Fees, Funding & Childcare Costs at Innsworth Preschool
Helping you understand childcare support options and providing affordable, high quality education.
Choosing childcare is one of the biggest financial decisions families make, and we believe it is important to be open, clear and realistic about costs from the very beginning.
At Innsworth Preschool, we support children aged 2, 3 and 4 years, with places limited to 30 children per session. This allows us to provide a calm, well-managed environment where children are known, supported and given the attention they need, while also helping families clearly understand what they are paying for and why.
Value for Families
Innsworth Preschool is a term-time only setting, which means families pay for childcare during school terms rather than across the full year. This is an important difference between us and many nurseries in the local area.
Many full-day nurseries operate for most of the year, even if a child only attends during term time. This can mean families are paying across far more weeks than they actually need. By contrast, our term-time model keeps childcare more closely aligned with the school year, which many families find more practical and more manageable.
We have chosen this approach deliberately. It allows us to:
- Keep childcare more affordable
- Align closely with the school year
- Focus funding where it matters most
- Avoid passing unnecessary costs on to parents
We also keep numbers to 30 children per session as a deliberate choice. This helps us provide a calmer, better-supported environment where children are known as individuals and families receive a more personal experience.
As an independent, family-run preschool, we are not part of a large chain or franchise. This means decisions are made locally, with families and children in mind, rather than to meet external targets or shareholder expectations. We regularly review local childcare costs to ensure our fees remain competitive while still allowing us to invest in staff, resources and the learning environment.
Our aim is simple: to provide excellent care, strong early learning foundations, and clear value for families, without compromising on quality, safety or experience.
Funded Sessions, Private Sessions and Our Preschool Day (8am-6pm)
Innsworth Preschool is a term-time only preschool for children aged 2, 3 and 4 years, open Monday to Friday from 8:00am to 6:00pm.
We offer two 5-hour sessions each day:
- Morning Session: 8:00am to 1:00pm
- Afternoon Session: 1:00pm to 6:00pm
We accept both 15 hours funded childcare and 30 hours funded childcare for eligible families. Funded families can use their hours for half days or full days, in line with our session structure and local funding rules. Funding is applied within our set session structure rather than as flexible hourly use.
For families booking privately, our fees are:
- £6 per hour
- £30 for one 5-hour session
- £60 for a full 10-hour day
Families using funded hours can also pay for extra sessions or extra days, subject to availability.
For families who would like a 9:00am to 3:00pm arrangement, we offer our 2x Hour 3:00pm Top Up: £12, which is limited and subject to availability.
Government Funding and What It Covers
We accept government funded childcare for eligible children. This includes:
- 15 hours funded childcare
- 30 hours funded childcare for working families
- 2-year-old funding for eligible children
Funding helps cover the cost of your child’s early education and care during funded hours.
Funding contributes towards:
- Staffing and supervision
- Learning and development activities
- Resources and equipment
- Care provided during funded sessions
Funding does not include optional items such as:
- Meals
- Additional sessions or extra days
- Optional extras
- Any time outside funded hours
We do not charge top-up fees on funded hours. Any additional charges only apply to optional services or extra time outside your funded entitlement.
It is the parent or carer’s responsibility to:
- apply for funding if eligible
- provide a valid funding code and required details
- renew or reconfirm funding when needed
If funding is not approved, not renewed, or a valid code is not provided in time, any sessions attended will need to be paid for privately.
We are happy to support families with understanding how funding works, but the application and ongoing eligibility remain the responsibility of the parent or carer.
Meals and Nutrition
Children spend a significant part of the day with us, so food plays an important role in their energy, wellbeing and ability to learn.
We offer:
- Free breakfast from 9:00am
- Brunch at 11:00am – £4
- Lunch at 2:30pm – £4
Each session includes a meal opportunity, helping ensure children are well fed, settled and ready to focus, regardless of the session they attend.
Meal times are part of the preschool day and support children to develop:
- communication and language
- social skills and turn taking
- independence and self-care
- table manners and healthy eating habits
Meals are freshly prepared, balanced and suitable for young children. Many families choose this option because it provides consistency, reduces daily preparation, and supports food safety and allergen control.
Parents may choose to provide food from home instead. If you do:
- Food must be suitable for your child’s session
- Food must be sent in an insulated cooler bag with an ice pack
- Food must meet allergen and food safety requirements
- A food declaration form must be signed
If a child arrives without suitable food, or the food provided does not meet requirements, we may need to provide food to ensure the child’s welfare and the safe running of the day. Charges may apply where this is necessary.
Nappy and Wipes Service (Optional £2)
Some children still need nappies during the preschool day. To make things simpler for families, we offer an optional Nappy and Wipes Service for £2 per day.
If you choose this option, we will provide nappies and wipes during your child’s session, covering typical use throughout the day.
If you prefer to provide your own, that is absolutely fine. In this case:
- Nappies and wipes must be clearly labelled with your child’s name
- You must provide enough supplies for the full session
All children will be fully supported with hygiene and personal care. The only difference is whether the preschool provides the nappies and wipes, or they are provided by parents.
This is an optional charge for consumable items and is not a condition of accessing funded hours. It will appear as a separate item on invoices for families who choose to opt in.
Optional Enhancements: Farm Experience (£2) and Wellbeing Club (£1)
Alongside our core preschool provision, we offer a small range of optional enhancements that give children access to additional experiences as part of the preschool day.
Farm Experience – £2 per day
Our Farm Experience is a key part of what makes the setting unique. It gives children access to hands-on outdoor learning that goes beyond the standard early years curriculum.
This includes experiences such as:
- Growing and harvesting
- Flowers and floristry
- Nature art and messy play
- Animal care
- Food from the garden
- Seasonal projects
These activities help children build confidence, independence, coordination, problem-solving skills and a strong connection to the natural world.
Wellbeing Club – £1 per day
We also offer Wellbeing Club, designed to support children’s health, wellbeing and healthy habits in a simple and practical way.
This includes:
- Daily age-appropriate supplements
- Products suitable for common dietary needs
- Vegan and allergen-aware options
How Enhancements Work
All enhancements are optional. They are not a condition of accessing funded hours.
Where children take part, activities are planned and supervised by the preschool as part of the normal running of the day. Any specific parental information, consent or practical requirements will be shared where needed.
These enhancements allow families to choose additional experiences for their child while helping us continue to invest in high-quality resources and outdoor learning.
Fees, Payments and Next Steps
We believe childcare fees should be clear, transparent and easy to understand. Our aim is to make sure families know exactly what to expect, with no hidden charges or unexpected costs.
Fees are invoiced in advance and are based on the sessions and services your child is booked to attend. This may include:
- Funded hours
- Privately paid hours
- Meals
- Optional extras
Full details of fees, payment schedules and terms are provided before a place is confirmed.
Invoices are issued via Tapestry and must be paid within 7 days.
If an invoice is not paid within the required timeframe, a £30 late payment fee may be applied in line with our payment terms.
If a child is collected more than 10 minutes late, a £15 late collection charge will apply.
If families have questions about funding, fees or session options, we are always happy to explain these clearly and talk through the choices available.
Places are limited, so we recommend getting in touch early if you are considering a place.
If you would like to discuss availability, arrange a visit, or ask any questions about fees or funding, please get in touch. We will be happy to help.
Start your child's educational journey with us today! Contact us to book a visit or secure a place at Innsworth Preschool. Benefit from our commitment to affordability, excellence, and accessibility, providing your child with an exceptional learning environment.
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Monday - Friday 8am - 6pm
Phone:
01452 739090
