I am writing to you to let you know of some changes to the funding structure for Early
Years education, and to explain how this affects our setting, and you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s not even close.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The basic cost of caring for a 3- or 4-year old is about \u00a37.10 per hour, yet the This woefully inadequate funding seriously affects our sustainability; indeed, the Despite some high-profile debates in parliament on this issue, the Kind Regards,<\/p>\n\n\n\n Katie Russell, Chair of Committee<\/p>\n\n\n\n Alice Kirk, Trustee<\/p>\n\n\n\n Louise Woolcott, Finance Manager<\/p>\n\n\n\n I am writing to you to let you know of some changes to the funding structure for EarlyYears education, and to explain how this affects our setting, and you. Amid great fanfare, last year the government announced that it intends to expandaccess to \u2018free\u2019 childcare to all 2-year-olds from April 2024. On the surface, this … <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-804","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","grid-sizer"],"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1019,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=1019","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":0},"title":"Fees & Funding","author":"Administrator","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Abington Annexe Community Childcare is a registered charity and therefore all income received from fees and funding is retained to cover rent, staff wages, replace equipment and update resources. For further information on our most up to date fees, please see our fees policy under the policies and procedures tab.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":346,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=346","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":1},"title":"About Pre-School","author":"Administrator","date":"October 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Please shop with smile.amazon.co.uk and choose Abington Pre-School as your chosen charity. Our philosophy To provide a safe, happy and stimulating environment where children can, through play:1. Develop their independence2. Develop their self esteem3. Mix with other children and adults4. Gain positive attitudes to all children5. Have fun! Essential information\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":121,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=121","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":2},"title":"Vacancies","author":"Administrator","date":"October 19, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Thank you for taking an interest in Abington Annexe Community Childcare. We currently have no vacancies.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1057,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=1057","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":3},"title":"Mission Statement","author":"Administrator","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"At Abington Annexe Community Childcare, we aim to provide a happy, safe, secure, and stimulating environment for all children to play, learn, and develop freely as individuals.","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":368,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=368","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":4},"title":"Privacy Policy","author":"Administrator","date":"October 20, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"Who we are Abington Annexe is made up of two charities \u2013 Abington Pre-School (Charity No: 1027241) and Abington Community Out Of School Club (GAPs) (Charity No: 1075808).Our website address is: http:\/\/www.abington-annexe.org. What personal data we collect and why we collect it We would collect personal data from you if\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":1017,"url":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/?page_id=1017","url_meta":{"origin":804,"position":5},"title":"Committee","author":"Administrator","date":"December 15, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Abington Annexe Community Childcare is a charitable incorporated organisation and is run by a voluntary committee made up primarily of parent\/carers and staff. We have an AGM once a year, usually in November or December where elections are held to decide the roles of the chairperson, treasurer and secretary. We\u2026","rel":"","context":"Similar post","block_context":{"text":"Similar post","link":""},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/804","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=804"}],"version-history":[{"count":10,"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/804\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":892,"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/804\/revisions\/892"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/abingtonannexe.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=804"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
<\/strong>Amid great fanfare, last year the government announced that it intends to expand
access to \u2018free\u2019 childcare to all 2-year-olds from April 2024. On the surface, this seems
a great idea to help working parents with the soaring costs of childcare. And it would
be a great idea, if only the funding were adequate to meet the costs of providing it, and
if the government were honest about the pressures the inadequate funding puts on
childcare providers, such as us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u2018Free\u2019 is not free<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Abington Annexe Community Childcare is the name of the registered charity that
operates both Abington Preschool and Out-of-school Club. We are a not-for-profit
organisation, and as such we re-invest all our income into the running of the setting.
Currently, every 3- and 4-year old is entitled to universal 15 hours\u2019 funding per week.
This is extended to 30 hours for children whose parents meet the eligibility criteria.
Most children at our Preschool are funded: they receive 15 or 30 hours of \u2018free\u2019
education from the government. This – as the government likes to boast about – means
that parents and carers are supported with their childcare needs, but critically, the
funding the government gives us for these hours does not cover our costs of providing the
care.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
government gives us just \u00a35.66 per hour. For every 3- or 4-year old in our care, we\u2019re
losing over a pound an hour. When you consider that we\u2019ve usually got about 18 such
children in our setting every day, we\u2019re looking at a funding shortfall of \u00a3113 every
single day. This is before we consider any additional costs, such as for snacks,
consumables, or outside provider activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
sustainability of every preschool in the country: over 5,000 childcare settings closed last year. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
government has chosen to ignore the pleas of the entire industry and roll out this
unsustainable system still further. Our funding crisis is going to worsen from
September 2025, when this entitlement will be increased to 30 hours per week from 9 months old, along similarly inadequate lines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We have scrimped and saved every penny, but we cannot do any more<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>As funding pressures have worsened over the years – particularly this last year – we
have found many creative ways to provide our excellent care and education on the
smallest possible budget. But there is only so much we can do: we\u2019re now at a point
where there are no extra pennies to save anywhere.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/strong>After much consideration, we have taken the difficult decision to introduce an
additional charge of \u00a31.50 per funded hour: a fair funding and consumables<\/strong>
supplement <\/strong>for all children attending the Preschool for government-funded hours.
This is to cover additional costs, such as snacks, consumables, and outside provider activities. This
does not affect your funding entitlement: parents still have the flexibility to use funded
hours however they choose across the week, with no restrictions on when or how
these may be accessed. This is a voluntary charge: if you have concerns then please get
in touch.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
May I remind you also how dependent we are on fundraising to fill the funding
shortfall. Please do support our events where you can; recently, enthusiasm and
attendance at our fundraising events has dwindled, and this directly reduces the funds
we have available to buy resources and equipment for the children. If you wish to get
involved with any fundraising activities, or can otherwise offer support to the setting –
please do talk to us.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Katie Russell, Alice Kirk & Louise Woolcott<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"