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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

Another one about Consumables charges

33 replies

StevieNic · 24/01/2026 18:04

Our child attends the primary school nursery two days a week, as its term-time only we’ve kept her in the private nursery two days a week all-year round an we use 22 hours funded childcare for that bill.

The school charge us for lunch and 50p a day for fruit. The nursery charge us for breakfast and lunch and then separately a £7-a-day consumables charge.

We provide nappies, wipes, sun cream and they don’t go on trips so this would only be for stuff like art supplies. There’s no way the activities they do costs that much in materials is there? We are struggling just to afford the food shop and put petrol in the car lately so I find it a bit annoying. Has anyone refused to pay? I fear it would harm our relationship with the nursery.

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Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
SchoolDilemma17 · 24/01/2026 18:30

LizzyTango · 24/01/2026 18:26

Reasonable to ask the question as to how they get to the £7? Doesn't need to be accusatory, just interested. It does sound a lot. But ultimately, if within the rules about what they can charge extra for, you'll have signed a contract agreeing to pay.

It’s probably to cover the gap from government funding. My childminder and preschool charge me a top up, it’s not really for materials.

SchoolDilemma17 · 24/01/2026 18:29

Sorry you are struggling but you can’t refuse to
pay. You get 22 funded hours already, it’s just a bit of top up. We all have to pay it and more.

fashionqueen0123 · 24/01/2026 18:27

Do you mean all you have to pay is £7 twice a week? And they’re in childcare all year round ?

(Plus food but obviously you’d need to feed your child anyway)

LizzyTango · 24/01/2026 18:26

Reasonable to ask the question as to how they get to the £7? Doesn't need to be accusatory, just interested. It does sound a lot. But ultimately, if within the rules about what they can charge extra for, you'll have signed a contract agreeing to pay.

zipadeeday · 24/01/2026 18:24

Forgot to say,sorry your struggling - it can't be easy (it never used to be this bad). Sorry I can't help more I just don't know what to suggest😢

zipadeeday · 24/01/2026 18:14

Well £3 for breakfast AND lunch sounds reasonable. Surely they will just ask you to leave if you don't pay all the agreed charges?

StevieNic · 24/01/2026 18:11

The meal charges are £3 at the private nursery and £2:75 at the school, no issue with either of those charges. The school doesn’t add a ‘consumables’ charge at all.

OP posts:
zipadeeday · 24/01/2026 18:08

I'm not sure you CAN refuse to be honest. How much does the school charge you for lunch and how much does the nursery charge you for breakfast and lunch. It's difficult to know whether it's reasonable without being given the actual figures.