Coventry Schools' Early Education Funding Entitlement

Deposits

Schools may ask parents to pay a ‘refundable’ deposit, to secure a child’s early education entitlement place.

Deposits in Academies and Free Schools

This deposit must be refunded to the parent, by the end of the first term in which the school receives the remittance payment of government funding for the named child, from Coventry City Council.

Deposits in Maintained Nursery Classes, Voluntary aided /Voluntary Controlled and Maintained Nursery Schools

The school must refund the deposit, to the parent, upon receipt of the first quarterly bank advance from Coventry City Council, following the child being admitted to nursery.
Schools will not be required to refund the deposit where a parent;

• chooses not to take up the funded place before census/headcount date.
• moves the child to a new provider/school after the start of a new funding term, but before the termly census/headcount date

In line with the Coventry Provider Funding Agreement and the Memorandum of Understanding for Maintained, Voluntary Aided / Controlled Schools a school must not charge a deposit for a child accessing a two-year funded place.

Voluntary charges

Schools can charge for meals, snacks and consumables such as nappies and sun cream as part of a free entitlement place, although these charges must be voluntary. Where parents are unwilling or unable to opt into these voluntary charges the school should have a policy in place which highlights alternative options for parents, such as providing their own items. The school’s policy for voluntary charges should include all items covered by the voluntary charges, and set out the options available to parents who choose not to opt-in. There should be a written agreement in place between the school and the parent which clearly sets out what items are included in the voluntary charge. Schools must ensure that the items included are for direct use by the child and not for standard use with all children across the provision. The additional voluntary charge must not include items such as art and craft materials which would be considered part of the basic education provision, staff training, personal protective equipment, hygiene or cleaning products. Written agreements should include a section to show whether the parent has opted in or out, and for how long. e.g., termly. Coventry’s Parent and Carer Agreement may be used for this purpose.

Fee information and payments

Schools must publish clear and transparent fee information for additional hours and items that parents will be charged for.
Schools should be clear about their billing approach, frequency and payment methods. For example, whether invoices will be issued on a weekly, monthly or termly; and whether tax-free childcare and other voucher schemes/discounts can be used if applicable. Invoices will not be required where parents access funded hours only and do not pay for any additional voluntary charges.