badger63 Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 Recently taken over a preschool and they have always charged extras for snack is this allowable and what if a parent can't pay Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louby loo Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 You can charge as long as you give parents the option to provide their own snack. (for funded children that is) x Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fredbear Posted March 23, 2017 Share Posted March 23, 2017 We ask for a contribution towards our snack. Of course any parent/carer that would like to provide their own healthy snack can. But with 60 childrens on roll not one has. It's currently 20 pence per session. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lyanne Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 We ask for a voluntary donation & have a tub on the front desk for people to put the money in. A setting must not make payment a condition of the funded hours - I was a a meeting this morning & another setting had recently been audited and told they needed to stop putting 'suggested snack donation of 20p per session' can also be paid with the invoice' on their invoices. We did discuss what we can charge for & nappies & wipes were suggested as something that parents should be providing or be charged for, if that helps :-) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 A setting must not make payment a condition of the funded hours - I was a a meeting this morning & another setting had recently been audited and told they needed to stop putting 'suggested snack donation of 20p per session' can also be paid with the invoice' on their invoices. We did discuss what we can charge for & nappies & wipes were suggested as something that parents should be providing or be charged for, if that helps :-) However it clearly states in the new funding formula that the funding DOES NOT cover food...so that might be an interesting conversation! 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted March 25, 2017 Share Posted March 25, 2017 We are being put in an impossible situation. As Finleysmaid points out the rules state funding does not cover food BUT charging and the payment for it must be a voluntary contribution from the parents. As a sessional preschool it is the only way we could cover any shortfall. Increasing our fees will not really help as few parents take more than their 15 hours. So basically anything we think about charging for would have to voluntary or parents supply their own. For those who are already using additional payments / donations - do or can parents use gift aid? Apologies if that is a silly question. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynned55 Posted March 27, 2017 Share Posted March 27, 2017 We used to have a 'voluntary' fund raising fee. Parents used to sign a gift aid form for this, which from memory often bought us in quite a bit extra. I think it was around 25% however I'm sure the rules changed so am not sure what it is now. We are however seriously considering re introducing it again for September for when children go onto funding or start on funding. I dont want to ask those that are paying fees as dont feel it is fair for them to keep subsidizing everything. I'm so fed up with this whole funding issue and trying to work out what we will do in Sept when we will be losing 0.90p per hour per funded child. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MegaMum Posted March 30, 2017 Share Posted March 30, 2017 We give parents the option and have done for ages, and county have no problem with it. We offer parents the option of providing a healthy snack, ie. fruit, or they can have our for 30p a day. Only 2 children have brought their own snack in all the years we have given this option, and they quickly changed to ours as they wanted what all the other children were having. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarshaD Posted April 4, 2017 Share Posted April 4, 2017 We don't charge for snack. It only costs me about £5 a week so is manageable. I also would find it tricky to administrate, as we have a snack bar, so sometimes children have snack and other times they don't and I wouldn't want to have to start keeping a register. We do ask parents to provide wipes and nappies, but quite a few don't provide wipes so might start charging for that but in all honesty there are unlikely to pay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsdance Posted April 11, 2017 Share Posted April 11, 2017 You are not allowed to charge for wipes as they should be part of the basic hygiene of the setting. You can charge for nappies though. We put a voluntary donation of £10 per half term on all invoice and I presume most of the funded children pay it but we don't discriminate against any that don't (I don't actually know who pays and who doesn't as it all goes via bacs and the treasurer deals with it). We will probably also start asking for a donation towards Action Kids who we have in once a half term but don't have anything else we can charge for - all children bring their own lunches. September will be interesting, if we are still open. There doesn't seem to be the children out there that there used to be even with the 30 hours coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 You are not allowed to charge for wipes as they should be part of the basic hygiene of the setting. interesting....surely water is your basic hygiene....who suggested wipes must be provided?? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsdance Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 interesting....surely water is your basic hygiene....who suggested wipes must be provided?? They don't say wipes must be provided but if you do you can't make a charge for them. They are classed the same as tissues as if you have them they are part of the basic provision. Hope that makes sense. