Parents may need to pay for some of the hours

Childcare providers can charge for extra things. This might include hot meals, nappies, wipes, or extra hours that aren’t covered by the free funding.

If they do charge for these things, they must tell parents clearly what the charges are for. They can’t make parents pay for extras just to get a free place.

For example, if there’s a charge for a hot lunch, parents must be allowed to bring a packed lunch instead, without paying anything.