What about deposits and registration fees?
Yes, providers can charge parents a refundable deposit to secure a child’s funded place.
Providers should consider whether a charge should be applied to a family claiming 2 year funding (Think2), but providers must reimburse a deposit by the end of the same term (or off-set against paid for elements) a child starts a Think2 funded placement.
A provider may choose to keep a deposit if child did not start the place for the funded hours only. When parents are paying for extra hours or services it is possible a registration fee could be off-set against those paid for elements.
Providers should not make a registration fee mandatory for parent to access funded hours.
