FEEE, Contracts & Fees Policy – January 2026
We recommend that all parents visit the Best Start in Life website to ensure that you understand and gain access to Funded Early Education Entitlement and Tax Free Childcare, prior to your child’s first term before they turn 9 months old.
Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE)
PIPS Nursery Ltd is a Private Independent business (PI) and works in partnership with the Local Authority (LA) to offer Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE). We apply FEEE during Term Time only 38 weeks per year. Details of how we provide Private Independent services and how to apply for FEEE hours, within our organisation are set out below:
Understanding your Funded Early Education Entitlement (FEEE) options
FEEE1W for Nine month up to two- 15 Hours for eligible working families
Definitions of funding is below: These dates have been fixed by the Department for Education and cannot be changed.
Nine-month-old children of eligible working parents - FEEE1W
From September 2024 you may be able to get FEEE1W for your child the term after they are nine months old if you meet the eligibility criteria.
If 9 months old between
- 1 April – 31 August
- 1 April – 31 August
- 1 April – 31 August
They get FEEE1W
- 1 September after they are 9 months old
- 1 January after they are 9 months old
- 1 April after they are 9 months old
FEEE1W – Working parents & children from 9 months old from the start of the term after they turn 2 years old. Eligibility criteria assessed via HMRC with eligibility code provided to setting – 15 hours per week (15 hours per week per child during term time only) From September 2024 (September 2025 at PIPS).
FEEE2W Two-year-old children of eligible working parents
From April 2024 you may be able to get FEEE2W for your child the term after they are two years old if you meet the eligibility criteria. (September 2025 at PIPS).
If their birthday is between
- 1 April – 31 August
- 1 September - 31 December 1
- 1 January – 31 March
They get FEEE2W
- 1 September after their 2nd birthday
- 1 January after their 2nd birthday
- 1 April after their 2nd birthday
FEEE2W – Working parents & children aged 2-year-olds from the start of the term after they turn 2 years old. Eligibility criteria assessed via HMRC with eligibility code provided to setting – 15 hours per week (15 hours per week per child during term time only) From April 2024 (September 2025 at PIPS).
FEEE2 Two-Year-Old Funded Early Education Entitlement
For further information please click on the following link Help paying for childcare: Free education and childcare for 2-year-olds if you claim certain benefits – GOV.UK
Help with childcare cost for 2-year olds Essex County Council use the Department for Education’s Eligibility Checking Service (ECS) to check that children meet the eligibility criteria based on benefits their parents receive (including Universal Credit). Eligible two-year-olds can access their FEEE the school term after they
turn two, see below:
If their birthday is between
- 1 April – 31 August
- 1 September - 31 December
- 1 January – 31 March
They get FEEE2
- 1 September after their 2nd birthday
- 1 January after their 2nd birthday
- 1 April after their 2nd birthday
FEEE2 – Eligibility for two-year-olds disadvantaged – these are NOT universal and only offered
to Eligible children via Essex County Council Education Portal.
FEEE3&4 Three- and Four-Year-Old FEEE – Universal 15 hours per week
All 3- and 4-years olds are entitled to receive the universal funded 15 hours per week funding for 38 week per year (term time), from the term after they have their third birthday, see below:
If their birthday is between
- 1 April – 31 August
- 1 September - 31 December
- 1 January – 31 March
They get FEEE3&4
- 1 September after their 3rd birthday
- 1 January after their 3rd birthday
- 1 April after their 3rd birthday
FEEE3&4 Extended Funded Entitlement (EFE) Three- and Four-Year-Old FEEE
Some children will be eligible for the EFE which is an additional 15 hours per week for 38 weeks per year.
You will be able to check your eligibility using the online Childcare calculator – GOV.UK and complete anonline application. Before you sign up for the extended entitlement, you need to look at all the options to make sure you choose the best package for you. It is possible that the childcare element of Working Tax Credit could be affected as you would likely be paying for less childcare.
- FEEE3 & 4 Universal Hours - 15 hours per week per child during term time only.
