Join us

Join Horsmonden Kindergarten

Children are eligible to attend Kindergarten from the age of two. We operate two adjoining rooms: Caterpillars (ages 2–3½) and Butterflies (ages 3½–5).

At Horsmonden Kindergarten, we adhere to Ofsted adult-to-child ratios of 1:5 for two-year-olds and 1:8 for children aged three to five, and we are often able to exceed these requirements.

The safety and wellbeing of all children in our care is of paramount importance. To support this, we have a secure buzzer entry system in place.

We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework and use an innovative, interactive online learning journal called Tapestry, which records children’s learning experiences and achievements throughout their early years.

Each child is assigned a key person, with whom they form a strong and supportive relationship. Your child’s key person will observe their needs, interests, and development, and share this information with you in person, during annual parent meetings, and via the online learning portal. We operate an open-door policy and warmly welcome parents and carers to come in at any time to speak with their child’s key person or any member of our staff team. This ongoing communication helps us to ensure that your child is continually supported, encouraged, and appropriately challenged.

This ongoing communication helps us to ensure that your child is continually supported, encouraged, and appropriately challenged.

We strongly believe in working in partnership with parents and carers to ensure consistency between home life and your child’s time at Kindergarten.

A TYPICAL DAY

Only the Best

8:30am/9:00am – Playtime/Activity - Arrivals

The children are welcomed in at your preferred time of either 8:30am or 9:00am by a member of staff, and can dive straight into free play activities where children can move from indoors to outdoors and explore and create in an enriched environment. 

10:00am – Snack bar opens

The snack bar is open from 10am for children to self-select from a healthy range of food when they feel hungry and when they're not mid-flow being Batman or channeling their inner Picasso!

11:45am – Circle Time

Circle time is a time for staff and children to join together for ‘sound of the week’, show and tell, sometimes splitting into smaller groups for a more in-depth discussion.

The morning session finishes with music and movement and the children join together to sing the Goodbye song.

12:00pm – Lunch club

Lunch club runs from 12:00-1pm, where the children can sit and enjoy their lunch (provided by parents/carers)

1:00pm – Playtime/Activity - Afternoon Session

Play resumes after lunch club, where the morning session only children will leave to go home and children joining the afternoon session will be welcomed to join in an activity.

2:00pm – Snack bar opens

The snack bar is open from 2pm for children to self-select from a healthy range of food when they feel hungry and when they're not mid-flow being Batman or channeling their inner Picasso!

3:15pm – Circle Time

At 3:15pm the children settle down for circle time and show and tell before joining together for the goodbye song

3:30pm – Good Bye

All children are collected at 3.30pm.

Admissions & Fees

We welcome all new children!

Horsmonden Kindergarten is open Monday to Friday during term time only.

Please get in touch with Becky if you would like to register your child.

Early Education Funding at Horsmonden Kindergarten

Horsmonden Kindergarten offers government-funded early education for children aged 2 to 4 years. Funding helps cover childcare costs and supports children’s early learning and development.

2-Year-Old Funding

Free Early Education for 2-Year-Olds (FF2)

• Some 2-year-olds are eligible for free childcare under FF2.

Working Parent Entitlement (30 hours)

• Available for eligible families

Important Notes:

• Both FF2 and Working Parent Entitlement are subject to eligibility
• Parents must apply for funding directly via the government website

3- and 4-Year-Old Funding (FEEE – Free Early Education Entitlement)

All children aged 3 and 4 are eligible for up to 570 hours of funding per year, starting in the term following their third birthday:

Available Options:

• Universal Offer: 15 hours per week (minimum 38 weeks)
• Extended Offer: 30 hours per week for eligible working families (must apply via the government website)

Session Times

• Morning: 8:30am or 9:00am – 12:00 noon
• Full Day: 8:30am or 9:00am – 3:30pm
• Afternoon: 1:00pm – 3:30pm

Session Options:

Between 9:00am – 3:30pm 

• Fully funded for eligible children
• Free of charge under government entitlement schemes

8:30am – 9:00am (Optional Early Start – £5 charge)

• Optional 30-minute early start 
• Not covered by funding

Please Note:

• Early start is optional
• All eligible children may attend from 9:00am to 3.30pm without charge
• Alternative sessions will be offered to compensate for Bank Holidays or INSET days

Fees

• Hourly rate (if not covered by funding): £7.20 per hour
• Ad-hoc sessions: £7.70 per hour
• Optional Early Start (8:30–9:00am): £5
• Additional hours beyond funded entitlement: £7.20 per hour

Requirements for Accessing Funding

To access government-funded sessions, parents/carers must:

• Sign a Parent Declaration Form at the start of each term
• Provide a copy of the child’s birth certificate for verification
• Apply for a funding code (if needed) and log in to reconfirm the code when required