Financial Assistance

Financial Assistance

We are committed to being socially inclusive whilst remaining self-funded. Therefore we keep fees as low as possible in order to minimise the financial barrier to attending, and offer a Bursary Scheme where families on low incomes can apply for a reduction in their fees. Our fees also qualify for a range of government financial assistance.


Bursary Scheme

Cardiff Steiner Early Years Centre is committed to seeking a diversity of backgrounds and incomes within its community, and offers a Bursary Scheme to help achieve this. Awards are made to children whose families qualify for assistance on the basis of financial need. In order to fairly determine a family’s financial need, we consider total income, expenses and outgoings, assets, number of dependents etc. based on a modest standard of living.

The Bursary Committee’s decisions are influenced by availability of funds, the number of applications, and overall need. We can meet only a portion of a family’s need. In addition, we may not have the funds to offer assistance to every child who qualifies for assistance. The primary responsibility for financing a child’s independent education rests with the family. Because the demand for fee assistance is high, families are advised to seek any additional resources prior to applying to the Bursary Scheme.


Government Assistance

As registered childcare providers our fees qualify for the following government assistance:

  • Childcare Tax Credit - designed to help working parents cover some of the cost of childcare
     
  • Employee Childcare Vouchers (a special government scheme operated through employers that allow you to pay for childcare from your pre-tax salary
     
  • Free Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds - All three and four year-olds in Wales have the right to a free, part-time, early education place in an approved setting the term after their third birthday. Part-time means a minimum of 10 hours a week, for 38 weeks a year. However as different local authorities administer the scheme in different ways, the choice of settings varies widely. In many local authorities (including Newport, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Torfaen, Blaenau Gwent and Monmouthshire) parents can select from a wide choice of settings including school nursery, private nursey/daycare, cylch meithrin, playgroup and (in some instances) quality assured childminder. In some cases this can include approved settings outside your county. However parents in Cardiff, the Vale of Glamorgan and  Rhondda Cynon Taff are limited to their nearest school nursery. Only when there is no school nursery provision within 2 miles can you choose an alternative provider. In Cardiff, for English medium education, this is generally limited to the Pentyrch and Cregiau area. If you are concerned about this we recommend you contact your Assembly Member.