Affordable childcare
Funding support available
We understand that the cost of childcare can represent a significant portion of your outgoings. We want to ensure all our families are receiving the support they are entitled to. To request individual nursery fees and session availability, please contact your local nursery - they will answer any questions you might have! Alternatively please take a look at the funding policy page for fee breakdowns.
We aim to help you understand the variety of available government programmes that exist to support parents with childcare costs.
All eligible children aged from 9 months to school age will now be able to receive 30 hours a week of funded childcare from September 2025. You can find out more information on this on the government website Childcare Choices. Our funding policy is available online and for more information on current schemes please read on.
Everyone’s circumstances are different and we therefore encourage you to visit the governments best start in life website for more details.
Funding, fees & what's included
At New Beginnings, we believe in complete transparency so that parents clearly understand how funded childcare and nursery fees work.
All invoices provide a clear breakdown of the costs associated with your child’s place, including:
- Private paid hours charged at the nursery’s advertised daily or hourly rates (please see individual nursery fee schedules)
- Funded hours shown at a £0 charge
- Optional meals and snacks provided during funded sessions where parents choose to purchase these
- Consumables and enrichment activities which are offered in addition to the statutory requirements of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)
Government funded childcare provided through the Local Authority covers early education and care only. Additional hours, meals, consumables and enrichment opportunities are optional services and are not a condition of accessing a funded place at any New Beginnings nursery. All items are clearly itemised on invoices so parents can see exactly how their invoice has been calculated. Optional contributions support the provision of meals, consumables and enrichment opportunities and help New Beginnings maintain the high-quality environment and experiences that families expect from our nurseries.
Parents may choose not to purchase optional services and their child will still be able to access their funded hours.
Meals and snacks
Government funding does not cover the cost of food that the nursery provides. Mealtimes play an important role in nursery life. We work closely with food specialists, families and governing bodies to offer healthy, balanced and enjoyable meals and snacks within a social and engaging environment. This approach helps children build positive eating habits for life while learning to share mealtime experiences with their peers.
We provide seasonal, 3-week rotating menus that introduce children to new flavours alongside familiar favourites.
The meals and snacks charge supports our continued investment in high-quality food provision and healthy eating education.
Enrichment activities
On your invoice, the “Enrichment activity” charge (per funded hour) covers a wide range of extra-curricular experiences and non-food consumables provided during funded hours. These include:
- Access to the Famly system, including activity ideas for home
- Our bespoke Early Years curriculum “Watch Us Grow”, led by a qualified Early Years teacher
- A lending library featuring speech and language resources with guided notes
- Boogie Mites music programmes (Teenies, Minis and School-Ready)
- Trips and outings in the local community
- Sign and Sign (Makaton) sessions
- Seasonal events and celebrations
- Sensory room access for enhanced sensory therapy (not available at the Rainham site)
- Eco-Schools accredited activities, including seasonal gardening projects
- A cooking and healthy eating programme
These activities enrich your child’s learning and development, helping us deliver a broad, stimulating and high-quality nursery experience.
Find out more about the support is available for your family
Managing childcare costs can be challenging, particularly given the current financial environment. The UK Government provides various funded childcare programs aimed at easing this financial burden.
Explore the different options available to discover how childcare funding can support your family.
If you're not on benefits but entitled to Tax-Free Childcare, you can get a top-up of up to £2,000 per year, per child until the 1 September after your child turns 11 (or 16 for disabled children – and for them you can claim up to £4,000).
If you're still able to use Childcare Vouchers, you can use them until your children turns 15 (or 16 if they're disabled).
If you're on Universal Credit and in work, you can reclaim some of your childcare costs – up to a maximum of £1,014 for one child and £1,739 for two or more children – for children up to the age of 16. You can claim just during school holidays, or throughout the year.