Parent Funding Declaration 2025-2026
Parent Funding Declaration Form 2026-2027 (to be used for September 2026 onwards)
Government Funding Explained
Any advertising by the government about the 15-hours and 30-hours relates to a term time place only (38 weeks.)
At Enchanted Wood Preschool we offer two options, known as term time funding or 'stretched funding.'
Stretched funding relates to children attending all year round at full time sites, over 50 weeks and allows us to claim funding for the complete year.
You can read more about funding and claim here:
Supplements Explained
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework only requires the minimum provision for learning, development, and care. However, at Enchanted Wood Preschool we go above and beyond to enrich children’s early years experiences. We want every child to have the very best early years experience, a time when maximum brain capacity and develop happens.
We try to be very clear with what our Supplements Charge covers and have compiled a list of things not required as part of the EYFS delivery, but they significantly enhances the quality of care and education.
Our Supplement Charges are clearly shown on our invoice, these breakdown our Fully Funded Sessions, and any additional Fee Paying Sessions and Supplements chargeable daily. You can read more about our itemised breakdown on page 11 of our 'Enchanted Wood Preschool Fees, Funding and Supplement' Guide. This helps ensure a clear and transparent Fees, Funding and Supplements structure.
*Play 2 Learn (Bexley) and Free for 2 (Kent) funded children do not pay for supplement charges.
Support with Fees
Our Finance Team are here to support and help with any Fees, Funding and Supplement enquiries. You can call them on 07808 829 778 or email them at finance@enchantedwoodpreschool.co.uk.
Tax Free Childcare
The Government's Tax-Free Childcare scheme offers up to £2,000 a year per child towards childcare costs. For every £8 you pay into this account, the government will pay in £2 to use to pay your provider.
To check eligibility please visit www.beststartinlife.gov.uk. If eligible, you will need to set up an online childcare account for your child. Please provide our Finance Team with your TFC number.
Universal Credit
If you pay for childcare while you go to work, Universal Credit can pay some of your childcare costs. You have to pay for your childcare costs yourself. Then you report them to Universal Credit, and Universal Credit pays some of the money back. You can read further information here or via the government website: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/universal-credit-childcare-costs
You can get up to 85% of childcare costs paid back to you. The maximum amount a month is £950.92 for one child & £1,630.15 for 2 or more children.
At Enchanted Wood Preschool our private fees, funded hours and supplements covered a range of things above and beyond a universal entitlement... we strive to be the best we can be and this shows in our 'Outstanding' Ofsted gradings.
To ensure we break down the charges and allow complete transparancy you can read an itemised charges list on page 11 on our Fees, Funding and Supplement Guide.
You can read full government guidelines to learn more here:
F - included within funded hours
S - included within supplements charges and in private fees
High Quality Tracking and Monitoring of Progress
• A portfolio of photos, observations and memories to keep F S
• High Quality Tracking Sheets clearly sharing termly progress F S
• Home Learning Opportunities shared on Social Media and Parent's WhatsApp groups F S
• Parent Development Review Phone Calls each term F S
• Parent Workshops, Learning Opportunities and Support S
Enriched Learning Experiences Through Trips & Outings
• Weekly phonics sessions with Robot Reg S
• Visits to our local area including Farms, Churches, Pumpkin Patch and Soft Play S
• Visits to the preschool from Little City, Mango Tree Kids and Zoo Lab S
• Train and bus ride tickets S
• Fire station & police station visits S
• Library & rhyme time sessions S
• Local walks (duck feeding, exploring nature, parks) F S
• Panto visits & seasonal theatre experiences S
• Heritage sites and historical experiences S
• Picnic trips and ice creams S
• School transition trips & teacher visits F S
Premium Sleep & Comfort Provisions
• Individual sleep mats, cots, or beds, creating calming spaces for the perfect rest F S
• Soft blankets, pillows & comforters F S
• Rocking chairs or gliders for comforting infants S
• Washing and laundering bedding regularly S
Creative, Messy & Sensory Play
• Painting aprons & protective clothing F S
• High-quality arts & crafts materials (canvas, acrylics, glitter, sequins) F S
• Sensory play trays (water, foam, kinetic sand, edible play materials) F S
• Baking, food play & cooking experiences F S
• Loose parts play & open-ended wooden resources F
• Light tables & glow-in-the-dark sensory play S
• Hatching chickens & butterfly life cycle experiences S
• Themed craft projects (e.g., Mother’s Day, Father’s Day, Christmas) F S
