Fees and Funding
Fees
First Step Community Project is a registered charity. We try to make our nursery as accessible to all with very reasonable nursery fees. These fees along with fundraising, membership and external grants are what keeps the Project going.
Currently our Wee Bears can expect to pay £41.40 - £55.20 per week depending on the sessions allocated. Big Bears can be up to £150 per week depending on sessions allocated and funded entitlement. Our fee rates are revised each year.
Funding
First Step Nursery is in partnership with East Lothian Council to offer funded early learning and childcare places for three and four year olds. Children can receive up to 1140 hours worth of free early learning and childcare over 38 weeks of the year (pro-rata according to child’s eligibility).
Currently our model allows children to access up to 30 hours. We deliver this over Monday - Thursday 8.30am - 4.00pm. There is the option of full and ½ days should you not wish to take up the full 30 hours per week.
First Step Nursery also offers funded early learning and childcare places to eligible two year olds who meet the Government criteria which is provided below. Children will receive up to 456 hours worth of free early learning and childcare over 38 weeks of the year (pro-rata according to child’s eligibility). A maximum of 4½ days (equivalent of 12 hours) are offered across Monday - Thursday (depending on availability). Parents/Carers receiving this funded place do not make any contributions to snacks or lunches.
"Scotland's free Early Learning and Childcare helps to give children a great start to their education. It encourages them to learn through play with other children and promotes the development of language and social skills in a safe and fun environment. It also helps them prepare for school. It's good for parents too, giving them the flexibility they need to organise family life. It also allows parents to get back to work, study or training." - Scottish Government
2 Year old eligibility criteria
To be able to get this support, the child must be from a household where parents/carers are receiving one or more of the following benefits:
Income Support
Jobseekers Allowance (Income Based)
Employment and Support Allowance (Income Based)
Incapacity Benefit or Severe Disablement Allowance
Pension Credit
Child Tax Credit but not Working Tax Credit with annual income less than £18,725
Both maximum Child Tax Credit and Working Tax Credit with annual income less than £8,717
Universal Credit where the monthly household earned income does not exceed £726
(A copy of your online Journal Statement confirming your monthly payment and take-home-pay must be provided with your application.)Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999.
Alternative criteria
Parents who are care experienced
Two year olds who are looked after, under a kinship care order, or with a guardian become entitled from the moment they have this status on or after their 2nd birthday. They do not need to wait until the first term after as those on qualifying benefits do. Councils can use their discretion to allocate places sooner.
For further information on funded places please contact Jennifer Mitchell, Early Years Manager on 0131 665 0848 or email earlyyears@firststepmusselburgh.co.uk