Frequently Asked Questions

When will my child receive funding?

All families are eligible for funding of up to 15 hours the term after your child reaches 3. The cut-off date of birth (DOB) for the Autumn Term is a DOB on or before 31st August, for Spring Term is a DOB on or before 31st December, and for Summer Term is a DOB on or before 31st March. This funding is known as Universal Funding and is available to all 3- and 4-year-olds.
Eligible working families can claim up to 30 hours of funding with an 11 digit code through their childcare account (https://www.gov.uk/sign-in-childcare-account). This funding is valid the term after the code is applied for. Haddenham CHUF will be offering all 30 hours of the Extended Entitlement and Chearsley CHUF will be offering 27 of the 30hrs (space permitting). To learn more and to check eligibility please look at ‘Our Fees and Funding’ tab and visit: www.beststartinlife.gov.uk.

At what age can my child start CHUF?

We are registered to take children from 2 years of age. Children usually are offered a place the term after they turn 2, as we aim to have an intake of children at the beginning of each term. Two-year-olds attend our morning sessions as we have had feedback from parents that this works best for 2-year-olds. The afternoon sessions are open to select 2-year-olds who are ready for a full day at preschool. Please speak to your child’s key carer to discuss if your child is ready to take up an afternoon. Due to the higher staff ratio required for 2-year-olds, afternoon spaces are limited. Priority may be given to children about to turn three.

30 hours of funded childcare may be available for working families.

Alternatively, 2-year-old Early Learning funding may be available if you receive some additional government support, in which case you might be eligible for up to 15 hours.

Visit the following link for more information:
www.beststartinlife.gov.uk/childcare-early-years-education

Do you run a waiting list?

Yes, we do. If you would like to join our waiting list, please see our ‘Forms and Term dates’ tab, complete a waiting list form and send it to our administrator: info@chufpreschool.co.uk.

What are your current fees?

The three hour session rate is £27.50 for 2-year-olds

The three hour session rate is £24 for 3- and 4- year olds
A full day will be made up of two, three hour sessions

Are there additional charges if my child is funded?

Yes, we ask for a voluntary consumable fee of £2 per day for funded children. This fee would be added to invoice at the beginning of each half term. Where parents are unable or unwilling to contribute, the invoice would be reduced. This fee is not applicable to families with Early learning 2-year-old funding.

What do I need to provide my child with?

We ask parents to bring their children with a change of clothes, nappies and wipes (where appropriate, extra clothes when toilet-training). Children should have weather appropriate clothing - coats, wellies, hats, etc. Please can all children bring a water bottle to each session, and those staying all day need to bring a healthy packed lunch containing NO NUTS. Please can all items be named.

Does my child need to be toilet-trained before they start?

No, we are happy to have children in our care who are still in nappies. We ask that you provide them with their regular branded nappies and wipes in their bag for daily use. We will do everything we can to help you and your child when it is time to toilet-train.

How do I report an absence?

If your child is absent from CHUF for any reason, please telephone to let us know. The telephone number at Chearsley Village Hall is: 01844 201858, and at Haddenham is: 01844 299123. In addition, please try to collect your child on time at the end of a session. However, if you are going to be late please telephone us so that we can reassure your child that you are on your way.

Are you registered for the HMRC Tax-Free Childcare Scheme?

Yes, CHUF is registered for the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme. This scheme means that you can get up to £500 every 3 months (£2,000 a year) for each of your children to help with the costs of childcare. If you are eligible for Tax-Free Childcare, the government will pay £2 for every £8 you pay your childcare provider. This is paid via an online childcare account that you will need to set up for your child. To find out if you are eligible and to register, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/tax-free-childcare. Please note that we have been advised by HMRC that although we are a two setting provider that we are only required to be registered once under our original setting (Chearsley). Please therefore only use the details below and do not try to search for our Haddenham setting, as the Haddenham setting's details cannot be found on the list of Childcare Providers.

Once you have established that you are eligible and have set up an account, to make payment to CHUF you will need the following details:

Name: Chearsley & Haddenham Under Fives Pre-School
Address: Chearsley Village Hall, Winchendon Road, Chearsley, Aylesbury, Bucks
Postcode: HP18 0DP
Regulator Reference: 2782485 (Chearsley Ofsted Number)

How do I claim Funding?

A funding form will be placed in your child’s basket for completion and needs to be returned the half term prior to the funding beginning, or will be included in your child’s new starter paperwork pack.

What are your session times?

All of our sessions are three hours in length

Morning sessions run from 9.10am to 12.10pm (both settings are open every weekday morning)

Afternoon sessions run from 12.10pm to 3.10pm (Chearsley are not open on Fri afternoon)

Morning sessions are open to 2-, 3- and 4-year-olds

Afternoon sessions are open to 3- and 4-year-olds, with limited spaces for 2-year-olds – Please speak to your child’s key carer who will discuss with you whether your child is ready for full day sessions.

Lunch is incorporated into the first half hour of each afternoon session.

Late drop offs and /or early pick-ups are possible if session times coincide with school drop off and pick up

Will there be an opportunity to change /increase my child’s sessions?

We are very happy to accommodate changes to session requests where space permits. We always ask existing parents in advance of each term, before opening sessions to people on the waiting list. If we only have a limited number of sessions available, we will allocate these as fairly as possible, using a child’s DOB, length of time before starting school and number of current sessions.

What ratios of staff to children do you operate at?

We operate a ratio of 1 member of staff to 4 children for under 3′s and 1 member of staff to 6 children for children aged 3+.

How many weeks a year are you open?

CHUF is open Monday to Friday term time only, and receives up to 38 weeks funding per year from local government. Term dates are set to fall in line with our local authority (Buckinghamshire County Council) term dates wherever possible. However, we often begin each term slightly later and end each term slightly earlier than local schools to allow for staff training, deep cleaning, and preparation for the following term, all within our 38 week allowance. Please see our term dates on the ‘Forms and Term Dates’ tab.

Does CHUF offer wrap-around care?

Where available, and when we have demand we offer a breakfast club in both settings from 8:30 am. We offer the children breakfast and fun in our friendly nurturing CHUF environment before we start our normal day at 9:10am. Our Breakfast club fee is £6.50, which includes the choice of breakfast items. Please check with the setting which days the breakfast club is available, as it varies with demand.

Due to the nature of our rental agreement, it is not possible for us to open for afternoon wraparound care in Haddenham – the uniformed groups start meeting from 4pm in the hall. We have not previously had any interest in Chearsley, so do please ask if this is something you might be interested in. If your child is absent

Absence

If your child is absent from CHUF for any reason, please telephone to let us know. The telephone number at Chearsley Village Hall is: 01844 201858, and at Haddenham is: 01844 299123. In addition, please try to collect your child on time at the end of a session. However, if you are going to be late please telephone us so that we can reassure your child that you are on your way.