Funding and fees

Funding/free entitlement

• Government funding for nursery places comes from the local authority (council) and is currently a free entitlement for all children of 15 hours per week, from the term after the child’s third birthday.
• Children of working families may be entitled to an additional 15 hours making a total of 30 hours of free provision. Parents/carers can see the eligibility criteria at: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/
• Government funding is intended to cover the cost to deliver 15 or 30 hours per week of free, high-quality childcare. It is not intended to cover the cost of meals, consumables, additional hours or additional services (see further information about fees and charges below).
• The free entitlements will be delivered consistently, so all children will receive the same quality and access to provision, regardless of whether they opt to pay for additional hours, services, meals or consumables.
• Children need to have their valid eligibility code to use the extended 30 hours for free. This code must be confirmed, by the nursery, with the local authority, before the end of the term prior to starting.  It must also be reconfirmed regularly with the childcare service, and it is the responsibility of the parents/carers to ensure that this is done.
• If a valid eligibility code is not received by the nursery in time, then any hours used will be charged as per our fee structure.

How free entitlement works

We stretch your funding entitlement over the full year, so that your child will get either 11 hours free or 22 hours free per week.

Universal entitlement for 3 and 4 year olds – All three and four year olds are entitled to 15 hours free childcare per week until they start a school reception class – regardless of earnings or family circumstances. Children are eligible the term after they turn three.

Funding for 2 year olds in families requiring additional support – 15 hours free childcare per week from the term after the child turns two, for eligible families where:

• you are on low income and in receipt of benefits
• your child is looked after by the council or has left care through adoption, special guardianship, or child arrangements order (previously residence order) or
• your child receives Disability Living Allowance or has an Education, Health and Care Plan (EHCP).

Working families entitlement – children over 9 months – 30 hours free childcare per week from the term after the child turns 9 months, for eligible working families where:

• Both parents (or sole parent in one parent family) are working* and earn on average at least the equivalent of 16 hours at the national minimum wage** and less than £100,000 or
• As above where one parent is working, and the second parent is not working but receiving an eligible carer benefit or is unable to work and receiving an eligible disability benefit.

* Working includes parents who are on maternity, paternity, adoption or sick leave and where a parent expects to be working (for instance starting a new job)

**Minimum wages rates vary for different age groups and change every April. 

Fees payment schedule (where fees are payable above free entitlement)

• Must be fully paid in advance each month.
• Remain payable during bank holidays and in the absence of your child for any reason, including illness and holidays
• Are subject to change depending on an annual review of charging.

Fee times

Fee rates per session – non-funded places

Fee rates – hours booked in addition to free entitlement

Registration fee

A registration fee of £100 is required for a nursery place. This is deducted from your first month’s nursery fees, or refunded if your place has no additional charges. It is non-refundable if you cancel your place prior to starting. 

If paying the registration fee will prevent a family from being able to accept a place due to financial hardship, the nursery manager will agree to waive the payment to prevent barriers to accessing the funded place.

Meals and snacks

All meals, snacks and beverages are provided free of charge throughout the day.

Nappies, wipes and sun cream

We ask all families to provide nappies, wipes, and sun cream for their child.

Additional services

Where there are opportunities to participate in trips or special events, parents and carers will be given the option of whether they wish their child to take part or opt out.  All charges and associated costs will be made clear at the time of requesting consent to participate.

Invoices

Are issued the last week of the month and detail charges for the coming month (ad hoc charges relate to the preceding month).  Fees are payable in advance and must be paid no later than 5^th of every month.

Payment methods

We accept childcare vouchers, tax free childcare payments, online payments (details on request) and bank transfers.  Fees not paid using tax free childcare are collected directly from salary or by direct debit. This is agreed when your child starts at nursery.

Late/non-payment

Failure to pay nursery fees and charges at the agreed time, could result in suspension of services until any outstanding balance is cleared. If fees remain unpaid for a prolonged period of time the nursery reserves the right to end the place.

Notice periods for change of day or cancellation of place

• Change of days – we require one month’s notice in writing (email is acceptable) to change or alter your child’s attendance. Subject to availability we will do our best to accommodate changes. 
• Cancellation of your place – we require one month’s notice in writing to terminate your nursery place.

Refunds

Refunds due for any reason will be refunded to the payment source (i.e. tax-free childcare payments will be refunded to your government gateway account).

Changes to fee charging

Nursery fee charges are reviewed regularly, and we reserve the right to make changes to fees as and when required. Parents and carers will be given notice of all changes in advance.

Review date: December 2026