At Circus Day Nursery we offer an inclusive price for all age groups, which means there are no hidden surprises for you on your invoice. Our fees cover all snacks, meals, nappies, accessories, disposal and baby formula milk. (The only exception is when parents are in receipt of Government Free funding for 2, 3 and 4 year olds. This funding covers only basic childcare costs, so additional drinks, snacks, food, nappies and accessories etc will be charged as extra during your ‘free funded’ period only.) Our pricing structure is defined, offering part time and full time sessions, with the full daily rate discounted and weekly rate discounted even further.

A one off registration fee of £75.00 per child applies, to cover all administration and paperwork associated with new starters.

Childcare Vouchers

We accept most childcare vouchers from employers who offer this benefit to their eligible employees as an e-voucher. Vouchers are non-taxable and exempt from NI contributions for employees, whilst offering NI savings for employers. Both parents are eligible to claim as long as they are both in employment. Further information can be found at www.childcarevouchers.co.uk.

Tax credits

Tax credits are available from HM Revenue and Customs, based on household circumstances. You may be able to access help with the cost of ‘Ofsted approved’ childcare, if you are working for a minimum of 16 hours per week. Check on-line at https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/tax-credits for further information and eligibility.

Government funding

We are excited to announce that starting in September 2024, we will accept government funding for children aged nine months, in addition to the funding already provided for two-year-olds and three- and four-year-olds and in September 2025 with the introduction of government policy to increase childcare hours, hope to offer the 30 hours, subject to availability. Since we are open year-round (excluding Christmas and bank holidays), and to ensure consistency, the funded hours will be extended over 51 weeks of the year. Funding amounts for the other age groups will remain the same and will begin from the term following the child’s ninth month. The terms commence on January 1, April 1, and September 1. Please note that the government provides funding for only 38 weeks of the year, in accordance with our policies.

As part of this scheme, Circus Day Nursery will receive a basic amount per hour for your child, up to 15 hours per week. Two- and three-year-old children will be eligible for grant funding starting in the term following their third birthday. This scheme is separate from Circus Day Nursery’s pricing strategy and is not all-inclusive. (This funding covers basic childcare and does not include consumables such as drinks, snacks, food, nappies, specialist activities and accessories.) You will receive further information from the setting when you meet with us. Disadvantaged two-year-old funding is applied for through Gloucestershire County Council, as this is subject to individual criteria.

The 30-hour Government Childcare Scheme is optional for each provider. While not every setting may accept this funding because it does not cover the full cost of delivery, we at Circus offer limited financing options stretched over 51 weeks of the year to parents.

This incentive supports working parents. Since Circus Day Nursery and Pre-School is a private, all-year-round setting (not term-time only), it benefits both parents and the setting, as well as for budgeting purposes, to provide stretch funding throughout the year instead of just during term-time. In this model, it’s advisable for parents to view this as an annual 570/1140 hours per child.

The application process and verification occur on the government website to establish eligibility. If you currently receive tax credits, you might consider completing an assessment on the government website to discover which option best suits your interests.

If a parent meets the criteria for the funded hours, they will receive a DERN number from the government site. This DERN number must be provided to the setting, which will check the availability of sessions and spaces and notify you accordingly.

Please note that the DERN number is only valid for a short period (approximately three months). While applying early will give you an idea of your eligibility, you may also need to reapply. The DERN number must be applied for throughout the year to ensure ongoing eligibility.