How much does your nursery charge for funded hours 'top up'

[ceeb21]

Just that really, interested to see how much others are charged for the top up charge when claiming 30hrs free!

£11 a day plus whatever else. We're increasing a day as of summer so will save £200 a month. It's not 'free'

£6 Montessori charge for the morning, £6 first school fee for the afternoon, £11 for lunch hour, £11 per hour before 9 and after 4

*forest school

Oh and you can't stretch funding, it can only be used term time , holidays are £75-£90 a day depending how long a day.

full charge. 0 hours free for NI parents.

£15 per day

@Greendoor12 what are your fees like and do you have full 8-6 cover or just school hours?

ours is nearly £54 extra per day and £107 per day during school holidays as the funding only applies during term time

i use stretched funding so get 22 hours per week. I pay the remaining 28 hours per week £535 per month. If we were using the funded hours only it would be £1.50 per week towards snacks.
£10 per week for lunch.

That’s a community nursery in Brum.

I’m shocked at some of the other prices some places charge. The top up is supposed to be voluntary and they are supposed to itemise what the charge is for. They can pick and choose what hours are used.

It's supposed to be illegal to charge an actual top-up, and supposed to be possible to access the free hours actually free (eg with supplying own packed lunch so no extra lunch charge). However the government funding is so low, nurseries would go out of business if they didn't find ways to charge more.

@ArdeteiMasazxu I doubt think it’s illegal unfortunately. Private nurseries can do what they want and don’t even have to take part I. The scheme.

@ArdeteiMasazxu Sorry that was meant to say …. I don’t think it’s illegal unfortunately. Private nurseries can do what they want and don’t even have to take part in the scheme. Where I am there’s a massive shortage of private day cares and waiting list are huge so they know they can charge whatever they want and will still have a massive queue

40 pounds per day for a 'funded' day (when split over 51 weeks). They charge for snacks, meals and then 'extras' which includes music, art, French, PE etc.

Most childminders don't charge voluntary contributions and are more flexible in offering the hours needed. They offer exactly the same standard of service and quality so why not change provider.

Nothing. DS is in 30 hours a week term time only and we don’t pay anything, nor have we been asked to

Ours is still £21 per day when funded.

£30 a day
I get 20% off with tax free childcare

Many years ago now, as Dd is 21 but same here.
She went to nursery for two years 9am-11.30am, 5 days a week in term time from when she was 3.
I paid 50p a week for snack which was fruit every day.

It is explicitly forbidden by the guidance which governs the early education funding. Pages 13 and 14 here: https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1149556/Early_education_and_childcare_statutory_guidance_-_April_2023.pdf#page7

local authorities must ensure providers do not charge a top up.

Nurseries don’t have to offer funded places. But where they do they must comply with the guidance. Additional charges must be clear and invoiced. Local authorities are responsible for ensuring nurseries offering the funding are invoicing correctly, not charging top ups and a whole host of other things.

As pointed out already though, enforcing the guidance is likely to mean some nurseries either don’t offer the funding or become unsustainable and close. The current funding arrangements screw over providers and parents

None at the school nursery DS goes to though they ask for 50p a week for craft materials.

Massive variation then!!

We've just had another price increase and the daily charge for 'funded' days is just over £30.

As lots of others have said, they did go into detail about what the government actually pay for funded hours V what it actuality costs to run!

22 a day 8-6

I'm a childminder and charge 20. Yes it's not allowed but it's that or I don't offer funding at all (and I'd easily fill spaces). I'm not working for less than my day rate. I'd rather help a parent by offering the funding than just tell them to leave. I need to pay my mortgage too!

It's term time and something like 6 hours a day, so you're being charged for anything you use outside of this.

My child goes to a school linked nursery so school hours and school terms. I pay £3 a day to cover the lunch half hour (I'm welcome to tke him out and bring him back if I don't want to pay).

If I need him cared for after 3pm I pay after school club rates.