FAQs: Fees
Discover answers to our most asked questions below.
Fees & holidays
The cost of childcare in the UK is amongst the highest in the world. At Ark Start, we believe that everyone should have access to high quality, flexible and affordable childcare regardless of their background and for that reason:
- Ensure that every family can access their government funded entitlements for free
- Charge private hours out at cost meaning we do not cross subsidise or make money from our private fees
- We make sure all additional charges are transparent (such as lunch) and that you can bring a packed lunch if you prefer.
You can find out more about our fees here
You must buy childcare by the session either term time only or all year round. Our sessions are:
- 9am – midday
- Midday – 3pm
- 8am – 9am
- 3pm – 5pm
If you are entitled to 15 funded hours, this equates to:
- 5 sessions per week, term time only
- 4 sessions per week, all year round
If you’re entitled to 30 funded hours, this equates to:
- 10 sessions per week, term time only
- 8 sessions per week, all year round
Fees cover everything with the exception of snacks and meals; nappies and wipes; and certain offsite visits – we publish these at the beginning of the year so families can plan.
Yes. We charge £2.50 for lunch and snacks (or just 40p for snacks if you bring a packed lunch) for each 9-3 day or £3.50 each 8- 5 day for Lunch tea and snacks Inc. breakfast (or just 60p for snacks if you bring a packed lunch). We do this to try and keep fees as low as possible. If you have any trouble paying these, please come and speak to the office staff.
You will be invoiced monthly, in advance. When payments have not been made, the nursery reserves the right to remove any fee-incurring sessions or lunches from future bookings until the debt is cleared.
No, we don’t require a registration fee or deposit.
Yes, if you take a holiday during your booked sessions, you will be charged. You will not be charged when the nursery is closed.
Funding
The government offer support for childcare costs. You can check your entitlements here. Alternatively, you can speak to our nursery team who will help you understand your entitlements.
3-year-olds will be able to start a funded nursery place in the September, January or April following their third birthday. Their birthday must be before 31st March for funding from Summer Term (April), 31st August for Autumn Term (September) & 31st December for Spring Term (January).
Term Time Only – 5 sessions / week.
In general, the following options are available:
School day
Morning and afternoon sessions Monday and Tuesday and morning session on Wednesday
Or afternoon session on Wednesday and morning and afternoon sessions on Thursday and Friday
Full days
Morning, afternoon and wrap around session one day a week with a morning and afternoon session on the other day.
All Year Round – 4 sessions / week
School day
9am – 3pm Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday
Term Time Only – 10 sessions / week.
In general, the following options are available:
School day
Morning and afternoon sessions Monday to Friday
Full days
Morning, afternoon and wrap around sessions two days a week
Morning and afternoon sessions two days a week
All Year Round – 8 sessions / week
Morning and afternoon sessions four days a week
Morning, afternoon and wrap around sessions two days a week and one morning and afternoon session one day a week
There is some financial help available for families with children at nursery. You can find out more here.
Wrap around is a 3 hour session: 8am – 9am and 3pm – 5pm.
No. The booking patterns we offer mean that you can use your funded hours without buying additional sessions. The minimum number of hours you need to book, if you choose an all year round booking, is 12 hours (or 4 sessions) over two school days 9am – 3pm on a Monday and Tuesday or Thursday and Friday.
No. If you want all year round childcare, we ‘stretch’ your funding. This is another way of saying, we spread your funded hours over 48 weeks. The total amount of funding you are entitled to (570 hours) is exactly the same.
No, while fees are charged per 3 hours, a morning session is only available if your child attends a ‘beginning of the week’ booking pattern, which is a school day 9am – 3pm on a Monday and Tuesday and a morning session 9am – 12pm on a Wednesday.
Discounts
Yes. You first need to apply for tax-free childcare here. You can talk to the office staff for more information.
Leaving Ark Start
Parents are required to give one month’s notice if their child is no longer going to attend an Ark Start Nursery. This notice needs to be done through Famly, our nursery booking system. Nursery staff cannot agree to booking changes directly.
We aim to make transitions as minimal as possible and work hard with children to ensure they are ready and excited to start school. When we can, we will accompany groups of children to visit their new primary school and share information between settings.
Opportunities at Ark Start
Join the Team
Our nurseries are about much more than childcare. Our team works together to ensure that every child has a joyful, engaging and secure nursery experience and leaves us ready to start school happily and confidently. We are driven by our values in everything we do: Aim High, Be Brave, Be Kind and Keep Learning.
Ark Start is at an exciting time in its evolution. We opened two nurseries in South London last year and aim to expand our reach over the coming years. As we expand, we are looking for Early Educators to join our founding team. We are looking for someone with a genuine passion for young children and with the skill, creativity, commitment and energy to deliver excellent provision at Ark Start John Archer.
