Funding & Fee's

At Magdalene Preschool, a not-for-profit organisation, we are committed to providing high-quality early education that is both accessible and affordable. We recognise that childcare can be a significant expense for families, which is why we strive to keep our fees as low as possible. We are proud to offer a combination of government-funded places (for those who are eligible) and fee-paying options, ensuring we can support the diverse needs of our families

Funding

Government Funded Hours – 15 and 30 Hours Entitlement

At Magdalene Preschool, we are pleased to offer government-funded childcare places to eligible families through the 15 and 30 hours free childcare scheme.

All 3 and 4-year-olds are entitled to 15 hours of free early education each week during term time (38 weeks per year). This is known as the universal entitlement and does not require an application — we handle this directly with you once your child becomes eligible.

In addition, working families may be entitled to up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week for children aged 2, 3 and 4, depending on eligibility.

Some 2-year-olds may also qualify for 15 hours of funded childcare if families meet specific criteria, such as receiving Income Support, Universal Credit, or certain other benefits.

When does funding start?

Funded hours begin the term after your child's third birthday (or second birthday if eligible):

Born 1st September – 31st December → Funding starts from January
Born 1st January – 31st March → Funding starts from April
Born 1st April – 31st August → Funding starts from September

These funded hours are designed to support your child’s early development while making childcare more accessible and affordable for families.

How to apply:

For the universal 15 hours (for 3 and 4-year-olds), no application is necessary — we’ll arrange this with you directly.
For the 30 hours or 2-year-old funding, please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk to check your eligibility and apply.
If you need help, a member of our team will be happy to support you through the process.

Tax-Free Childcare

In addition to government-funded hours, you may also be eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, a government scheme designed to help working parents with the cost of childcare.

For every £8 you pay into your online childcare account, the government will add an extra £2 — up to £2,000 per child per year (or up to £4,000 if your child has a disability). These funds can be used to pay for approved childcare, including Magdalene Preschool fees.

You can use Tax-Free Childcare in combination with your 15 or 30 hours funded childcare (if eligible), helping to make early years education more accessible and affordable.

To check your eligibility and set up an account, please visit: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

If you have any questions or need assistance, a member of our team will be happy to help.

Fees

At Magdalene Preschool, we offer flexible session options to support the needs of our families. Our core sessions run from 9:00am to 12:00pm and 12:00pm to 3:00pm, term time only.

For families not accessing funded hours, session fees are as follows:

2-year-olds: £25 per session
3 and 4-year-olds: £20 per session

We also offer an Early Drop-Off from 8:30am to 9:00am at £6.50 per session.

Children aged 3 and above can also access our Lunch Club from 12:00pm to 1:00pm, available at £6.50 per session.

Snack - We provide a variety of healthy snacks each morning, which rotate weekly.

To help cover costs and keep fees low, we ask for a £40 annual donation from each family.

We aim to provide high-quality early education at an affordable rate. If you have any questions about fees or availability, please don’t hesitate to contact us—we’re always happy to help