Our fees are very competitive within the local area, considering the high quality of care we offer*.
There is a meal charge for those children in receipt of 15hrs or 30hrs FEEE subsidised funding
The nursery is closed for all Bank Holidays and the period between Christmas and New Year. We do not charge nursery fees for Bank Holidays or the period between Christmas and New Year; however, fees are still charged for any other absences, such as illness or holidays
Nursery Fees - May 2026 - April 2027
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We offer a 10% Sibling Discount, applied to the eldest child’s nursery fees, unless one or more siblings receive 15hr or 30hr FEEE subsidised funding.
* There may be a charge for the extra-curricular activities, celebrations, and special events
**The discounted full-time weekly rate is not available to those children in receipt of the FEEE subsidised funding
Payment options:
Parents are invoiced for their child’s fees a month in advance. These can be paid using cash, cheque, Childcare Vouchers, Tax Free Childcare Scheme or by Electronic transfer.
FUNDING MEALS AND CONSUMABLES OPT-OUT POLICY
At Caterpillar Day Nursery, we deliver the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) framework. The 15 and 30-hour childcare entitlements funded by the Local Authority cover the cost of high-quality care and education only. This funding does not cover the cost of meals, snacks, or other daily consumables. It also doesn’t cover extra- curricular activities and outings. To maintain the highest standard of care, we offer a fully catered service for an additional fee.
Our meals are freshly prepared by a qualified full-time chef, and only the finest ingredients are delivered to our nursery. In line with the Department for Education (DfE) Statutory Guidance, these charges are strictly voluntary. Paying for nursery meals is not a condition of accessing a funded place. Parents have
the right to opt out of meal charges and provide food from home instead.
Meal Provision and Charges
For parents who choose our catered service, food charges are itemised clearly on monthly invoices.
Standard Catering Fee: £9 per day. (£5.85 per AM and £3.85 per PM)
What is included: This full day fee covers breakfast, morning snack, a two-course hot lunch, afternoon snack, and tea (AM/PM meals are adapted accordingly). All allergies and dietary requirements are catered for, and alternative milk products are provided.
Opt-Out Process and Alternative Arrangement
Parents who do not wish to pay the meal fee must formally opt out by contacting us via This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
Alternative Option: Children whose parents opt out must bring their own packed meals and snacks from home each day.
Packed Lunch Policy
All food brought from home must comply strictly with our Nutrition and Mealtimes Policy to ensure a safe environment and adherence to the healthy eating requirements of the EYFS. Due to lack of refrigeration and storage, meals that are perishable and require refrigeration must be dropped off by parents, no later than four hours prior to the corresponding mealtime, to ensure they are not stored at room temperature longer than the 2- 4 hours food hygiene safety guidelines. We will not heat foods brought from home.
Notice Period: To allow our kitchen staff to manage stock and ordering, we require four weeks’ written notice to opt out of or re-enrol in the nursery meal program.
Universal Access
All children will have full access to drinking water and milk (via the Nursery Milk Scheme) regardless of whether they utilise nursery catering or bring a packed lunch. However, those children opting out of our meal charges will need to supply any required cow’s milk alternatives.
Impact on EYFS Delivery
Opting out of nursery meals will never affect your child's access to their funded hours or their delivery of the core EYFS curriculum. However, please note that choosing a "funded-only session excluding meals and consumables" means your child will not participate in optional or extracurricular activities (e.g., nursery cooking classes, forest school sessions, yoga, trips and outings, parties and celebrations or any other extra-curricular activities from external companies). These will be chargeable separately and clearly detailed on the parental invoices.
Parents cannot choose some elements of our “Opt in” and others from our “Opt out” policy in a mix-and-match manner.