Admissions
Children can start in the Preschool after their 2nd birthday. Applications can be made throughout the year and sessions will be allocated subject to availability. Our main admissions for new children take place at the beginning of each term in September, January and April.
We are open term-time only, Monday to Friday
Our sessions run from 9:15am-12.15pm and 12.15pm-3.15pm
We require that children attend a minimum of 2 sessions per week
To request a place for your child, please contact us on 01625 860823 or email chelfordvillagepreschool@gmail.com.
If you would like to visit the Preschool in advance of applying, please get in touch and we would be more than happy to arrange a visit and show you around.
Please note that a completed application form MUST be received in order to add a child to our admissions list. Our application forms are available by request from Preschool or click here to download a copy (and check your download folder).
We are always excited to welcome new families to Preschool as well as welcoming back those families who have entrusted their older children to us in previous years. If, at any time, you have any questions or queries, please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Click here if you would like to see a copy of our admissions policy.
Application Timelines
Children starting in the Autumn Term (September)
All application requests received for children wishing to start at the beginning of the Autumn Term must be received by the end of the preceding Spring term. Application requests will then be considered in line with our admissions policy, and places will be confirmed in writing to parents at the start of the Summer Term.
Children starting in the Spring Term (January)
All application requests received for children wishing to start at the beginning of the Spring Term must be received by the end of the preceding Summer term. Application requests will then be considered in line with our admissions policy, and places will be confirmed in writing to parents at the start of the Autumn Term.
Children starting in the Summer Term (April)
All application requests received for children wishing to start at the beginning of the Summer Term must be received by the end of the preceding Autumn term. Application requests will then be considered in line with our admissions policy, and places will be confirmed in writing to parents at the start of the Spring Term.
Our Fees
We are able to offer both funded and fee-paying places.
Please note, our sessions run from 9:15am-12.15pm and 12.15pm-3.15pm. A full day 9.15am-3.15pm is classed as 2 sessions.
Our Session Rates
Children aged 2 years £21.00
Children aged 3 or 4 years £18.00
Consumables Charge £2.50 per session.
Please note: the consumables charge mainly covers the extra cost of providing refreshments and snacks but it also covers a host of further incidentals, including but not restricted to, keeping a stock of spare items such as nappies, wipes, clothes, suncreams, calpol, etc. as well as the extra costs associated with some activities e.g. cooking ingredients. As a registered charity (No. 1038596), the purpose of Chelford Village Preschool is not to make a profit.
For those children in receipt of free funding, any extra charges relating to free sessions are optional, however without your support and understanding, we will ultimately be unable to guarantee our future sustainability. If you are unable to, or do not wish to pay the Consumables Charge, please contact us to discuss alternatives.
Click here for a copy of our Fees Policy.
Early Drop-Off
Parents are welcome to use our early drop-off facility from 9am, on either an ad hoc or continual basis, the charge for which is £2 per day. Just drop your child off at 9am and they will be marked in as early on the register. We will then invoice parents for any early drops taken at the end of each term.
Free Funded Places
We are able to offer Free Early Years Education Funding to children from the age of 2.
We offer the universal 15 hour funded places to all children, with effect from the first term following their third birthday, as well as the extended 30 hours funding for working families of 3 and 4 year old children whose parents are eligible.
From April 2024, we have also been able to offer the free early education entitlement for working families of younger children from the age of 2. Eligible working families are currently able to access 15 hours per week from the age of 2, which is due to increase to 30 hours per week by September 2025.
In order to check your eligibility, parents are directed to www.childcarechoices.gov.uk where you can complete an online eligibility check as well as apply for the extended funding.
For further information about the Free Early Education Entitlement for children in Cheshire East, parents are directed to:
We also offer free funded places to 2 year old children whose parents meet the eligibility criteria. For more information and to check your eligibility, parents are directed to, https://www.cheshireeast.gov.uk/livewell/looking-after-someone/childcare/free-early-education-feee-2yr-old.aspx
In order to claim your Free Funded Hours, parents will need to complete a Funding Declaration Form before the start of each term. We will notify parents when this needs to happen and ensure that parents have been given a copy of the form to complete and sign. Declaration forms will be made available from Preschool, or please click here to download a copy (and check your download folder).