• Enhanced craft activities (e.g., keepsake canvases, clay handprints) S
• Home learning resource kits & take-home activities F S
Specialist Music, Movement & Cultural Experiences
•Weekly dance lessons with Baby Ballet S
• Musical instruments & percussion sets F
• Music lessons with Jo Jingles S
• Mindfulness and Yoga Coaching with Your Floating Bed S
• Weekly football sessions with Football Coaching S
• World music & cultural celebrations with Mango Tree Kids S
• Enhanced reading book schemes F S
Specialist Sports and Physical Experiences
•Weekly football lessons with Football Coaching S
•Weekly balance bike sessions with CycleMe Tots S
• Annual sport's day with presentation medals F S
• Specialist sports equipment F S
• Bikes, ride ons and wheeled toys F S
• Outdoor climbing frames & adventure play F
Outdoor Learning & Nature Experiences
• Forest School sessions (fire-building, den-making, nature play) F S
• Mud kitchens & nature play areas F
• Gardening activities & growing F S
• Water play areas, sandpits, and refilling sand annually F
• Bug hotels & mini-beast exploration kits F S
• Outdoor learning shelters & covered play areas F
• Puddle suits, wellies & waterproofs provided by the setting S
• Hi-vis jackets for outings S
• Outdoor craft activities (e.g., bird feeders) S
• Grass cutting, weeding, and outdoor space maintenance S
Additional Mealtime & Nutrition Support
• Zebedees used for dietary advice, prepare healthy lunch meals and delivery service S
• Two healthy snacks per day S
• Two-course cooked lunches (at full time sites) S
• Breakfast & evening meal provisions (at full time sites) S
• Fresh, organic, or premium food ingredients S
• Special dietary catering beyond allergy requirements S
• Baking activities & cooking lessons S
• Drinks: fruit juice, squash, water (milk provided by Cool Milk under the nursery milk scheme) F
• Meal times including picnics & meals out S
• Monthly cooking sessions S
Seasonal & Celebration Events
• Christmas parties, visits from Santa & gifts F S
• Halloween trails, face painting & party treats F S
• Easter activities & Easter Egg for every child F S
• Birthday celebrations with provided birthday gift for every child F S
• Graduation celebrations & Graduation Bear and bag keepsake gifts F S
• Family parties & social events F S
• Leavers’ parties & gifts F S
• Stay & play sessions for families F S
Transport & Accessibility Enhancements
• Pushchairs & buggies for younger children on trips F
• Minibus for day trips S
• Staff mileage claims for shopping & errands S
• Extra staffing for trips to ensure safety S
Specialist Staff Training (Enhancing Quality Beyond EYFS Minimums)
• Reggio Emila and Further Professional training S
• Neuroscience & brain development courses S
• Outdoor learning & Forest School leader training S
• SEND (Special Educational Needs & Disabilities) training S
• Speech & language development courses S
• Emotional coaching & positive behaviour training S
• One-to-one or small group interventions (not SEND-related) F S
• Additional evening & weekend training S
Additional Staffing Costs & Administration
• Time for shopping for resources like nappies, wipes & snacks S
• Staff time spent preparing and administering invoices F S
• Online Parent Admin invoicing systems for parents (for tax, UC claims) F S
• Parent communication apps & enhanced development feedback F S
• Extra observations & assessments beyond statutory requirements S
• Parent info-sharing meetings, parent evenings, reports F S
• Ad hoc parent meetings & support calls F S
• Medication administration and training (not mandatory in EYFS) F S
• ICO registration fees S
• First aid training for staff beyond basic requirements F S
• Washing & disposing of nappies, bibs & flannels F S
• Public Liability Insurance F
Staff Wages & Training Academy (EWTA)
• Paying our staff a competitive salary above and beyond living wage S
• Paying our staff a competitive pension, sick pay and paid birthday off in S
• Opportunities for further staff development through our Enchanted Wood Training Academy (EWTA) S
• Staff rewards and bonus to support staff retention S
Why This Matters to Parents
EYFS only provides the minimum requirements for early years care and education. However, we invest far more into ensuring children have a rich, high-quality early years experience. Without additional supplements contributions, many of these valuable experiences, trips, learning resources, and comforts would not be possible.
Supplements are optional.
We offer a limited numbers of fully funded supplement free places across all our sites to support families and those in need. Please contact us to find out more information.
Sadly, the funding rates still only cover the basics of Early Years Education and we want to offer a private package way above what the statutory offer, in this vital five years of development.
We hope this highlights the huge gap between government funding and what parents actually expect from a high-quality childcare setting.
Thank you supporting us to ensure we give every children the best start in life.
You can read more about the under funding national crisis here: