Sustainability

Practical information and fees

“The best classroom and the richest cupboard is roofed only by the sky."

- Margaret McMillan

We are proud to do things differently at Bee in the Woods.

We are open to any child aged 3 to 7. Children may join a couple of months prior to their third birthday and stay at our Kindergarten until the term after their fifth birthday. We also offer homeschool and flexi-school sessions for school-aged children looking for alternative educational activities.  

We offer a unique Forest Kindergarten Approach with significantly higher ratios of adults to children than average. We are also a highly-qualified team with 7 qualified teachers and 9 Forest School/Beach School leaders, providing the highest quality Early Years education based on a deep understanding of child development and the importance of play

REGISTRATION FEES

Admissions

Our Kindergarten intakes are in September and April and our next intake will be April 2024.

Families registered on our waiting list are offered places first, with priority given to those requesting a place for 2 days or more per week and those who live within walking distance to our woodland.

Intakes and Waiting List

Bee in the Woods has two intakes a year; our main intake is in September, with an additional intake in April.  From time to time places may become available mid-term, when for example, a family moves away from the area.  Mid-term places are offered to the next eligible family on our waiting list.  Families registered on our waiting list are offered places first, with priority given to those who live in close proximity to Bee in the Woods and those requesting a place for 2 days or more per week.

We understand that we offer something unique and have found demand very high. We do our best to accommodate everyone and we allocate places on a first-come, first-served basis.

However priority will be given to:

* Children on our waiting list
* Children already attending the setting and requiring additional hours
* Siblings of children already attending
* Children booked in for two days or more
* Proximity to Bee in the Woods
* Children of employees
* Social Service referrals

ENROLMENT FEE

We ask for a non-refundable enrolment fee of £100. Included in this fee is a high-quality Didricksons all-weather suit with dungarees and jacket and our enrolment processing fee.

It is very important that all children in our care are warm and comfortable, particularly on days when the weather isn't at its best. We have tried and tested many brands, but swear by Scandinavian Didricksons for durability, flexibility and strength.

CHARGES

A Bee Day runs from 9.30am-3.30pm, with optional breakfast club and extra play times.

We recommend a minimum attendance of 2 days per week. Full Day​ 9.30am-3.30pm – Fees include healthy vegetarian snacks, drinks, enrichment activities delivered by qualified teachers & Forest School practitioners, and trips to the beach, farms, museums, libraries etc..

* Non-Funded Fee  -  £55 for 6 hour session (38 weeks a year/term-time only)
* Part-Funded Space - (EYFE Funding for 5 hours a day/38 weeks a year) - £26 a day
* Fully-Funded Space - 9.30am-3.30pm. (A limited number of completely free spaces available for low income families using universal & extended funding) - £0
* Early Bird Breakfast (optional) ​8.30-9.30am​ - ​Join us early. Healthy breakfast provided.   Fee - £9
* Bee Wild Holiday Club Tues -Fri (Every school holiday (closed Christmas week and first week of summer holidays)) 9.30am-3pm  Fee - £45 per day
* Forest Bee Homeschool Groups - Mondays, Tuesdays & Fridays. Ages 5-8. Fee - £55 per full day. Sibling discount £50 per day each.
* Extra Playtime - (optional during summer term) 3.30pm-4pm. Stay and play for longer. Fee- £4.50

USING THE GOVERNMENT FUNDING ENTITLEMENT

All 3-5-year-old children are able to access 570 hours of entitlement hours funded by the Government from the term after their third birthday.

This funding can be applied across the school terms (38 weeks per year). We offer the 15 funded universal hours funded by the Government as part of our day, applied over 38 weeks. We have a limited number of extended entitlement (30-hour) spaces available.  Families living within walking distance to our Kindergarten will be given priority for these spaces and they will be allocated on a first-come/first-served basis.

We apply a charge for the additional hours outside of the funded hours.

Your Universal 15 hour entitlement can be used for 5 hours a day, up to 3 days a week. The government rate that is paid to settings does not cover the cost of high-quality teaching, high ratios (1:5 adults to children instead of statutory 1:8) and experiences we offer that make our setting unique! In order for us to provide this high-quality service, Bee in the Woods have an additional fee for services provided that are not covered by the Government Entitlement Funding (see below) .  

Extras when using the Government Funding Entitlement

All funded sessions include an additional fee to enable your child to have access to the highest standard of Early Years Education and care.

Experiences not covered by Early Years Funding Entitlement include;

* Our unique woodland setting
* High ratios of highly trained and qualified Early Years Teachers and Forest School Staff
* Weekly Yoga and Music sessions
* Weekly Beach School
* Trips out into the local community
* Allotment garden
* Seed to plate fruit and veg experiences through connection with our garden
* Vegetarian snacks and daily fruit bowl
* Weekly campfire cooking
* Consumables/resources
* Kindergarten social events – summer family picnic and festive Christmas gathering (both lots of fun)
* A buzzing parent community and opportunities to get involved with woodland/gardening projects.

VOUCHERS & TAX-FREE CHILDCARE

You can use tax-free childcare and childcare vouchers to pay for kindergarten fees and holiday clubs at Bee in the Woods. Just chat to us about providers.

Bee in the Woods are registered with ​Tax-Free Childcare​, an online government service to help working parents with the cost of their childcare. For every £8 a parent pays into their childcare account, HMRC will pay an extra £2, up to a maximum of £2,000 every year for each child. Parents are then able to pay Bee in the Woods for childcare directly from their childcare accounts.  Please visit ​http://www.childcare-support.tax.service.gov.uk​ for further details.

FULLY-FUNDED SPACES

We have a limited number of fully-funded spaces available to families who live within walking distance and families on a low income.

If you live within walking distance to a Bee in the Woods setting, or your child was previously registered for funding for two-year-olds,  please contact info@beeinthewoods.co.uk to discuss.

GIVING NOTICE

We ask all families for six weeks notice to change days, extend or reduce hours or when leaving our Kindergarten.