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Times and Fees

We follow the Early Years Funding calendar to establish our term dates, this may not always match the Kent County Council Schools Term Dates, 

Please contact us if you need our current term dates.

Pattern of Delivery 

Playgroup is open Monday to Friday for 38 weeks, Term Time only, we offer a range of session times to meet the needs of families.  Free Early Education Funded hours can be taken across the week in a combination of mornings and/or afternoons between 09:00-15:00. We follow the Early Years Funding Calendar to set our term dates.

Session Times

  • Morning Session:    09:00 –12:00
  • Afternoon Session: 12:00 – 15:00
  • All Day sessions     09:00 –15:00

Children who attend a full day are required to bring in a packed lunch.  

We also offer for a small charge 

  • Early Start: 08:45 – 09:00
  • Extended Finish 15:00 – 15:30

Fees

Session fees apply to children who start playgroup before they are entitled to free early education funding or would like additional hours over their free early education funded hours (See below)

  • Session Rate:  £18.00 per 3 hour session. (Reviewed annually)
  • Early Start:   £2.00 per day.  Early Start must be booked for the whole term in advance.
  • Extended Finish: £4.00 per day.  Extended finish must be booked for the whole term in advance. 

Fees are payable on receipt of your invoice, or by prior agreement can be paid in advance daily weekly or monthly, our preferred method of payment is by direct payment online.   All fees must be cleared before the end of the current term. 

Please note if your child is absent for any reason i.e. due to sickness, holiday, appointments etc. payment for that session will still be required.

Other charges:

  • Late collection fee of £10.00 per additional 10 minutes.
  • Late/Non-payment of fee’s charge of £30.00 will apply, if fees remain outstanding at the end of the term, see Fee’s Collection Procedures

Notice Period and transfer of Free Early Education Funding:

For children attending non-funded sessions, early start or extended finish sessions, 4 weeks notice is required to withdraw your child from the playgroup, notice must be given in writing.

Early Years Settings are not obliged to transfer Free Early Education Funding, this will be considered on an individual basis at the discretion of the manager and or the committee trustee’s.

Free Early Education Funding:

Free Early Education Funded hours can be taken across the week in a combination of mornings and/or afternoons between 09:00-15:00. 

St Mary’s playgroup is registered for the following free early education funding schemes:

Free Early Education funding for 3 to 4 year olds, entitling them to 15 hours of free childcare per week, once they meet the criteria. (Children are eligible for funding usually from the January, April or September after their third birthday).

Free for 2 Funding is available for some 2 year olds, if parents/carers meet the criteria. (Please ask for details) Eligible families are entitled to 15 hours of free childcare per week. (Children are eligible for funding usually from the January, April or September after their second birthday, but can start anytime throughout the term that eligibility starts, if children are not using their full 15 hours entitlement, they can increase their funded hours at any point throughout the term).

Working Parents Entitlements for children 9+ month is available for eligible working parents, parents you will be able to apply to HMRC for a maximum 30 hours per week for children 9+ months-3 years (From September 2025) and an additional 15 hours for children 3 and 4 year olds, this is in addition to their 15 hours universal funding for 3 and 4 years olds so they can claim a total of 30 hours per week in funding.  

(Children are eligible for funding usually from the January, April or September after they turn 9 months old or the term after the claim has been made, All eligibility codes must be every 3 months and parents should check to ensure the codes is still valid before the start of January, April and September)

Tax-Free Childcare is available if parents meet the criteria. 

More information on help with childcare costs can be found at https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/  or Help with childcare costs – Kent County Council  

If you would like to discuss playgroup fees or funding options, please contact the playgroup manager Jennifer Smith.