FEE funded Childcare and extra charges

Please note this section is current being set up. The information listed below is incorrect, incomplete and subject to change at any time.

Provision must be offered within the national parameters on charging practices set out in section A1 of the Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities 2025. Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. The 15 or 30 hours must be able to be accessed free of charge to Parents. There must not be any mandatory charges for Parents in relation to the EEF entitlements. Government funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours, or additional services.

The Provider can charge Parents for the following extras in connection with the EEF entitlements, but these charges must be voluntary for the Parent:

  • Consumables to be used by the child, such as nappies or sun cream.
  • meals and snacks consumed by the child.
  • extra optional activities such as events, celebrations, specialist tuition (for example music classes or foreign languages) or other activities that are not directly related or necessary for the effective delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
  • any additional, private paid hours according to their usual terms and conditions provided taking up private paid hours is not a condition of accessing an EEF place.

The Provider must set out, the amounts charged for all the chargeable extras as well as the pattern of hours that Parents can take the entitlements.

The Provider must ensure their invoices and receipts are itemised, and broken down separately into: the EEF entitlement hours, additional private paid hours, food charges, non-food consumables charges, activities charges.

Invoices and receipts must also contain the Provider's full details. Copies of invoices issued to Parents must be retained for a minimum period of 6 years for auditing and verification purposes.

Parents must be able to opt out of paying for chargeable extras and the associated consumable or activity for their child. For activities and extra services, the Provider must ensure that participation in any optional extra activity is based on parental choice and a willingness to meet the charges. The Provider must ensure that children who do not participate in optional activities continue to receive provision that complies with the EYFS.

Providers who choose to offer the EEF entitlements, are responsible for setting a policy on providing Parents with options for alternatives to additional charges.

The Provider must not charge Parents for the following in connection with the EEF entitlement hours

  • the supply of or use of any materials, including, but not limited to, craft materials, crayons, paper, books, instruments, toys, or other equipment
  • business running costs, including, but not limited to, rent, staff wages, cleaning materials, insurance, or utility bills such as energy, gas, or water.

Optional extra charges

4 Charges for Additional Hours

Where families require additional hours over and above their daily funded entitlements, a rate of £7.50 per hour will be applied for all age ranges.

5 Charges for Meals & Snacks

  • Breakfast: £2
  • Lunch/packed lunch: £3
  • Dinner: £3

6 Charges for Non-Food Consumables

Ideally each family brings their own non-food consumables e.g. nappies, wipes, nappy bags, suncream, indoor and outdoor clothing, hats, gloves, coats and wellington boots.

In the event that essential non-food consumables are not provided, then I reserve the right to make a one off charge for any items needed. Should a parent wish to opt out of payment for such essential items, then please discuss this with me.

7 Charges for Extra Activities

The children are regularly taken out of the setting on trips. Normally these trips will not incur extra costs, above a packed lunch. When these activities do have extra costs, such as an admission price, these costs will be discussed with the parent. This then gives you plenty of notice to decide if you would like their child to attend the activity or not.

8 Opt-Out Policy & Reasonable Alternatives

Please come to speak to me to discuss reasonable alternatives, if you wish to opt out of the optional services non-food consumables and extra activities. I can then make clear the implications of that decision for your child. I will need one months notice period, if you then decide to change your decision.

If you wish to opt out of meals then please bring in food for your own child to eat. Please ensure that all food items brought into the setting adhere to the FEE guidelines on acceptable foods.

9 Other Charges

List other charges here.

10 Tax Free Childcare

I accept tax free childcare or universal credit childcare. Families can use these schemes at my setting, to top up extra hours on top, of the 15 or 30 hours that they may be entitled to.