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 2024-25

Autumn Term 2024   
Staff INSET day: Wednesday 4th September
Term starts:   Thursday 5th September
Term ends:    Friday 25th October (at 1.30pm)                     37 days
Half term:          Monday 28th October – Friday 1st November (inclusive)
Term re-starts: Monday 4th November
Term ends:        Wednesday 18th December (at 1.30pm)        33 days
Christmas holiday:    Thursday 19th December – Friday 3rd January (inclusive)
Spring Term 2025  
Term starts:   Monday 6th January
Term ends:        Friday 14th February (at 1.30pm)                    30 days
Half term:          Monday 17th February – Friday 21st February (inclusive)
Term re-starts:  Monday 24th February
Term ends:        Friday 4th April (at 1.30pm)                             30 days
Easter holiday:  Monday 7th April – Monday 21st April (inclusive)
Summer Term 2025  
Term starts:   Tuesday 22rd April
Term ends:        Friday 23rd May (at 1.30pm)                                        
(Bank Holiday:  Monday 5th May                                                   23 days
Half term:          Monday 26th May – Friday 30th May (inclusive)
Term re-starts:  Monday 2nd June
Term ends:        Tuesday 22nd July (at 1.30pm)                        37 days
                                                                                                   Total: 190 days

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 £5.50 per hour. Just for information, the LA provides considerably less funding for the childcare services we offer. As a result, we rely on a Maintenance Fee 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 Enrolment Fee: in order to secure a place at CAPs we need to charge a one-off Enrolment Fee of £50. This is non-refundable.  Even if parents are in receipt of full government funding, this is an additional cost that cannot be claimed from the government and is to be paid by parents. 

Termly Maintenance Fee: we charge a termly Maintenance Fee of £40 to cover essentials required on a day-to-day basis, such as cleaning supplies, paint, paper, tissues etc and also parents’ subscription to our online learning journey portal, Tapestry.  This fee is charged to all parents regardless of when (in the academic year) they join the Pre-school. Even if they are in receipt of full government funding, this is an additional cost that cannot be claimed from the government and is therefore to be paid by parents.