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 They don't say wipes must be provided but if you do you can't make a charge for them. They are classed the same as tissues as if you have them they are part of the basic provision. Hope that makes sense. now following on from our mythbusting campaign on here....who says so???? 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louby loo Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 I'm pretty sure our LA says wipes and nappies can be charged. I suppose it depends what you are using them for? We only really use them for nappy changing so defo chargeable in my opinion. I guess if you use them all the time as general clean-up wipes after arts/crafts etc maybe not - we just use soap and water these. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panders Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 'officially' I don't provide any wipes. Parents should provide wipes for bottoms! However, I do have one who just doesn't, neither do they provide a nappy bag - I don't chase them up though, their family life is fairly hectic and I am just happy when they provide enough nappies :blink:. So in the cupboard we do have wipes - various for different types of jobs, but that is because I choose to have them, not because we have to have them. 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lsp Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 Officially we don't provide wipes, nappies, nappy sacks, suncream,spare clothes, coats, gloves, hats and wellies. Nor do we officially take them home to wash them. Hey ho! Wonder how that all sits in the model agreement. We are introducing a voluntary payment for snack and previously mentioned consumables. We will review this at the end of the term. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
louby loo Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 (edited) 'officially' I don't provide any wipes. Parents should provide wipes for bottoms! However, I do have one who just doesn't, neither do they provide a nappy bag - I don't chase them up though, their family life is fairly hectic and I am just happy when they provide enough nappies :blink:. So in the cupboard we do have wipes - various for different types of jobs, but that is because I choose to have them, not because we have to have them. Same as us, we don't charge if we do end up using ours. To be honest our parents are really good........and I surprised that haven't charged me for 'nicking' theirs! :lol: I am the world's worst at putting them back their bags when I change them - at the end of the day I have a small collection .. :lol: :lol: Edited April 12, 2017 by louby loo 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Panders Posted April 12, 2017 Share Posted April 12, 2017 Officially we don't provide wipes, nappies, nappy sacks, suncream,spare clothes, coats, gloves, hats and wellies. Nor do we officially take them home to wash them. Hey ho! Wonder how that all sits in the model agreement. We are introducing a voluntary payment for snack and previously mentioned consumables. We will review this at the end of the term. Ditto 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Conker Posted April 13, 2017 Share Posted April 13, 2017 Our committee were against charging for snack so we have a basket by our signing in sheet with ' things we like' eg fruit, wipes, biscuits etc laminated label on it, there is also space to write if there is something particular we want. I find most parents are generous especially when we have primed the children that we would really really like a juicy melon, pineapple, or oh dear we have run out of biscuits you'll have to get some for us next time you go shoping with mum..... The oh no we'll have to wipe our noses on toilet paper usually results in a box of tissues appearing by the next session! ::1a Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynned55 Posted April 18, 2017 Share Posted April 18, 2017 I'm still waiting for an answer to finleysmaid question. Who says we CANT charge for wipes and when did they become part of our general hygiene?? Please someone tell me We only use them for nappy changing and currently that's only 3 children. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Verona Posted April 23, 2017 Share Posted April 23, 2017 I explain to new parents with children in nappies that they put nappies and wipes in their bags in the cloakroom which we use when they are changed. All parents are expected to put a change of clothes for their child in their bags in case of accidents or the.children get wet playing with water. Parents supply sun creams. I buy our own wipes, tissues and nappy sacks. We have some spare clothes and sun hats. I ask that parents bring in donations for snack but occasionally I have to buy bits and pieces. Generally parents are good about snack - all sorts of fruit, tomatoes, cucumber, carrots etc, bread, crackers and spreads. V Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseketeer Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 I'm still waiting for an answer to finleysmaid question. Who says we CANT charge for wipes and when did they become part of our general hygiene?? Please someone tell me We only use them for nappy changing and currently that's only 3 children. We introduced a charge a term ago for nappies, wet wipes, nappy sacks...not really because of the money more because the parents are asked to ensure they have all in their bags and it got really annoying that the same few never think it means them ...and still don't, they will be getting their first extras invoice alongside their fees invoice this week, more work for me to go through the record book to check who owes what to be honest but hopefully it will put a stop to the serial offenders :-D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsdance Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 now following on from our mythbusting campaign on here....who says so???? Sorry I haven't been on for a while so have