- FEEE3 & 4 Extended Hours EFE - (additional 15 hours per week per child during term time only) for parents eligible for extended hours. Eligibility criteria to be met and confirmed via Government HMRC website.
All FEEE hours are applied during the hours 08:00 – 18:00 during term time only (38 weeks per year in line with Essex County Council Funding and term dates) with the Voluntary Consumable Charge – please see details of what Voluntary Consumables Charge incorporates.
PIPS Nursery does NOT provide stretch FEEE.
Parent Agreement Form (PAF)– for FEEE Hours
Parents will be provided the Parental Agreement Form (PAF) and returned to PIPS Nursery prior to the Headcount Date. Your child’s funded hours cannot be transferred after this day and the funded hours cannot be amended after this day. This is because your Provider will be required to submit their claim for the hours to Essex County Council based on the funding agreed as of Headcount Day.
The purpose of the PAF
- The PAF is the authorisation provided by parents for Providers to confirm the funding that they claim from Essex County Council.
- By signing the PAF, the parent/carer is authorising the chosen Provider to claim for an agreed number of funded hours from their funding entitlement.
- The PAF is used to confirm the number of funded hours from the child’s entitlement that parent/carers are claiming with one or more Provider, and that the entitlement does not exceed the maximum offer for the ter.
- The PAF is used to confirm the eligible entitlement eligibility code.
- If relevant, the PAF is used to confirm which Provider should claim (Disability Access Funding) DAFon your behalf.
- The PAF is used to collect the parent/carer information to enable the provider to check if the child is eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP).
Shared Funding
All funding, excluding FEEE2, can be shared between 2 Providers if needed, providing either setting does not have a Sole Provider Policy in place. If you opt to share the funding, you must ensure the total hours claimed do not exceed the maximum funded hours per week.
Childcare Vouchers - Government Tax Free Childcare.
We accept most childcare voucher schemes including the Government Tax Free Childcare scheme, we recommend all parents check with their employers to understand which tax-free scheme they use. Please discuss this prior to your child joining the setting.
Government Tax Free Childcare scheme – Tax-Free Childcare – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- PIPS Nursery: SCA170319
- PIPS@Boytons: SCA170318
Once your child’s place has been confirmed you will be required to confirm which payment scheme you will be using to pay for your childcare. We ask that you use your child’s name and invoice number as reference where possible.
Voluntary Consumable Charge
Consumables for children accessing FEEE – voluntary daily charge. As the government funding is there to cover the basic provision of EYFS, there are certain things that are excluded from funding. Examples of these are
Meals and snacks, wipes, nappy changing equipment.
Extra activities gardening, cooking, music license for the settings.
Additional high-quality resources such as sensory equipment, woodwork tools, baking supplies, climbing apparatus, good quality educational toys, creative art supplies.
Our ‘Famly’ soft-ware, which provides us with safe communication amongst ourselves and a platform to share your children’s photos, videos and their assessments.
We strongly believe that early year’s education should be rich, engaging, and full of real-world experiences. To go beyond the basics and provide the quality of care and learning we are proud of, we offer an enhanced provision—which costs more to deliver than government funding provides.
If you do not wish to pay for the Voluntary Consumable Charge, please confirm in writing to PIPS Nursery Ltd. Consumables are charged according to a child’s attendance, the more hours and days they attend the consumable charge will be greater. If a child attends up to 30 hours a week and they attend four days, the consumable charge will be between £8 to £8.50 per day.
There is no consumable charge for children receiving FEEE1W (9 month+ funding).
Food/Snacks
Morning snack (10:00am), cooked hot meal and pudding at lunch (12:00), afternoon snack (15:00) and tea (17:00). We have a 5* rating from environmental health and we cater for all dietary and allergy requirements. Your child will be provided with our four weekly rotating healthy menu in line with our healthy eating policy. Please note that if a child has special dietary requirements the menu can be adjusted to meet their needs.
Contract Options with PIPS Nursery and PIPS@Boytons
Parents are required to complete a Registration Form prior to confirmation of a place at PIPS which is a Private/Voluntary/Individual (PI) Early Years Provider, and confirm the contract you wish to receive.
