Childcare for any budget

Effective from 1 June 2026

Thank you for choosing Ducklings Childcare. Our aim is to provide a warm, safe and high-quality environment for all children while maintaining clear and transparent expectations for families. Please read the following Terms & Conditions carefully.

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1. Opening Hours
Ducklings Childcare is open from 7:30am to 5:30pm. Funded hours may be accessed anytime within these opening hours, subject to availability and agreed attendance patterns.

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2. Funded Childcare
Ducklings Childcare offers funded childcare places in line with current government funding guidelines. Parents are not required to purchase additional services in order to access funded childcare. Funding covers childcare only and does not include meals, snacks, nappies, wipes, creams, trips or additional services unless otherwise stated.

Families may choose between the following funded options:

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3. Funded Hours Options

Option 1 – Self-Provided Extras
Funded childcare hours are free.

Parents provide:

• Meals and snacks
• Nappies
• Wipes
• Nappy cream

No additional consumable charges apply under this option.

Option 2 – Optional Nursery Consumables
Funded childcare hours are free.

Optional charges apply only for the items requested by parents.

• Breakfast £1.00
• Morning Snack £0.50
• Dinner £4.00
• Afternoon Snack £0.50
• Tea £2.00
• Nappies, wipes & nappy cream £1.00 per day

Formula milk must be provided by parents. Once children transition onto whole milk, this will be provided by Ducklings Childcare.

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4. Stretched Funding
Families may choose to stretch funded childcare across the year, including holiday periods.

This means funded hours are spread across more weeks of the year instead of term-time only.

The number of funded hours available weekly will depend on:

• Funding entitlement
• Attendance pattern
• Weeks funding is stretched across

Our management team will explain available options and support families in choosing the most suitable arrangement.

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5. Private Hours Fees
Any hours attended outside funded entitlement are classed as private hours.

Private hours include:

• Meals and snacks
• Nappies
• Wipes
• Nappy cream
• Consumables

Private Hour Charges

• 1 hour £8.63
• 2 hours £17.26
• 3 hours £25.88
• 4 hours £34.51
• 5 hours £48.99
• 6 hours £58.88
• 7 hours £62.44
• 8 hours £64.97
• 9 hours £70.47
• 10 hours £73.69

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6. Deposits & Securing Places
Fully Funded Places Only
(No private sessions)

• No deposit required
• Place secured once all funding paperwork is completed and approved

Private Places Only

• One month’s fees payable in advance to secure the place

Funded & Private Places

• One month’s private fees payable in advance

Places cannot be guaranteed until all required paperwork and advance payments have been received.

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7. Invoices & Payments

• Invoices are issued on the 20th of each month
• Payment is due by the 1st of the following month
• All fees are payable in advance

Payments can be made via:

• BACS
• Tax-Free Childcare
• Childcare Vouchers (where applicable)

Cash payments are not accepted.

Parents must use their child’s name as the payment reference.

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8. Late Payments
If private fees or additional charges remain unpaid after 4 days:

• Children may only attend funded sessions
• Parents must provide all food, snacks, nappies and consumables during funded hours

If private fees remain unpaid after the 7th of the month:

• A 5% late payment fee may be added
• Additional private sessions may be withdrawn

Persistent non-payment may result in termination of the childcare contract and formal debt recovery procedures where necessary.

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9. Funding Eligibility & Grace Periods
Parents are responsible for:

• Applying for funding
• Renewing funding codes on time
• Completing all required paperwork

If a funding code becomes invalid or is not renewed, a government grace period may apply.

If eligibility ends or the grace period expires:

• Private fees become payable for affected sessions
• Invoices will be adjusted accordingly

Ducklings Childcare cannot guarantee continued funded sessions without valid eligibility.

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10. Session Changes & Notice Periods
We require:

• 4 weeks’ written notice for any permanent session increase or reduction
• 4 weeks’ written notice for attendance pattern changes
• 20 working days’ written notice to terminate your contract and leave the nursery

All session changes are subject to availability and staffing ratios.

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11. Holidays, Absence & Bank Holidays
When contracts are signed, staffing and room places are allocated specifically for your child.
For this reason:

• Fees remain payable during holidays and absences
• Private sessions falling on Bank Holidays remain payable

This supports consistent staffing, continuity of care and operational costs throughout the year.

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12. Late Collection Charges
To maintain safe staffing ratios and ensure staff are paid fairly for additional time worked, late collection charges apply as follows:

• Up to 15 minutes £15.00
• Up to 30 minutes £25.00

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13. Early Drop-Offs
Early drop-offs without prior agreement will be charged at the standard hourly rate. Unplanned arrivals may require staffing and room ratios to be adjusted at short notice.

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14. Trips, Celebrations & Additional Activities
Additional charges may occasionally apply for:

• Trips
• Celebrations
• Special events
• External activities or experiences

Parents will always be informed in advance of optional additional charges.

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15. Tax-Free Childcare & Universal Credit
Families may be eligible for financial support through:

• Tax-Free Childcare
• Universal Credit Childcare Support

Parents are responsible for managing and maintaining their own eligibility and payments through these schemes.

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16. Nursery Education Funding Forms
To access funded childcare, parents must:

• Complete all Nursery Education Funding (NEF) paperwork
• Provide valid eligibility codes where applicable
• Provide any required supporting documents

Funding cannot be applied until all paperwork is completed correctly.

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17. Fee Reviews
Fees are reviewed annually. Ducklings Childcare reserves the right to amend fees and charges. Parents will receive written notice of any changes.