10 or £17.22 a session

The two year rating is £7.51 so for two and a half days which you can claim 15 hours the real cost would be £150 the funding would be £112.65 minus £17.76 this leaves a shortfall of £37.35 or  £7.47 a three hour session.

On the invoice we state a charge for food and cookery activities we put charges for gardening, forest school, French , farm walks.

The Recommended Voluntary Contribution (RVC) is calculated as the NEF shortfall minus the Chargeable Elements.

We trust this leaflet has clarified the issues surrounding EEF and that you will choose to support our RVC. If you would like to seek further clarification, please do not hesitate to ask for a convenient appointment .

Sue Davies, Nursery Principal

EEF is only claimed during the term-time)