Please see details of our contracts below.
- PI Full Time contract Not Eligible for FEEE: 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday 50 weeks per year
- PI Part time contract Not Eligible for FEEE: Between the hours of 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday 50 weeks per year.
- FEEE Full Time contract: 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday 50 weeks per year (FEEE hours are applied from 8:00 to 18:00, during term time only – 38 weeks) PI hourly rate is applied outside of FEEE hours.
- FEEE Term time contract: 08:00 to 18:00, Monday to Friday 38 weeks per year (FEEE hours are applied from 08:00 to 18:00, during term time only – 38 weeks) PI hourly rate is applied outside of FEEE hours.
Absence from the Setting (Holiday & Illness)
Childs’/Family Absence
In line with our Attendance Policy, parents must notify PIPS Nursery and PIPS@Boytons within the first hour of them not attending and reason for not attending. Notice of Annual leave/holidays and/or occasional days off, parents
must inform the setting either by email, on ‘Famly’ or by text message with the minimum of four weeks’ notice. Your child’s place is still available to your child during their holiday and is non-refundable. In line with our Illness and Infection Control Policy, parents must inform the setting as soon as possible of your child’s illness and symptoms. Please be aware that we are unable to make doorstep decisions about
your child’s health and parents must contact the setting with any questions by telephone, prior to attendingYour child’s place is held for your child during their illness and is non-refundable.
Additional Sessions
If you require additional childcare outside of your child’s contracted days/hours, parents are asked to request additional session(s) by either email or in writing with as much notice as possible. PIPS Nursery and PIPS@Botyons will confirm availability and fees for the requested session(s)/dates by return of email. The fee for
the additional session(s) will be added to your next invoice. Please note we are unable to claim additional FEEE hours for additional sessions.
Cancellation of the additional session(s) must be made with a minimum of four weeks’ notice, if sufficient notice is not made the session(s) is non-refundable.
PI Hourly Rate outside of FEEE hours is £9.90
- Lunch: £5.00
- Tea: £5.00
Registration Fee –
Registration Fee will be charged, when confirmation that your child has a place at PIPS Nursery/PIPS@Boytons and is non-refundable.
£70.00
All Fees and charges are reviewed annually commencing April. – parents are notified via ‘Famly’ newsfeed.
How fees are calculated
Fees are calculated weekly (excluding the two-week shut down over Christmas), though the amount may differ per month as we work to the calendar month 30/31 days not the lunar month 28 days. When your child secures a FEEE place your PI contract comes to an end
and your new FEEE contract commences from when your child is in receipt of their funded hours (Essex County Council Term Time). PIPS Nursery and PIPS@Botyons are closed on Bank/Public holidays, your fee still applies on these days. Fees are still
applicable if you child is unable to attend the setting for any reason.
Setting Absence
The setting is closed for annual leave for up to 14 days during the Christmas period, excluding bank holidays, parents are not charged during this annual closure (excluding bank holidays). Parents will be notified of the closure dates with a minimum of four weeks’ notice. Every effort will be made to close outside of term time.
The setting is closed on all Bank Holidays. If the setting is closed over bank holidays
these bank holiday dates will be added to the settings closure.
FEEE – Bank Holidays – If your child is in receipt of FEEE, PIPS Nursery and PIPS@Boytons closes for all Bank Holiday’s, in line with the PAF that parents receive to confirm FEEE hours, parents will not be able to access their entitlement and cannot take the entitlement to another provider.
Inset Days
Where possible, training will take place outside of working hours. Where this is not possible, parents will be informed of the dates that training will be taking place (and the setting closure). Under this circumstance the session is non-refundable. FEEE – Early years childcare providers can claim Inset/Training days up to three days per academic year. Notice of closures will be made in writing no less than four weeks prior to closure.
Occasional closure
The setting may need to close for personal or illness purposes. As much notice as possible will be given for these closures. Parents will be offered an alternative session for their child, within a three-month period of the occasional closure. If a child attends full time (5 days per week) you will be offered a refund for this closure.
