Our Session Times

  Session
Monday morning 9.15am – 12.15pm
Monday afternoon 12.15pm – 2.45pm
Tuesday morning 9.15am – 12.15pm
Tuesday afternoon 12.15pm – 2.45pm
Wednesday 9.15am – 1.30pm
Thursday morning 9.15am – 12.15pm
Thursday afternoon 12.15pm – 2.45pm
Friday 9.15am – 1:30pm

Term Dates 2025-26

Autumn Term 2025  
Staff INSET day: Wednesday 3rd September
Term starts:   Thursday 4th September
Term ends:    Friday 24th October (at 1.30pm)
Half term:          Monday 27th October – Friday 31st October (inclusive)
Term re-starts: Monday 3rd November
Term ends:        Thursday 18th December (at 1.30pm)
Christmas holiday:    Friday 19th December – Friday 2nd January (inclusive)
                                                                           Total days: 71 days
Spring Term 2026  
Term starts:   Monday 5th January
Term ends:        Friday 13th February (at 1.30pm)
Half term:          Monday 16th February – Friday 20th February (inclusive)
Term re-starts:  Monday 23rd February
Term ends:        Friday 27th March (at 1.30pm)
                                                                           Total days: 55 days
Easter holiday:  Monday 30th March – Monday 10th April (inclusive)
Summer Term 2026  
Term starts:   Tuesday 13th April
Term ends:        Friday 22nd May (at 1.30pm)                                        
(Bank Holiday:  Monday 4th May
Half term:          Monday 25th May – Friday 29th May (inclusive)
Term re-starts:  Monday 1stJune
Term ends:        Tuesday 17th July (at 1.30pm)
                                                                           Total: 64 days
                                                                                                   Total for the year: 190 days

Please note that the Acland Hall is a registered polling station and as such needs to be made available when requested by West Berkshire Council. As a result, there may be ad hoc days when the Pre-school needs to close to accommodate this. Examples are, but not limited to, a General Election and Local Council Elections. As much advanced notice as possible will be given to parents.

Government-Funded Childcare and Parent Fees

Our hourly rate is £7.50 per hour (effective 1st September 2025). Just for information, the LA …. we rely on a voluntary termly donation and fundraising efforts throughout the year to cover our costs.

Universal 15 hours and the Working Parent Entitlement

Some parents are entitled to the working parent entitlement (previously known as 30 hours extended funding). From April 2024 we will accept valid 2 year old codes for those children who will be three during their term of entry to the Pre-school. For more information and to check your eligibility, please visit the the Childcare Choices website which can be found here: Help with Childcare Costs.

If parents are eligible, we are able to claim this funding on their behalf once we receive a completed declaration form.  Any hours outside of a parents entitlement will incur fees.

PLEASE NOTE: we have to apply for parent funding, EVERY TERM, in the term BEFORE the child is entitled to it… so parents must confirm their session requirements and return their West Berkshire Council ‘Declaration Form’ (for 15 hrs entitlement) and/or their Childcare Tax Code & National Insurance Number (for 30 hrs entitlement) promptly.  Failure to do so may mean we miss the deadline and are unable to claim Government-Funding – in which case we will have to invoice parents directly.

One off-registration fee: To secure a place at CAPs, we charge a one-off Registration Fee of £50.  For applications made after 1st April 2025, this fee will be refunded to you when your child leaves CAPs. To ensure that your fee is returned, you will be required to give CAPs appropriate notice and provide details of your bank account to the CAPs Business Manager in the last term of attendance. Failure to provide these details may result in your registration fee not being refunded. If you change your mind, and decide not to send your child to CAPs, the fee will not be refunded. If, for reasons beyond our control, we are unable to accommodate your child at CAPs, we will refund the fee. 

Voluntary charges: we ask parents to make a termly £40 voluntary donation to pre-school, in addition to fees. You are not obliged to pay this but would be really grateful if you are able to. It helps us to continue to deliver the outstanding quality of provision that you have chosen our pre-school for.   For example, we will be able to continue to enhance our garden with new equipment and facilities; provide you with your child’s online learning journey, Tapestry; give children extra experiences through Corn Exchange mini courses; celebrate the wealth of cultures in our country through baking; and also allow traditional pre-school celebrations such as Christmas, Easter and Leavers ceremonies to continue.