Sessions, funding & fees

We are pleased to offer early years education sessions during mornings and afternoons for children aged 2-4 years and also all day sessions for children over 3 years old.

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COG Pre-School operates during school term time (for 38 weeks of the year), following the Gloucestershire school terms calendar.

Our regular session times

Mornings (Monday - Friday)

9.00am – 11.45am without lunch

9.00am - 12.45pm with lunch

Afternoons (Monday - Thursday)

12.00pm – 3.45pm with lunch

1.00pm - 3.45pm without lunch

Full day (Monday - Thursday)

9.00am – 3.45pm (for children 3 years +, with lunch)

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If you require some flexibility around session times, please discuss this with us. We may still be able to help.

We offer a minimum of two sessions per week on different days (dependent on available places) to ensure the best outcomes and most positive experience for your child.

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Settling-in

Every child will begin pre-school with 'settling-in sessions'. These do not include lunch, for at least their first 2 weeks.

Once they are settled in the pre-school environment, we will introduce lunchtimes, when spaces are available and if required.

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Snacks and Lunch

A healthy snack of fruit and/or raw vegetables, toast or a savoury carbohydrate-based alternative, and water or milk, is served during our morning and afternoon sessions. Water is always available to children. Dairy-free alternatives to milk can be provided by parents/carers to suit specific dietary requirements.

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Our Cook prepares a two course, home-cooked and nutritionally balanced lunch for children in both morning and afternoon sessions, where lunch spaces are available.

When children are with us all day, a lunch space is automatically given.

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We understand how important good nutrition is for children's healthy development and we wish for every child to benefit from this without barriers to good nutrition. Therefore, we do not currently charge for snacks or lunch.

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Instead, we welcome donations to help cover our food costs, and enable us to continue to provide this service. These can be placed in the box in the entrance shelter. As a guide, an average price for a nursery lunch is between £3.50 and £5.50 per day. Please consider helping us where you can.

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We try to provide lunch spaces for all children who require our longer morning or afternoon session. However, at busy times spaces may become limited, and we will discuss this with you when you are offered a place.

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Funding and Fees

The Government offers several options to parents/carers to help fund nursery and pre-school places. All of these are explained clearly on the Government Best Start in Life website, with information and links to help you apply. Please also see the information below.

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Not everybody is eligible for all types of funding. If you wish to take up a fee-paying place or increase your child's 15 hour funded place with additional paid hours, subject to availability, we currently charge a flat hourly rate for all children from 2-4 years old.

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Hourly rate:                                       2 year olds:                         £9.00

                                                             3 & 4 year olds:                  £7.00

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Morning or afternoon session:        2 year olds:                         £33.75

                                                             3 & 4 year olds:                  £26.25

‍Full day session:                               3 & 4 year olds only:          £47.25

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Settling-in session* or session without lunch(2.75 hours):            

                                                           2 year olds:                         £24.75

                                                             3 & 4 year olds:                 £19.25

*Settling-in sessions may be shorter but 2.75 hours will be charged due to staffing requirements.

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Government funding for children aged 2-4 years includes:

Up to 15 hours free childcare for 2 year olds, for parents/carers on certain benefits

If you are eligible for this, it can be claimed from the term after your child turns 2 years old.

Up to 15 hours free childcare for 2 year olds, for working parents/carers

If you are eligible for this, it can be claimed from the term after your child turns 2 years old.

If you think you might qualify for funding for your 2 year old, you can also contact the Gloucestershire Family Information Service on 01452 427 362 who should be able to tell you immediately whether you are eligible. They will need your National Insurance Number to be able to give you this information. Gloucestershire-related information on funding for 2 year olds (Achieving 2 Year Olds - A2YO Funding, and also funding for working parents of 2 year olds, available from April 2024) can also be found on the Glosfamilies Directory website.

You can also register and submit and enquiry online with the Gloucestershire Family Portal.

Up to 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

This is universal and can be claimed for all children the term after they turn 3 years old.

Up to 30 hours free childcare for 3 and 4 year olds (and for 2 year olds from September 2025)

If you are eligible for this, it can be claimed the term after your child turns 3 years old (or 2 years old from September 2025). You must apply before the cut-off date to receive it during the following term.

If you're not currently working, you may still be entitled to the 15 or 30 hours offers for working parents/carers if your partner is working and you are on certain benefits.

Tax free childcare, tax credits, universal credit for childcare, help while studying, other household support

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All of these options are also explained on the Childcare Choices website with details of how to apply.

There is also a Childcare Calculator to help you work things out.

Please note that while we will try to provide the hours and sessions you require, we are unable to fulfil requirements for all 30 hours per week. COG is a term-time only, sessional setting and so the entitlement cannot be stretched over school holidays, as with some daycare settings. We are happy to discuss your needs, to offer what is possible and to advise on how to make the most of your entitlements.

Government cut-off dates for applying for and receiving funding

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Birthday falls between 1st April and 31st August

Apply before 31 August - Funding is available from Term 1 (September - Autumn Term)

Birthday falls between 1st September and 31st December

Apply before 31 December - Funding is available from Term 3 (January - Spring Term)

Birthday falls between 1st January and 31st March

Apply before 31 March - Funding is available from Term 5 (April - Summer Term)

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Charging and Transparency

In line with DfE early years funding regulations, and to ensure compliance with current guidance, we are publishing clarification that we do not currently charge for:

consumables such as nappies or sun cream (which parents/carers provide),

meals and snacks (see above),

additional activities including celebrations and specialist sessions that support the wider experiences we offer children.

We understand the financial pressures many families are facing and, wherever possible, aim to cover these costs charitably. However, we kindly ask families to understand the increasing costs involved in providing our services and, where they are able, to make a small voluntary donation towards snacks, lunches and other costs in the donation box located in the entrance shelter. These contributions help us to continue providing vital support and opportunities for children and families who need our services most.