The Voluntary Consumables fee is a daily fee charged to all parents to fund items not covered by Free Early Education Entitlement funding /hourly rate. 

The fee is voluntary, however there is an expectation that it is paid so that we can provide the best level of childcare and early education experience for your child (please see the end of this policy for limitations to our provision if the fee is not paid).

If a parent is unwilling or unable to pay the Consumables fee, the parent should email the Queniborough Preschool Partnership Committee stating why they do not wish to pay the fee (e.g. affordability/principle) and state whether they wish to waive the fee in its entirety or request a reduction.

The voluntary consumables fee has been broken down into different packages and covers all the following activities:

Meal Package: 

• morning snack 
• afternoon snack (if required) 

Additional Services Package (includes the following):

• Care Package: sun cream*, spare clothes for emergencies, emergency medication
• IT Package: Tapestry Learning Journal
• Celebration day package: includes additional costs associated with any preschool celebration events such as Christmas, Halloween, Easter, World Book Day, Mother’s or Father’s Day stay and plays, Graduation ceremony including gown hire, graduation gifts, other family and parent sessions.
• Outings/activities package: offered around the village/Zoolab visits throughout the year 
• Gardening club: offered throughout the year
• Baking club: offered throughout the year

*we will provide details of the sun cream we will be providing in a separate letter

If a parent/carer wishes to opt in to the above packages, the items will be charged at the following rates

Meal Package: £0.75 per day

Additional Services Package (includes Care / IT / Celebration Days / Outings/activities package / Gardening Club / Baking Club Packages): £0.75 per day

**Please note our Additional Services Package is one set fee and individual packages cannot be removed**

If a parent/carer is unable to pay the Voluntary Consumables fee, they should follow the above and contact the Committee Chairperson to ask for the fee to be waived/reduced.

If a parent/carer decides to opt out of the Voluntary Consumables fee, and do not wish to pay the voluntary consumables fee, they must understand and agree to provide the following which are not covered by FEEE/hourly rate and are classed as an additional service for every session their child/ren attends. 

Morning snack: Snack as per our snack menu 

Water bottle: A refillable water bottle

Children in Nappies: Nappies, wipes, nappy bags & nappy cream

Spare Clothes: All Year Round

Wellies: All Year Round

Summer months: Sun cream

Baking club: 24 hours’ notice will be provided on what ingredients you need to supply

Gardening club: 24 hours’ notice will be provided on what equipment you need to supply, such as seeds and compost

Please note:

• Please provide ice packs in lunch boxes (labelled with child/ren’s name) as there is no space to store food in our fridge. 
• Please ensure that any food containing nuts (including “may contain”) are not brought into the setting.

If a parent/carer has opted out of the voluntary consumables fee and do not provide the above items, they will be charged at the following rates on the next invoice:

Snack: £0.75/day

Care package (wipes/nappies/spare clothes/sun cream): £0.75/day

Baking/Gardening club: £0.75/session

Limitations to our provision if the fee is not paid

If a parent/carer does not pay the voluntary consumables fee they must understand that their child/ren will not receive the following:

1. Access to an online learning journal. 

*Statutory documentation, such as the 2-year check and school report will be provided.  Any other progress reports will be passed on verbally.

2. Weekly update photos of their child/ren either via an online learning journal or WhatsApp.

3. Children will not be able to participate in any additional activity, such as village outings or Zoolab.

4. Children will not be able to attend certain events, such as Christmas, Halloween or graduation.

5. Children will not receive any gifts.