Childcare charges and payment

Details of costs and how to pay for childcare learning and play service facilities

Childcare fees are set by local councillors and are reviewed regularly.

Currently the fees are set as shown below

Concessionary fee rate:

• Registered unemployed but not in receipt of benefit
• In receipt of benefits, eg:   
  - Job Seekers Allowance - families need to supply a recent letter from the Benefits Agency confirming Income - Based Job Seeker's Allowance, or have their local benefits agency complete a declaration of entitlement  
  - Asylum seeker (NASS) receiving means tested benefit 
  - Incapacity Benefit 
  - Disability Living Allowance 
  - Registered disabled 
  - Income Support - proof can be via a bank statement with DWPIS.                  

These categories are only applicable when neither parent/carer in the household is in employment. If the parent/carer is part of a household where the other parent/carer is in employment, the family should pay full fee and apply for Working Tax Credit childcare subsidy (see help with costs below).

Term time fees

All term time payments must be made at least one week in advance.

If you pay a full term or half term in advance for term time care, paying within the first two weeks of the term, we will make a reduction of 5% of your fees.

Credit card payments for half term or full term can also be accepted; again this reduces your fees by 5%.

The 5% savings outlined above apply to both full fee and concessionery fee payers.

The service operates for at least 190 days during term time. The dates are set in line with the local education authority (LEA) schools' calendar. Individual schools, however, may arrange additional/different inset training days on which the school closes. the care service will still operate on these days and payment is expected if your child's school closes for inset days outside thoses set by the LEA.

Parents/carers will be deemed to be in arrears if they have not kept to the agreed timescales.

Refunds are not given for term time absence, e.g. sickness and certain extra inset days (see above).

Holiday care fees

Holiday payments are made in advance of the scheme, with the booking form. You may pay by credit card, cheque or postal order.

Borough residents will not be required to pay for holiday care for third or subsequent siblings living at the same home address. Evidence of family relationship will be required. This discount will not apply to term time care or out of borough residents.

Any debts incurred may result in your child's place being withdrawn.

Please note that refunds are only given when a child has not attended the holiday/term time provision and can supply a medical certificate. A £5 administration fee is levied on all refunds.

Day trips during holiday care will be charged at full cost to parents/carers.

Help with costs  

You could be entitled to help towards the cost of using our services through Working Tax Credit. 

The childcare element of WTC can help with upto 80% of your childcare costs.

The Working Tax Credit helpline number is 0845 300 3900, or you can visit the website at www.inlandrevenue.gov.uk/taxcredits or any Inland Revenue enquiry centre will help you claim. Alternatively you can get advice from:

Shepherds Bush Advice Centre
338 Uxbridge Road
London
W12 7LL
Telephone: 020 8753 5913

Fulham Citizens Advice Bureau
The Pavillion
1 Mund Street
London
W14 9LY
Telephone: 020 7385 1322

Useful telephone numbers:

Children's Information Service (for general information on childcare) 020 8735 5868

For further information about term time and holiday provision call 020 8753 3786