Nursery charging for meals

[Summerisdone]

I’m now entitled to 30 hours a week free childcare, the nursery have spread that over the entire 52 weeks for me though instead so it works out around 22 hours p/w. DS attends nursery 4 full days so 40 hrs in total.

On that basis I was lead to believe that means I will be charged for 18 hrs and then I pay £5 per day for meals, because obviously the nursery are being overstretched financially due to lack of what they actually receive in funding for these free hours.

Now that I was fine with, not a problem at all, but when I get the bill it reads as though the nursery have deducted the actual monetary amount they get from the government and then still added on the meal costs. This means that I’m actually still paying more than 18 hours and I’m also paying for meals IYSWIM.

Sorry posted too soon, I basically want to know AIBU going into the nursery and pointing this out and saying they should be either charging me for 18 hours p/w and meals, OR they should deduct the actual monetary amount they get in funding from the normal amount and just charge me that, not both.
FWIW I’m also confused in regards to the meals, so need to speak to them anyway, as I’ve been told it’s a £5 charge per day, so that should be £20 p/w, but both February and March have worked out exactly 16 days in nursery yet they’ve somehow come up with the figure of £86.67 for meals both months

So they've said that 22 hours = £5 an hour, but they charge £8 an hour so charged you for 18 hours at £8 and 22 hours at £3?

Yes that’s pretty much it @FridgeCut. I’m being charged the shortfall for the hours the funding doesn’t fully cover their hourly rate, but I’m also being charged meals, so they’re technically making more from me this way from I’m working out

Well they are forbidden from charging top up fees so they need to explain themselves sharpish.

They aren't allowed to deduct the money they claim for the funded hours they must deduct the number of funded hours from your invoice and then bill you for any extra hours that you pay for yourself. As you say it's fine to bill for meals or consumables.

The 30 hours free childcare offer is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables (such as nappies or sun cream), additional hours or additional activities (such as trips). Providers may charge a fee for these additions. If you choose to pay for these it is an arrangement between you and the childcare provider. However, you must not be required to pay any fee as a condition of taking up a 30 hours place, and must be offered alternative options.

www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

They are not allowed to top up their fees at all.

There should be a term time only allocation of hours or a stretched allocation

So if you need 40hours and you are funded for 30 you should pay for 10hours as the usual rate. Then meals can be added on

You need to correct them

Thanks for the link, I’ll have a proper read of it. I’m not a hundred percent on what the nursery are and aren’t allowed to do with this funding so will look into it properly.
I’m going to talk to them though, as right now I’m definitely paying for more than the 22 hours and meals on top.
DS isn’t in nappies any longer, but I provided them and wipes anyway when he was, and I provide things such as suncream, and I’ve not been told of any other expenses that need covering except for food, which I have no issue paying for if I’m getting my full 22 hours p/w.
I’m honestly worse off at the minute with things because I’ve had tax credits and housing benefit/council Tax payment all reduced, due to the fact I now am only supposed to be paying 18 hours of childcare p/w and meals which should be £20 p/w but I’m clearly being charged more than that