We happily welcome children from just 2 years old, and we are fully equipped for changing nappies! Children can start at any time i.e. mid-term. Any number of funded sessions accepted (subject to eligibility) plus the various employer voucher schemes and also the new Tax-Free Childcare account. For up-to-date information on all childcare cost support (including the 30 weekly funded hours) please go to https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

If you are interested in a place for your child, please contact Debbie, our voluntary administrator. Children on our waiting list are given priority when a space becomes available. Please note that our pre-school is near Crewe and not on The Wirral.

We now offer up to 30 hours of funded childcare per week for eligible children i.e. who are at least 3 years old with parents/carers who are usually both working (i.e. employed or self-employed) or on parental leave, each earning between roughly £6,500 and £100,000 per year. We are always very flexible regarding which sessions your child attends (and funded hours can be used on any day AM and/or PM), and accept bookings from just 1 session per week (although we strongly recommend at least 2 sessions as this helps your child to settle).

All children over 3 years old (and some 2 year olds – see below) continue to be eligible for at least 15 weekly funded hours, no matter what their family’s circumstances.

Opening hours

Monday to Friday, 8.30am to 3pm

3 hour sessions from 8.30am to 11.30am, and then midday to 3pm

Lunch club is from 11.30am to midday (subject to availability – we have 16 spaces)

Children must not be left early and should be collected on time.

The following childminders currently drop off and collect from pre-school:
Wendy Maguire – 01270 651272
Alison Weaver – 01270 483728, 07963 991587

Term dates

We follow the school term dates of Willaston Primary Academy

Free funding

Up to 30 hours per week of funded sessions are available for 3 and 4 year olds (which kicks in from the earliest of the 1 January, 1 April or 1 September following their 3rd birthday). 15 hours are available for certain 2 year olds depending on circumstances (contact Cheshire East for details by ringing 0300 123 5033). These funded sessions can be split with another nursery where applicable.

Fees

As a registered charity, we set our fees to cover our costs only (we spend 96% of our income on staffing and rent).

From September 2018, children who do not qualify for free funding are charged £26 for two sessions per week or £14.50 for a single weekly session.

There is also a small fee of 20p to cover the costs of snacks and other consumables used by the children, which applies to all children except funded 2 year olds.

Lunch club (where children are carefully supervised while they eat a packed lunch) is £2.60 per day, with the following concessions:

• funded 2 year olds – free
• 30 hour place – £1.25
• family of staff – £1.25
• older previously funded 2 year old – £1.25
• limited lunch club subsidies for low income families available

A standard full day costs £29.00.

Invoices are emailed out to parents/carers during the first week of each half-term, and must be paid by the due date.

Stikin labels

We recommend all of your child’s belongings are labelled (as otherwise it is difficult to match belongings to your child), and this product is excellent, plus they give the pre-school 30% commission (if you enter code 35315 into the order form). Please go to the following link to make an order – https://www.stikins.co.uk .

Bus subsidy

If you have to use the bus to bring your child to pre-school, please let Debbie know so she can arrange payment of a bus subsidy.

Withdrawing your child from pre-school

A month’s notice is usually required to withdraw your child from pre-school.