FEES & FUNDING

Government funding plays an important role in supporting families to access high-quality early years education and childcare. At its core, it is designed to ensure every child has the opportunity to learn, grow and thrive during these crucial early years, while helping parents manage the cost of childcare.

We are proud to offer funded places in line with government schemes, enabling children to benefit from rich, nurturing early learning experiences that support their development, confidence and overall wellbeing, while maintaining the high standards of care and education we are known for.

From April 2025, government guidance requires all early years providers offering funded places to clearly set out any charges relating to consumables, additional services, or enhanced provision. At The Early Learning Camp, transparency has always been central to how we operate, and we are committed to ensuring families fully understand what is included in their child’s care.

Details of our consumables and any additional charges are clearly outlined below. When accessing government funding and choosing to include consumables, the following charges will apply:

Additional Charges Explained

The government-funded early education entitlement is provided by the Department for Education and administered by local authorities. It enables families to access funded early years education at registered settings, ensuring children receive a core level of provision in line with the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS).

This funding is designed to cover the essential elements of early education and care. It ensures that every child has access to:

  • A safe, secure and nurturing environment

  • Age-appropriate educational resources, such as books, puzzles, crayons and paper

  • Staffing in line with statutory EYFS staff-to-child ratios

  • Core play and learning experiences that support early development

While this provides a solid foundation, government funding reflects basic provision only. At The Early Learning Camp, we intentionally go beyond the minimum, offering a rich, engaging and thoughtfully curated environment that nurtures curiosity, confidence and a lifelong love of learning.

What Our Additional Charges Cover

Our additional charges support the enhanced provision we offer and contribute to the wide range of experiences available to your child. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

Meals and Snacks

  • Nutritious, balanced meals, including a freshly prepared two course lunch

  • Morning and afternoon snacks, tailored to individual dietary requirements

  • Regular menu reviews to support children’s nutritional and developmental needs

Special Events and Trips

  • Themed and celebratory days, including cultural events and awareness days

  • Graduation Trip

Celebrations and Milestones

  • Birthday recognition

  • Graduation ceremonies and leavers’ celebrations

  • Seasonal events such as our Christmas Fair

  • Mother’s Day and Father’s Day celebrations

Additional Resources and Equipment

  • Enhanced learning resources, including sensory equipment and specialist materials

Parent and Family Engagement

  • ‘Stay and Play’ sessions to support shared learning experiences

  • Parent workshops and information sessions

Forest School and Outdoor Learning

  • Regular Forest School sessions led by a qualified Forest School Leader

  • Allotment sessions where children plant, grow and care for fruit, vegetables and flowers

  • Den building activities that encourage teamwork, creativity and problem-solving

  • Outdoor cooking experiences, supporting practical life skills and confidence

  • Campfire sessions, where children safely explore fire lighting, warmth, storytelling and shared experiences in a controlled and age-appropriate way

These sessions form a core part of our ethos, encouraging resilience, independence, respect for nature and deep, meaningful learning through hands-on experiences.

 

Opt-Out Option

We understand that some families may wish to access funded hours only. An Opt-Out Policy is available, allowing parents to decline additional services while still accessing their funded entitlement.

 

Our Commitment to Transparency

We are committed to openness and transparency at every stage. A full breakdown of additional charges is available to all families, and invoices clearly show how charges are applied. Our team is always happy to answer any questions and discuss options with you.

Our additional charges represent an investment in your child’s early years experience. They enable us to provide an environment that is not only safe and compliant, but also inspiring, nurturing and rich in opportunity. We believe these experiences create lasting memories and lay strong foundations for future learning.