Fees

The Acorn Nursery Fee Sheet  

Fees effective from 1st September 2026: 

Our nursery school opening hours are 9am to 4pm Monday to Friday. 

Please note:
This is the required attendance pattern for our nursery.

Seedlings and The Acorn will attend 4 mornings during the first term, increasing to 5 mornings in the second term.

Mighty Oaks will attend 3 full days and 2 mornings, working towards 5 full days by the Summer term.

Our fees are calculated to take this into account, and reflect a full year divided by three, so you will pay the same amount each term. 

Our fees are reviewed each year in line with changes to operational costs. 

Please visit www.childcarechoices.gov.uk for details on how to access any Government funded entitlement your child may be eligible for. 

Fees Per Term 2026/2027

Information about Fees

• All Fees are non-refundable.
• Fees are subject to annual review and are subject to
• We accept bank transfers and direct debits. Please write the name of the child as a reference and email the office each time a payment is made. Bank details are available on your invoice.

A full term’s written notice is required, (received no later than the first day of term) before withdrawing a child. A minimum of a half a terms notice for cancellation of any optional extras. Failing which a full term, or half terms fees respectively must be paid in lieu of notice. For children accessing a Fully Funded place, the notice period is reduced to four weeks.

15 Hours Government-Funded Childcare for Under 3s, 3 and 4-Year-Olds

The Acorn Nursery School participates in the Government-funded childcare schemes for eligible children, including:

• 15 hours funded childcare for eligible children under 3 years old.
• 15 hours funded childcare for all 3- and 4-year-olds.
• Funding is available from the term following a child becoming eligible.
• Parents must complete the required funding paperwork and provide a copy of the child’s passport or birth
• Funding rates are set by the Local Authority and may change from time to time.
• Any attendance beyond a child’s funded entitlement will be charged at the nursery’s standard rates for the additional hours and services provided.

Please note that not all nursery schools participate in these schemes due to the administrative requirements involved. We appreciate parents’ cooperation in completing all required documentation promptly.

30 Hours Government-Funded Childcare for 3 and 4-Year-Olds

The Acorn Nursery School offers the Government-funded 30-hour childcare entitlement for eligible working families with 3- and 4-year-old children. Parents are responsible for applying for and maintaining a valid eligibility code and must provide this to the nursery before funding can be claimed.
Eligibility can be checked at: https://www.gov.uk/free-childcare-if-working/check-youre-eligible

What Government Funding Covers

Government funding only covers the cost of childcare provision and delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.
The funding does not cover additional services provided by the nursery, including but not limited to:

• Meals and snack
• Nappies and consumables
• Additional hours
• Early starts or late finishes
• Enrichment and extracurricular activities
• Forest School
• As well as all those little extras that makes The Acorn so special!

We therefore ask parents to pay for these with our consumables charge, called an ‘Extras and Essentials’ fee, during funded hours. This ensures that the quality of care and service we offer is protected for all our children and parents. Details on how our fees are structured can be found at www.theacornnursery.co.uk

Extras and Essentials Fee

The ‘Extras and Essentials’ fee remains voluntary. However, if parents choose not to pay this charge, they will be asked to speak with our Admissions Manager to discuss the available options, as non-payment has both operational and financial implications for the nursery.

We offer a limited number of Fully Funded or Funded Entitlement Only (FEO) places, subject to availability and a fixed attendance pattern. Access to these places is determined according to need and in line with our Government Funding Policy.
Families who wish to access a fully funded place without additional fees may wish to contact the Royal Borough’s Family Information Service on 020 7361 3302, who can advise on alternative providers.

Childcare Vouchers, Tax-Free Childcare and Workplace Nursery Schemes
For those that receive childcare vouchers, we accept most of the major providers.
Tax-Free Childcare can be used alongside both 15-hour and 30-hour Government funding entitlements and may provide significant savings towards childcare costs.
For any queries regarding fees, funding or payment options, please contact the nursery office and a member of the team will be happy to assist.