Fees

At Stay and Play, we are dedicated to providing high-quality early years education and nurturing care for your child. Our fees are designed to be transparent and flexible to accommodate your family's needs. We accept 15 and 30 hours of free childcare entitlement for eligible children. Additionally, we offer a comprehensive package that includes nappies, lunch, snacks, and engaging activities, ensuring your child's holistic development and well-being.

Full Day Rates:

• Under 2's Part-Time (Less than 3 days per week): £97 per day.
• Under 2's Full-Time (3 days or more per week): £94 per day.

• Under 3's Part-Time (Less than 3 days per week): £92 Per day.
• Under 3's Full-Time (3 days or more per week): £89 Per day.

• 3 Years+ Part-Time (3 less than 3 days per week): £86 Per day.
• 3 Years+ Full-Time (3 Days or more per week): £84 Per day.

 

Half Day Rates:

We also offer the option of half-day sessions, ideal for families seeking more flexibility.

• Half Day (Morning or Afternoon): £65 per session

Please note that our fees cover the cost of your child's education and care, which includes access to our experienced educators, a stimulating learning environment, and a wide range of exciting activities that promote development across all areas of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework.

Our nursery is committed to providing excellent value for your investment in your child's future. We understand that choosing the right early years setting is a significant decision, and we strive to offer a nurturing and enriching experience for your child, ensuring that they develop a lifelong love for learning.

15 and 30 Hours Free Childcare:

We are pleased to participate in the government's 15 and 30 hours free childcare entitlement scheme for eligible children. This initiative aims to support families by providing free childcare hours, allowing children to benefit from early education opportunities. To check your eligibility and learn more about the scheme, please visit: https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-and-education-for-2-to-4-year-olds.

While we offer free childcare for eligible children, certain services such as breakfast, snacks, nappies, curriculum activities, and wipes are available at an additional cost. Rest assured, these services are provided at a discounted rate of £8 for a full day and £4 for a half day to ensure your child's utmost comfort and care. Feel free to reach out for more details.

Admissions, Funding & Fees

1. Our Commitment

Stay & Play Childcare is committed to providing high-quality, inclusive early years education and care that is accessible to all families, regardless of financial circumstances.

We operate in full compliance with the Childcare Act 2006 and the Department for Education’s statutory guidance on early education and childcare.

2. Government-Funded Childcare Entitlement

We offer funded childcare places for eligible children in line with government schemes, including:

• 9 months+ (Working Families Entitlement)
• 2-Year-Old Funding (including eligible families receiving additional support, such as Universal Credit)
• 3–4-Year-Old Funding (universal and extended 30 hours entitlement)

All funded hours are provided free at the point of delivery.

 We do not charge any mandatory fees for accessing funded childcare hours.

3. Access to Funded Places

Parents are able to access their funded entitlement without being required to purchase additional services.

We ensure that:

• Funded places are offered in a fair and transparent manner
• Parents are not required to pay a “top-up fee” to receive funded hours
• Access to funded hours is not conditional upon purchasing additional services

4. Additional Charges (Optional Services Only)

While funded hours are free, we may offer additional services which incur a charge. These include:

• Meals and snacks
• Nappies, wipes, and consumables
• Extra-curricular activities (e.g. trips, classes)
• Additional hours outside funded entitlement

Important:

• All additional charges are optional
• Parents will be given a clear choice to opt in or out
• Where possible, alternatives may be offered (e.g. parents may provide their own meals or consumables)

We ensure that optional charges are clearly explained, transparent, and not a condition of accessing funded hours.

5. Universal Credit, SLC & Childcare Support

We welcome families who receive financial support towards childcare costs, including:

• Universal Credit (Childcare Element)
• Student Finance / SLC Childcare Support
• Tax-Free Childcare
• Other government-supported childcare schemes

These schemes are designed to assist parents with childcare costs; however:

• They operate separately from government-funded early education entitlements
• Payments are made to support actual childcare costs incurred by parents
• They may not cover the full cost of additional hours or optional services.

Important Information

• Government-funded childcare hours remain free at the point of delivery
• Any additional charges relate only to optional services or non-funded hours
• Parents are only charged for services they have agreed to receive

Parents remain responsible for any agreed charges not covered by these schemes.

We recommend that parents check directly with their provider (e.g. Universal Credit or Student Finance England) to understand what costs are eligible for reimbursement.

6. Fees for Non-Funded Hours

Charges apply for:

• Hours outside of funded entitlement
• Additional booked sessions

Our fee structure is:

• Transparent and provided in advance
• Reviewed periodically
• Available upon request or on our website

7. Support for Families & Our Community Commitment

Stay & Play Childcare is proud to support our local community, including parents, children, and families who may be facing financial pressures.

We recognise that some parents, particularly those receiving Student Finance (SLC) childcare support, Universal Credit, or other forms of assistance, may find that available funding does not always fully reflect the overall cost of childcare provision.

As part of our commitment to accessibility and community support:

We do not require parents receiving Universal Credit or SLC childcare support to pay any “top-up” or difference in relation to their funded childcare hours.

All government-funded childcare hours are provided free at the point of delivery, and access to these hours is not conditional upon paying any additional charges.

Any fees charged by Stay & Play Childcare relate only to:

• Additional hours outside funded entitlement, or
• Optional services, which parents are free to accept or decline

We aim to ensure that financial circumstances do not prevent families from accessing early years education and care.

Parents who require additional support or flexibility are encouraged to speak in confidence with a member of staff to arrange a meeting with the Principal. Each situation will be considered individually, and we will always seek to provide a fair and supportive outcome.

8. Invoicing & Payment Terms

• Fees are invoiced in advance (weekly/monthly as agreed)
• Payment terms will be clearly communicated
• Late or missed payments may result in further action in line with our terms and conditions

Where difficulties arise, we encourage early communication to avoid escalation.

9. Transparency & Compliance

We are committed to full transparency in our fees and funding arrangements.

We ensure that:

• All charges are clearly itemised
• Parents receive written information about fees and funding
• Our practices comply with local authority funding agreements

10. Complaints & Queries

If you have any questions or concerns regarding fees or funding, please contact us in the first instance.

If a concern cannot be resolved internally, parents may contact:

• The Local Authority Early Years Team
• The Local Government & Social Care Ombudsman

Enrolment and Further Information:

Once you decide to join our nursery family, we will provide you with an enrolment form. Kindly fill it out with all the necessary details and return it to us.

To ensure a smooth transition for your child, we offer settling sessions at a rate of £15 per hour. These sessions help your child become familiar with the nursery environment and develop a sense of comfort and security. It is recommended to schedule up to three settling sessions for your child.

For enrolment or to inquire further about our fees and nursery services, please contact our friendly team at +44 74 9454 3622 or info@stayandplaynursery.com. We warmly invite you to schedule a visit to our nursery to experience our nurturing environment and observe our dedicated educators in action.