Fee Policy

Nishkam Nursery understands that the cost of registered child care may seem expensive to a parent. However, providing a high quality, safe and stimulating service for children is not cheap and to ensure the continued high standards and sustainability of the nursery, it must ask that parents respect its policy in respect of fees. Nishkam Nursery value their relationship with parents/carers and will be sympathetic towards any difficulty in paying their child’s fees. However, we are unable to function effectively without these payments.

• Fees are due at the start of each month, and must be paid in advance. This applies to all payment methods, including Childcare Vouchers. Individual payment arrangements can be negotiated.
• Fees can be paid by cash, cheque (made payable to GNNET) or Childcare Vouchers. Please ask Management for further details if you are unsure.
• The Day Care closes for two weeks during Christmas, bank holidays and staff training.
• Non-attendance due to holiday will be charged at half price if advanced notice is given (Four weeks)
• Non-attendance due to illness or other reasons will be charged for in full.
• Sessions cannot be swapped; any extra sessions will be charged for.
• You enter into a contract with the Nursery when a starting date is agreed. Your agreement to our terms and conditions is legally binding.
• Please inform the Nursery Manager if you have difficulties in paying your fees. Failure to meet payments will result in the termination of the Nursery place.

Late payment/ Non-payment of fees procedure:

• After one month of non-payment you will receive a written reminder.
• A further two reminders will be given if required.
• After the third written reminder following non-payment, we will suspend the childcare place, and children will not be allowed to come into the nursery until the fees are paid in full. Fees will still be applicable during this period of non-attendance.
• If the fees are not paid in full, the nursery will terminate the contract and send a letter to confirm this.
• All costs incurred in the collection of unpaid fees including administration costs and costs from using solicitors or debt collection agencies where needed will be recoverable in full.

Help with childcare costs There are several ways in which you may be able to get help paying your childcare costs. The Family Information Service in Birmingham can provide advice about this. The DirectGov website is another useful source of advice. Educational Grant for 3 and 4 year olds: for all parents Nursery grant funding is available for all 3 and 4 year olds from the term following their third birthday. This grant is claimed by and paid to the nursery, and this is then discounted from your weekly rate. The nursery will ask parents to sign a form each term to confirm their grant. Childcare Vouchers: for working parents Employers offer these schemes as a salary sacrifice scheme. Even if your employer does not currently have a scheme set up, in most cases they should be able to do so. Childcare vouchers are exempt from National Insurance contributions on the first £55 you earn a week; tax is only paid on the remainder of the income. This may affect your entitlement to other benefits if you receive any, so you should check this out first. For more information, speak to your employer about which scheme they offer. The nursery accepts a wide variety of Childcare Vouchers. Working Tax Credits: for working parents Parents currently working more than 16 hours per week may qualify for Working Tax Credit, which includes a childcare element designed to help towards the cost of childcare. This can be up to 70% of eligible childcare. Call the Tax Credit Helpline for more information on how much you may be eligible for, or go to Booking Fee To secure your child’s place, a booking fee of one weeks fee’s, to secure the place for six months, is required, of which £10 will be kept as an administration fee and the remainder deducted from your first payment. Late collection Fees If you are late for collecting your child, you may be charged a late collection fee. Terms of Notice If you wish to cancel your child’s place, written notice of one month must be given.  Fees must still be paid during the period of notice.

Updated April 2019