Nursery extras and consumables charges
What nurseries in England can and cannot charge on funded hours, the common extras, how to compare them and what to do if a charge seems unfair.
By The Toddly editorial team · Last updated 14 November 2026
Funded hours are meant to be free at the point of use. In practice many parents find their bill includes extra charges on those hours, for meals, nappies, activities or something called a consumables charge. This guide covers what is allowed, what is common and how to compare nurseries fairly.
What the rules say
The Department for Education’s statutory guidance to councils sets the rules for funded places. In short:
- The funded hours themselves must be free. A nursery cannot charge a top-up fee for the funded hours or make you pay for extra hours as a condition of a funded place.
- Nurseries can charge for optional extras, such as meals, snacks, nappies and trips.
- Those charges must be voluntary. The nursery must offer a reasonable alternative, such as letting you bring your own lunch or nappies or waiving the cost, and cannot refuse or limit your funded place if you decline.
- The prices of extras should be published on the nursery’s website, and invoices should be itemised: funded hours, paid hours, food, other consumables and activities each on their own line.
- A non-refundable deposit or registration fee cannot be made a condition of a funded place.
Gov.uk puts it simply: you can still get the free childcare even if you do not pay for extras, and if your provider insists, speak to your council.
Common extras
| Extra | What it usually covers | Typical form |
|---|---|---|
| Meals | Lunch, tea, sometimes breakfast | Per meal or per day |
| Snacks and drinks | Morning and afternoon snacks, milk | Per day or included |
| Consumables | Nappies, wipes, sun cream, tissues, art materials | Per hour, day or month |
| Activities | Music, languages, sport, outings | Per session or term |
| “Enhanced” sessions | Longer days or premium rooms beyond the funded hours | Per hour |
Some nurseries include everything in one price; others itemise. Neither is wrong, but itemised bills make it easier to see where the money goes. Our hidden extras tracker shows the charges nurseries publish on funded hours, where we know enough of them.
How to compare nurseries
- Ask for the full price list in writing, including the rate for hours on top of funded hours and every extra.
- Ask how funded hours are applied: term-time or stretched, and on which days and times. A nursery may only offer funded hours at certain times.
- Ask which charges are optional and what the alternative is.
- Work out the monthly total. In our childcare cost calculator, enter the extras charge per funded hour to see its effect. A charge of £1.50 an hour on 1,140 funded hours a year adds £1,710 a year, or £142.50 a month.
- Compare like with like. A nursery with a higher day rate but meals included can work out cheaper than one with a lower rate and lots of extras.
Paying for extras
You can usually pay for extras with Tax-Free Childcare if the nursery supplies them, which takes 20% off. If you claim Universal Credit, check with your work coach which charges count as childcare costs.
If a charge seems unfair
- Ask the nursery to explain the charge and what the alternative is. Many problems are misunderstandings.
- Check your contract and the nursery’s funding policy, which it should share with you.
- Contact your council’s early years team if the nursery says an extra is compulsory for a funded place, or will not offer an alternative. Councils oversee funded places and can follow it up.
Nurseries are paid a set hourly rate by the council for funded hours, and many say it does not cover their costs, which is why extras have grown. Ask before you sign, not after the first invoice. See also what funded hours really cover and the consumables charge glossary entry.
Put it to use
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to pay for meals on funded hours?
Nurseries can charge for meals, but it should be optional. They should offer an alternative, such as bringing a packed lunch, and cannot refuse a funded place because you will not pay.
What is a consumables charge?
A charge for things like nappies, wipes, sun cream, snacks and art materials used during funded hours. It may be per hour, per day or per month.
Who do I complain to about extras?
Talk to the nursery first. If it insists an extra is compulsory for a funded place, contact your council's early years team, which oversees funded places locally.