by: scotsnursery - 23-10-12 16:16
For 3 year old who are entitled to the gov funding how do you charge normal fees around this? Really want to be able for parents to claim the funding but at the same time it doesn't cover costs. Any examples of fee strauctures incorporating the funding would be much appreciated.
by: Tish501
You are not allowed to show anywhere on invoices the amount of funding that the parents gets....so for a full time child i have calculated the cheapest way to do it (and there are at least 3 permutations depending on what hours the child does) e.g. full time child 9-2 MTW is free 15 hrs...2-6 for MTW is a four hr session price and other 2 days normal daily fee....another parent likes it as 4 days of 4 hours and pay the extra hour....we have tried to accomodate our parents as best we can...but some settings have one formula i.e. 3 days of 9-2..and nothing else.You are allowed to do it however it suites the setting.Good Luck...
by: EMMA!
How come you can't show the amount of funding on their invoices? Didn't know that!
by: EMMA!
Also, if a new childminder wants to offer free funding hours can she do this immediately or does she have to wait till the setting is already up and running before applying for free funded hours?
by: Tish501
Hi Emma....all these rules to be found in your Directory of Providers Info...available online from your local council under education etc or I get mine in my funding pack 3X a year ,but I am a Nursery owner,might be diff for Childminder....ask the person who is helping you to set up at home.We have to be registered by local council to provide the funding and are guided by them...all the rules and regulations...hope that helps x
by: Maureen Askew
Hi the reason you aren't allowed to show the amount of funding on the invoice is because those hours are completely free to the parent and have no monetary value to them, only to you.
For each invoice period the invoice should show the total number of free hours for that period ( this ensures that if a parent disputes the number of free hours the child has accessed its vey easy for you to add them up) and the total number of childcare hours owed .
The easiest method by far is to have a charging policy based on the hourly unit cost of your actual operating costs, and charge for all hours in addition to the free entitlement. For example a child attending 50 weeks for 50 hours a week, stretching the free hours over the 50 weeks will give you 11.4 hours a week free hours and 38.6 hours to be paid for. If your hourly fee is £3 that means they will need to pay £115.80per week.
You can charge for meals and these should also be detailed on your invoice along with any other costs.
Providing a dated detailed invoice will reduce the number of queries raised by your parents as they can very easily see what they are paying for.
by: Zoe Jackson
Notts council state you can not charge for meals if that meal falls in the normal session. Ie a child attends 9-1 4 days a week as a lunch meal is normally included in this session it must be provided free of charge.
to charge for meals you have to break down you session such as 9-12 and 1-6 if parents want there child to stay for the hour 12-1 they must pay your normall hourly rate and for the meal.
it may differ for different counicils but needs to be checked.
zoe
by: Maureen Askew
That certainy doesn't seem fair, expecailly as according to their parents leaflet, a child attending a notts nursery class gets the session free but may be charged a small fee for lunch. I think it must be a local condition and the way the guidance has been interpeted. Most LA would see main meals as an extra service even though it is contained within the free hours, parents have the option to pay for a meal or provide a packed lunch. Eating lunch with their peers is afterall a very good learning opportunity
providing a free lunch must be impacting on the overall sustainability of providers, was this not challenged by the sector reps?
I emailed Notts FIS for clarification and if requested a copy of the provider agreement ( not sure if i will get one)