Fees & Funding FAQs
Do you offer Funded Places?
Yes — New Beginnings offers a range of government-funded childcare places for eligible children aged from 9 months to school age.
We understand that childcare costs can place pressure on family finances, and our team is happy to help families understand the funding options available.
If you are unsure whether you may be eligible for funded childcare support, please visit the government’s Best Start in Life website for further guidance and information about available schemes.
What is Tax Free Childcare?
Tax-Free Childcare is a government scheme designed to help eligible working families with the cost of childcare. For every £8 paid into a Tax-Free Childcare account, the government will contribute an additional £2, up to a maximum contribution of £2,000 per child, per year (£4,000 for eligible children with disabilities).
For full details about eligibility, how the scheme works and how to apply, please visit the government’s Best Start in Life website.
I have received two codes, one from a letter and one from the website. Which one am I supposed to use?
If you have received both a temporary code beginning with “11” and a digital code beginning with “50”, please provide the nursery with the code beginning with “50”, as this is your child’s permanent funding code.
If you have only received a temporary code beginning with “11”, this can usually be used initially to access your funding entitlement. However, you will still need to reconfirm your eligibility through your childcare account when prompted and provide the nursery with your permanent digital code once issued.
What happens if I miss my reconfirmation window?
If you miss your reconfirmation deadline, your eligibility for Tax-Free Childcare and/or funded childcare may lapse.
If your child is already attending nursery and accessing funded childcare, a grace period may apply. This means your child may be able to continue accessing their funded place for a limited period of time while you renew your eligibility.
To continue receiving funded childcare and/or Tax-Free Childcare without interruption, you will need to reconfirm your eligibility or submit a new application before the start of the next funding term.
Will I be reminded to reconfirm my details?
Yes. If you are receiving Tax-Free Childcare and/or funded childcare through your childcare account, HM Revenue and Customs will usually contact you by text message and/or email when it is time to reconfirm your eligibility.
It is the responsibility of the parent or carer to ensure their details are reconfirmed before the deadline shown in their childcare account. We recommend checking your account regularly to avoid any interruption to your childcare funding.
When does the grace period apply ?
A grace period may apply when a parent or carer becomes ineligible for funded childcare, or fails to reconfirm their eligibility before the deadline, after funding has already started.
During the grace period, children may be able to continue accessing their funded childcare place for a limited period of time. The length of the grace period is determined by the government and depends on when eligibility ends.
If eligibility is not renewed before the grace period expires, funded childcare will end and families will become responsible for the full cost of childcare fees moving forward.
What happens if I lose Eligibility?
If you no longer meet the eligibility criteria for funded childcare or Tax-Free Childcare, your funding support may stop.
Where funding is already in place, a government grace period may apply, allowing your child to continue accessing funded childcare for a limited period of time. Once the grace period ends, any funded hours will stop and full nursery fees will become payable.
You may be able to reapply for funding in the future if your circumstances change and you meet the eligibility criteria again.
Can I split my funding between providers?
Yes. Families may choose to split their funded childcare hours between more than one provider, subject to government funding guidelines.
If you wish to access funding at both New Beginnings and another childcare provider, you must inform New Beginnings each term and declare this on your funding form. This helps ensure that funding is claimed correctly and prevents any overclaiming or underclaiming of funded hours.
Parents and carers will need to confirm:
- the number of funded hours being accessed at New Beginnings, and
- the number of funded hours being accessed with any other provider.
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Please note that if funding arrangements are not declared correctly and the Local Authority confirms that funded hours have already been claimed elsewhere, New Beginnings reserves the right to charge parents for any unpaid childcare fees relating to unclaimed funded hours.
How will funding be reflected on my statement?
Funded childcare hours are delivered free of charge and will be clearly shown on your statement at £0.00.
Government Early Years Funding is intended to cover the delivery of early education and childcare only. It does not cover additional services such as meals, snacks, non-food consumables, enrichment activities or additional childcare hours.
At New Beginnings, families may choose to opt into additional enrichment opportunities and services that enhance the nursery experience and extend beyond the statutory Early Years Foundation Stage requirements. Optional enrichment activity charges and meal charges vary between nurseries and are outlined within each nursery’s fee schedule.
All charges are clearly itemised on your statement so families can see how fees have been calculated.
What if I want to provide my own meals on funded hours ?
At New Beginnings, we aim to work flexibly with families and, in line with our responsibilities under the Early Years Funding guidance, we will always discuss available options with parents and carers.
Our nurseries normally provide freshly prepared meals and snacks as part of the daily nursery experience, in line with our food safety, allergy and healthy eating procedures.
Where families choose not to purchase nursery meals during funded sessions, we will work with parents and carers to discuss suitable alternative arrangements in line with nursery policies and food safety requirements.
Can we pay for childcare by the hour ?
New Beginnings does not offer childcare on an hourly basis. Our nurseries provide full-day sessions designed to support children’s learning, development and wellbeing throughout the day.
We recommend that children attend for a minimum of two full days per week, as we believe consistent attendance helps children to build confidence, develop friendships and form secure, positive relationships with adults and other children.
If you would like to discuss your childcare requirements further, please contact your local nursery manager who will be happy to help.
Do you charge registration fees and/or deposits ?
Yes. A non-refundable registration fee is payable once a nursery place has been offered and the completed registration forms are returned to the nursery.
The registration fee covers the administrative costs associated with processing your child’s application and securing their nursery place. Registration fees are not charged for children accessing fully funded childcare places only.
A deposit equal to two weeks’ nursery fees is also required for non-funded childcare hours. Once your child starts nursery, the deposit is held on account and, subject to the nursery’s terms and conditions being met, will be applied against the final month’s fees at the end of the notice period.
Deposits are not required where a child is accessing a fully funded childcare place only.
Can you still apply funding if I take my child out for an extended period of time for example a long holiday?
Funded childcare is intended to support regular attendance and ongoing participation in early education.
If your child will be absent from nursery for an extended period, for example due to a long holiday, parents and carers should inform the nursery as soon as possible.
In some circumstances, New Beginnings may continue to claim funding during short periods of absence in line with Local Authority guidance. However, prolonged or repeated absences may affect a child’s funded place and the Local Authority may withdraw or reclaim funding.
Where funding is withdrawn due to extended absence or non-attendance, privately paid childcare fees may become payable in accordance with the nursery’s Terms & Conditions.
If you are planning an extended absence, please speak with your nursery manager so we can discuss your individual circumstances and the options available.
Do you charge fees for bank holidays ?
New Beginnings nurseries are closed on bank holidays. As nursery fees are calculated across the full nursery year and help maintain staffing, occupancy and operational costs, normal nursery fees remain payable for bank holidays.
Where funded childcare applies to a bank holiday and the child would normally attend on that day, funding may still be claimed in line with Local Authority guidance.
Optional charges relating specifically to attendance, such as meals or consumables, will not be charged when the nursery is closed.
Where can I find the parents funding guide ?
The parent funding guides are accessible on the links below please click the button for the borough your child's nursery resides in.
Havering-click here
Essex PAF form guidance-click here