Fees and finance

Standard Scale of Fees

Seedlings (Playgroup) & Kindergarten

This year marks the 30th anniversary of our Kindergartens having Partner Provider status. Our Seedlings Playgroup now also shares this status.  All 3- and 4-year-olds (and almost a quarter of 2-year-olds) living in Scotland are entitled to an Early Learning & Childcare (ELC) Grant; and we actively support those parents wanting to Defer P1.  Edinburgh Steiner School is to offer 1,140 hours ELC funding in partnership with City of Edinburgh Council (CEC) from August 2021. Those living outside CEC boundary are also eligible for funding.

*Afternoon sessions can be booked for as many days per week, per annum, as required, bookable in advance. Cost above is based on one afternoon session per week for the whole academic year. 

Playgroup/Kindergarten – Find out more

Early Years After School Club

After School Club for Playgroup and Kindergarten children is open Monday to Friday from 3.15 – 5pm, booked and paid upfront through the school shop. It is not included within direct debit payment plans for Kindergarten.

Lower School 

Lower School – Find out more

Classes 1 – 5 After School Club

After School Club for Classes 1 – 5 pupils is open Monday to Friday from 1pm – 5.30pm, booked and paid upfront through the school shop. It is not included within direct debit payment plans for School.

Upper School

*** The monthly amount applies only if you are paying over 12 months.

Upper School – Find out more

Visiting Students

Visiting Students – find out more Session dates  for 2020/21

Financial Information

Payment

Fees for a full session are payable by direct debit in twelve monthly instalments from August to July inclusive. In the event of any instalment not being met timeously, the School reserves the right to charge 10% interest per annum from the due date until payment as per the signed enrolment agreement. Please promptly contact the School Bursar if you have difficulty making payment.

Payment termly or annually in advance is also welcomed. 

Charges and Outlays

Upper School parents will be required to make a contribution towards textbooks and art materials. These will be charged each term in arrears and are payable by bank transfer or other methods. These payments are not included in the direct debit agreement for fees.

Notice Period

If you wish to withdraw a child from school you must give written notice to the School Bursar one full term before the last day your child attends School. If a child is withdrawn without appropriate notice the fees for that term are payable as per the terms and conditions of the signed enrolment agreement. 

Tax-Free Childcare

As Edinburgh Steiner School is a registered childcare provider, fees for the Playgroup and Kindergarten groups within the School’s ‘Early Years’ provision can be paid through a Tax-Free Childcare account. This UK Government scheme reduces the cost of childcare delivered by a registered provider by 20%.

To check your eligibility and set up the government account, visit: Tax-Free Childcare on the UK Government website. 

Third Child Reduction

We offer a 25% discount on the fees of a third child and any subsequent children providing that all children are attending Edinburgh Steiner School simultaneously. 

Early Years Funding

Since 1991 Edinburgh Steiner School has been an Early Learning and Childcare Partner Provider for the City of Edinburgh Council. At Edinburgh Steiner School, the current free childcare allowance is 600 hours per annum.

Parents & Guardians are entitled to benefit from the 600 hours of free childcare, the Tax-Free Childcare Scheme and our Third Child Reduction Scheme in conjunction with each other. 

Bursary

Bursaries are available to help fund a proportion of the fees for qualifying families. Bursaries of up to 40% of fees are provided on a year-by-year basis. 

Criteria summary:

• Bursaries are open to current pupils and prospective pupils in the final year of Kindergarten and onwards who have already been offered a place at the School. 
• All awards are means-tested with a maximum award of up to 40% of the fees.
• The Board of Trustees reserve the right to vary the criteria for Bursaries each year.
• Applications for financial assistance become available in February and should be submitted by April which will be applicable for the following academic year. A strict deadline for applications submissions applies. 
• A new Bursary application will need to be made for each new School year. 

At the time that Bursaries are open for applications, the relevant forms and criteria for eligibility will be published here and will be sent to the parents/guardians of current pupils.

Family Support Fund 

The intention of this fund is to provide financial support for families who may need it in times of hardship. Funding will be in the form of a one-off grant. 

Criteria Summary:

• This fund is only available for families of children who have been with the School for one year or more. 
• Funding applications will be means-tested based on the financial information of the family. This process will be liaised with the School Bursar and the Management team.