Fees and Payment Info
Little Lambs Nursery is open from 8.00am to 6.00pm, Monday to Friday, offering full-day sessions only designed to give children a consistent, nurturing and calm experience. Each day includes all meals, snacks, drinks, core learning opportunities, outdoor play, and access to our farm-based environment.
The nursery operates a full-year model and remains open throughout the school holidays. We close for bank holidays, three annual staff training days, and a two-week Christmas break, ensuring our team can provide the highest standard of care and maintain a safe and well-
prepared environment. Daily rates are reviewed annually, with parents notified in advance of any changes.
Registration Fee & Settling-In
Until further notice, families wishing to enrol their child for a January to April 2026 start can register and apply for FREE! During this period, and until further notice, we are pleased to confirm that places are currently guaranteed for children starting during January and April.
Once a place is confirmed, settling-in sessions are planned individually to support a smooth transition, helping children to build confidence and familiarity with the setting at their own pace.
Government Funding & Stretched Hours
Little Lambs offers the government’s funded childcare entitlement for eligible children aged nine months to three years old. Funding is applied on a stretched basis across 51 weeks, which provides families with a consistent, predictable number of funded hours each week.
Government funding covers childcare only. To ensure high-quality provision, all funded places incur a £10 daily consumables charge covering meals, snacks, resources, and essential nursery materials. Parents cannot provide meals as an alternative to avoid these charges. All funded hours require a signed Parent Declaration Form, and funding cannot be transferred between days or swapped once allocated.
We encourage all families to explore their childcare entitlement through the Childcare Choices website and are happy to support parents in understanding how funding is applied within our setting.
Consumables, Meals & Additional Charges
The consumables contribution supports the high standard of care children receive throughout the day. This includes freshly prepared meals, snacks, drinks, wipes, craft resources, and general consumable materials used during play and learning. For families accessing funded hours, this contribution ensures that nutritional and educational standards are upheld while allowing children to take part in the full nursery experience.
Children attending privately funded sessions have meals and snacks fully included. Although parents may provide consumable items for cultural, medical, or SEND-related reasons, all other consumables are supplied by the nursery to maintain consistency and quality.
Payments, Invoicing & Methods
Invoices are issued monthly and in advance, and payment is due by the first day of each month. Payments received after the fifth day of the month will incur a 10% late payment charge, unless a delay is agreed in exceptional circumstances.
Families may pay via:
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Bank Transfer
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Childcare Vouchers
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Tax-Free Childcare
Fees remain payable during periods of absence, including sickness or holidays, because staffing and operational costs continue regardless of attendance. Payment can be made by bank transfer, childcare vouchers, or Tax-Free Childcare, and families are welcome to use a combination of accepted methods.
Session Changes, Absences, Sickness & Refunds
Children who are absent due to illness, holidays, or personal circumstances continue to pay their usual fees, as the nursery must maintain staffing and operational budgets to ensure consistent provision. Refunds or credits are only offered where a child is admitted into hospital on a booked nursery day, in which case fees for that day will be removed.
Sessions cannot be exchanged or swapped for alternative days, and additional absences cannot be rescheduled.
Families may request to increase or decrease their child’s sessions, subject to availability. All changes, including withdrawing from the nursery, require six weeks’ written notice. This notice period applies equally to privately funded and government-funded places, ensuring that staffing ratios and operational planning remain stable for all children.
Families may request additional sessions when needed. These are offered on an ad-hoc basis, depending on availability and staffing levels. Additional sessions are charged at the standard daily rate and added to the following month’s invoice. Ad-hoc bookings are non-refundable if the child does not attend.
Closures
The nursery closes on:
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For all UK bank holidays
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For three staff training days per year (not chargeable)
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For a two-week Christmas break
Parents are not charged for training days or the Christmas closure, but bank holidays remain chargeable as part of the standard yearly model.
In the rare event of an emergency closure - such as severe weather, loss of utilities, or safety concerns - fees may be adjusted in accordance with our Emergency & Contingency Planning Policy. Parents will be informed as early as possible should such a closure be required.
Financial Support for Families
Families may be eligible for financial support through government schemes, including Tax-Free Childcare, Universal Credit, Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP), or the Disability Access Fund (DAF). These schemes are designed to help with childcare costs, enhance provision, or support children with additional needs.
Information about each scheme is available through the UK Government’s Childcare Choices website, and the nursery team is available to assist families in understanding how to access support where eligible.
Contact Us
We understand that childcare finances can be complex, and we are always happy to help. Parents with questions about fees, funding, payments, or availability can contact the nursery office directly for support. Clear communication and transparency are central to our approach, and we aim to make every family feel confident and well-informed.