only just seen this. Here is an excerpt from our provider agreement which sets out what you can and cannot charge for. This is from 2015 as the new one won't be ready until sometime in May. Purchase of Services Visits/ Specialist Services: Providers may make reasonable charges for visits and specialist services such as music provision or language tuition taught by a qualified teacher. Parents should not be required to pay for these services as a condition of a place. An alternative quality learning and development experience that meets the requirements of the EYFS must be made available for children who do not participate in these activities. Services that can be delivered by a practitioner such as cookery or PE must not be charged for. Voluntary Contributions Parents may be asked for a voluntary contribution but these must be entirely voluntary and parents and children must not be penalised as a result. Meals: Providers may make reasonable charges for meals however; these charges must not be a condition of accessing EEF. There should be the option of providing a packed lunch. Providers should inform BCC of their charging arrangements for lunches; BCC will challenge where prices are considered to be unreasonable. Snacks: Snacks are provided free of charge and the cost to provide this is factored into the Early Education Funding rate. Uniforms: Uniforms may be made available for purchase but this must be on a voluntary basis, not mandatory. Registration Fees/ Deposits: Under no circumstances should a registration fee or deposit be charged for accessing an EEF place. Registration fees may be applied to additional hours/services that do not form part of the EEF stand-alone offer. Nappies Charges may be made for nappies but personal hygiene products e.g. soap, cream, wipes, must be readily available. There should be the option to provide their own. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
finleysmaid Posted April 24, 2017 Share Posted April 24, 2017 well starsdance I think it might be interesting to see if any changes come in to play in May then! I suspect as settings we may be more alert to these things! Lea's have their own agreements ...another example of what goes for one doesn't go for another! :wacko: :blink: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsdance Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 We have the new 'draft' agreement and this will be their stance on charging: Charging The entitlement is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. However, providers may charge for meals and snacks as part of a free entitlement place and they may also charge for consumables such as nappies or suncream and for such services as trips and yoga. These charges must be voluntary for the parent. In circumstances where a parent is unable or unwilling to pay for any meals or consumables, providers who offer entitlement places are responsible for setting their own policy on how to respond. Options should include waiving or reducing the cost of meals and consumables, or allowing parents to supply their own. Voluntary contributions from parents must be voluntary. They cannot be included on an invoice and parents must not feel obliged or pressurised into paying them. Where parents raise concern with over voluntary contributions, then will investigate. We may look at how many parents pay the voluntary contribution suggested by the provider, and if there are any repercussions to parents who do not pay it, to see if it can be concluded whether it is accurately deemed as voluntary. Providers must deliver the free entitlements consistently, so that all children accessing any of the free entitlements receive the same quality and access to provision, regardless of whether they opt to purchase additional hours or services, or pay for their meals or consumables. Providers must be completely transparent about any additional charges being presented to parents. Their invoices and receipts need to be clear, easy to understand, and itemised allowing parents to see that they have received their child’s free entitlement completely free of charge, and then be able to clearly understand any additional fees relating to additional hours or services. (A sample invoice can be found on So I presume if I want to charge a voluntary contribution or make charges for services I need to do a completely separate invoice. I can't actually look at their sample invoice as their website has crashed!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 You are not allowed to charge for wipes as they should be part of the basic hygiene of the setting. You can charge for nappies though. We put a voluntary donation of £10 per half term on all invoice and I presume most of the funded children pay it but we don't discriminate against any that don't (I don't actually know who pays and who doesn't as it all goes via bacs and the treasurer deals with it). We will probably also start asking for a donation towards Action Kids who we have in once a half term but don't have anything else we can charge for - all children bring their own lunches. September will be interesting, if we are still open. There doesn't seem to be the children out there that there used to be even with the 30 hours coming in. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thumper Posted April 27, 2017 Share Posted April 27, 2017 (edited) Hi Stardance Our local offer clearly states we cannot add donations on to invoices. Will you still be able to collect money this way? Edited April 27, 2017 by Thumper Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
starsdance Posted April 28, 2017 Share Posted April 28, 2017 Hi Stardance Our local offer clearly states we cannot add donations on to invoices. Will you still be able to collect money this way? After reading the model guidance it doesn't look like it so will have to think of another way. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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