FAQ
Welcome to the Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ page). Below, we have tried to answer the most common questions visitors may have. If you find that your question is not answered on this page, then email or call!
Can my child come for free?
Once your child is three the government will pay for them to come to Smarties in the following term, e.g. 3 before 31st December funded from January, 3 before 31st March funded after Easter holidays, 3 before 31st August funded in September
At what age can my child join you?
We accept children from the age of 2. Don’t worry if they’re not toilet trained, just bring a bag with a change of clothes and nappies. and when you start toilet training we’ll work alongside you.
At what age does my child have to leave?
Your child can stay with us until they are 5 and many do! Once your child has settled many parents feel that it is to unsettling to move them again before they start school.
But doesn’t that mean that I won’t be able to have my school place if I don’t use that school’s nursery?
This is a common question but simply the law says you have to have a school place! Every school has a catchment area and therefore a school place for your child, irrelevant of which nursery they attend. Actually, if you choose a school nursery out of catchment area it still does not guarantee you a place in that school.
How do you set your session fees?
Fees and funding are used to pay rent for the room, wages, replace equipment, supplies, snacks, training, insurance, administration (paperwork, profiles etc) . As mentioned in the media prices have escalated over the last few years. This is mainly due to the introduction of the Minimum Working Wage and the high staff child ratio’s required for two year olds (1 member of staff to every 4 two year olds, 1 to 8 for three year olds)