The Firs Lower School
Admissions, Funding, Fees and Policies
Admissions
It is our intention to make Pre-school accessible to children and families for all sections of the local community regardless of ethnicity, gender, special education needs, disabilities, background, religion or competence in spoken English.
We care for children from 2 ½ years to 4 years of age.
We are Ofsted registered to provide 40 places per session.
We operate admissions and allocate sessions to new children through a waiting list at the start of each term.
These Terms are: September, January and April.
Please visit our school's Policies Section, by following the link on the right, to refer to our Saplings Pre-School Admissions Policy for full details and admissions criteria.
If you would like to add your child to our waiting list you can either email thesaplings@firslower.org or contact the Saplings Administrator, Nicola Levingstone on 01525 402735 option 5. Providing your child's name, date of birth, address, your name and contact number.
Please also confirm if your child is:
- A "looked after child"
- Eligible for 2 year old funding (if aged 2 to 3)
- Has a sibling attending The Firs Lower School
We would be happy to show you around our preschool and meet our staff. To book a visit please either email or contact us on the above number.
Each session lasts 3 hours. We offer morning, afternoon and all day sessions. All sessions must be taken across at least two separate days.
- Children aged 2 years 6mths can attend a maximum of 4 sessions per week (12 hours per week)
- Children aged 3-4 years can attend a maximum of 6 sessions (18 hours per week)
Funding
The preschool receives Nursery Education Funding (NEF) for eligible two, three and four year olds.
Children are entitled to receive a maximum of 570 hours of free early education over 38 weeks of the year, the term following their 2nd or 3rd birthday.
A maximum of 15 hours per week, term time only, at approved childcare settings.
Funding for 3 & 4 year olds
Some families may be entitled to an additional 15 hours (30 hours) free childcare. Parents/Carers will need to be apply for this through HMRC the term before they wish to use it.
For more information and eligibility criteria please visit 'Best Start in Life', link below. We will require your 11 digit code in order to claim the funding.
Funding for 2 year olds
For more information on two year old funding and eligibility criteria please visit 'Best Start in Life', link above.
Parents/carers who are eligible will need to provide us with a copy of their eligibility letter from Central Bedfordshire Council.
Funded places are allocated in accordance with our Admissions Policy, which can be viewed in our 'School Policies Section' under Saplings Pre-school Funding and Fees Policy
Further support and guidance can be found here on the Central Beds website
Fees
Fees are payable for children not eligible for funding or those who are attending in excess of their funded hours. Please see below our current fees. These are reviewed by the school governors on an annual basis.
Invoices are issued half termly and payable in advance of each half term. Fees continue to be payable in the event of absence. A registration fee of £10 is payable for those children who are not using funding with us.
Fees 2025–2026
| Times | 2 year old | 3 & 4 year old | |
|---|---|---|---|
| AM | 9.10am - 12.10am | £22.05 | £16.54 |
| PM | 12.10pm - 3.10pm | £22.05 | £16.54 |
| Full Day | 9.10am - 3.10pm | £44.10 | £33.08 |
The setting operates an online payment system, Parentpay for parents/carers to settle fees, hot lunches, wraparound care.
We also accept Childcare Vouchers and payments through the Government Tax Free Childcare Scheme, please see below for further details and the Childcare voucher schemes that we have accounts with.
Tax-Free Childcare
The Saplings Pre-school, is set up with a number of different childcare voucher agencies, under the name The Firs Lower School, including; Edenred, Care-4, Kiddivouchers, Computershare, Sodexo, Enjoy Benefits, Bravo and Caboodle Voucher Services.
If you are already registered through your employer with any of the above, please search for 'The Firs Lower School', post code MK45 2QR to locate our account.
- The school’s Edenred school number is P20227646
- The school's Sodexo provider ID is 160292 or 224090, either can be used.
With the Government tax-free childcare scheme you can get up to £500 every 3 months (up to £2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. This goes up to £1,000 every 3 months if a child is disabled (up to £4,000 a year).
You can get Tax-Free Childcare at the same time as 30 hours free childcare, if you’re eligible for both.
What can you use Tax-Free Childcare for?
You can use it to pay for approved childcare, for example:
- Pre-school Fees
- Wraparound school clubs, Breakfast and After School
- Holiday Club play schemes
For Wraparound Fees and Information, please visit our Kids' Club Page
Other Available Funding
Disability Access Funding (DAF)
Parents/Carers can apply to get disability access funding if their child is aged 3 or 4 and is receiving both:
- 15 hours free childcare - you do not need to use all of your hours to be eligible
- Disability living allowance for children
Saplings could receive £800 or more per year to help with a child’s education and support.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) is an additional funding given to early years providers. Early Years Pupil Premium helps to improve the education provided to some 3 and 4-year-olds. Childcare providers can claim an additional £342 per year to spend on enriching a 3 or 4 year old child's education.
Parents/Carers will be asked to complete a Parent Declaration Form and eligibility is confirmed by Central Bedfordshire Council. The funding will be paid termly to Saplings, and we will work alongside the parents/carers to spend the money in a way that will support the child’s learning and development.
Who can apply?
You can apply for early years pupil premium if your child is aged 3 or 4, and you get 15 hours free childcare.
You must also get at least one of the following:
-
income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance
-
income-related Employment and Support Allowance
-
support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
-
the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
-
Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190
-
Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit
-
Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get
You may also get early years pupil premium if your child is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales or if your child has left care in England or Wales through:
-
adoption
-
special guardianship order
-
a child arrangements order
How to apply?
To apply for early years pupil premium speak to your childcare provider or local council.
For further information on EYPP and DAF funding please visit Get Extra Early Years Funding