Government Funded Nursery Places
Bunny Tales Day Nursery offers places for the full range of Government funded nursery places, subject to eligibility and availability.
To check your eligibility and read more about the schemes, please visit: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/`To check for availability at our settings, please contact our manager.
30 hours childcare for eligible working families in England
From September 2025, Working parents can access up to 30hrs free childcare per week from the term following their child turning 9 months old. This is subject to the submission of a valid eligibility code. To apply for a code, please visit the Government website: https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/15-and-30-hours-childcare-support
For Summer term 2026, if you applied for your code before 31st March 2026, you may qualify for funded hours nursery places.
Eligibility codes must be applied for before the beginning of the qualifying term. Please refer to the table below to check when you may become eligible for funding, the best time to apply for a code and recommended timeframe to submit your code to us via email.
Universal funding for 3 and 4 year olds
If your child does not qualify for the Working Parents funding, you will automatically receive 15 hrs of Universal funding from the term following their 3rd birthday. You do not need to apply in advance for the universal funding.
For children aged 2 years receiving additional forms of support
If your two-year-old does not qualify for the Working Parents funding, you may still be eligible for funding via your Local Authority. Please contact the Wandsworth Local Authority to check your eligibility and to apply for this funding. Eligible children will receive the 15 funded hours from the term following their second birthday. If you qualify, please inform our Nursery Manager.
The Government funds up to 30 hours, term time only, for 38 weeks of the year. If you are on an all-year-round booking, the hours will be delivered pro-rota at 11hrs (15hrs schemes) or 22hrs (30hrs scheme).
It is a condition that a Parental Declaration form is signed and submitted for all children in receipt of Government and Local Authority funding. Forms will be sent out two weeks prior to the start of each term and must be submitted before the start of term. Failure to sign the form may result in the funding being withdrawn and private fees being applied.
What You Need To Know About Government Funding
Government Funding
Provides 15 or 30 (if eligible) hours of support to help parents with their childcare costs.
Funding Doesn’t Cover Everything
Funding does not cover the full cost of everything that we do. It only covers the delivery of the EYFS during our specified hours.
We Stretch Your Hours
Funding only covers the 38 weeks of term time. As we are open all year round weeks, we can stretch the funding to cover those weeks. This means less hours available per week but full year care.
May Not Suit Every Booking Pattern
Funded hours are only available during certain set patterns, which may not cover full days or sessions.
The FE funding only covers the cost of the provision of childcare and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The funding does not include any of the other services that our nursery provides.
These include, but are not limited to:
• Meals and Snacks • Consumables • Additional Hours • Enrichment Activities, Cooking, Gardening • Forest School.
+ All those little extras that make Bunny Tales so special
Government funding does not cover the cost of food, nor the delivery of the experiences for both our children, and our parents, that the nursery provides. However, all our additional products and services are provided free of charge to all Parents who purchase our ‘All Inclusive Package’.
All Inclusive Package
At Bunny Tales, mealtimes are a cherished part of the day — a time for connection, calm, and learning. We believe food should be enjoyed at a leisurely pace, with tables laid and children encouraged to experiment with new tastes an textures, develop good manners and cutlery skills.
Government Funding does not cover the cost of our quality, nutritious meals and snacks, created between our professional outside caterers and nutritionists.
Our all inclusive Package covers all Meals and Snacks provided during funded hours.
We are dedicated to creating a positive, nurturing mealtime culture that supports:
Healthy growth
Emotional wellbeing
Independence
Joy in eating and sharing food together
Parents not wishing to purchase this inclusive package will be offered a FE Only Placement and will need to provide all meals, fruits/snacks and consumables in line with our healthy eating initiatives.
What Are Early Years Consumables
Early Years consumables include items that are used regularly and need frequent replacement in early childhood education settings. These can be broadly categorised into:
Educational and creative materials: Art supplies, playdough ingredients, gloop or cornflour, crayons, stickers stamps and sensory play items that support hands-on learning and creativity.
Hygiene and cleaning products: Tissues, wipes hand sanitisers, cleaning supplies to maintain a safe and hygienic environment.
Practical classroom items: Batteries outdoor play sand, child safe soil and other materials that are consumed during daily activities.
Specialist learning resources: Equipment for sensory experiences, baking activities, stem based play, such as light up sensory tools.
Free Entitlement Only
For Parents who choose not to purchase the our inclusive package and wish to access their Government Funded Hours without any additional costs, they choose an FE Only Placement.
The FE funding only covers the cost for the provision of childcare and the delivery of the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). The funding does not include any of the other services that our nursery provides.
Therefore, unfortunately we are unable to provide any of our wonderful additional products and services with this placement. and Parents will need to provide all hot meals, snacks and consumables in line with our ‘Packed Meal Policy’.
Opt-out Alternative
Families who opt out of the inclusive fee will need to provide the meals and snacks required for the child’s funded sessions. The food provided must be in line with our lunch box policy. Although milk is provided through the nursery milk scheme, parents opting out must provide a milk alternative if their child has a dairy intolerance.
By opting out of the additional extras charge, you are also choosing to opt out of the supplemental activities that are not required as part of the EYFS. Whilst our additional products are not provided, it goes without saying that all children will receive the same level of care and access to the EYFS.
Fee structure from April 2025
A non-refundable administration fee (this includes a water bottle and book bag) of £85.00 along with 2 weeks fees are to be paid before the child starts. Please note this is not a deposit.
We will require a terms notice should you wish to terminate your child’s place.
Full Time: £340.00
Hourly rate: £6.80
Current Government funding rate: £6.68
Daily Rate: £85.00
Hourly rate: £8.50 (inc. breakfast, 2 course lunch and tea)
5 Mornings: £255.00
8.00am – 2.00pm to include breakfast, snack & 2 course lunch
Hourly rate £8.50
Morning session £63.75
5 Afternoons: £255.00
12.00pm - 6.00pm to include 2 course lunch, snack & 2 course tea
Hourly rate £8.50
Afternoon session £63.75
Fees will include all meals, drinks and snacks prepared on site by our professional caterers and nutritionist. Sibling Discounts also available (Sibling Terms & Conditions apply)
Additional Information
There is a non-refundable administrative charge payable to secure your place of £85.00
Fees are based on 52 weeks per year, paid weekly/monthly in advance.
A minimum booking of 3 Morning/Afternoon sessions, or 3 Full Day per week is required.
Minimum Notice requirements apply, and fees are subject to review in accordance with the Terms and Conditions.
The nursery will be closed on all Bank Holidays (normal charges still apply). No exchanges, credits or refunds will
be given for sickness or holidays.
Late Collection fee of £10 for every 15 minutes, or part of, that you are late collecting your child after the end of
their agreed session.
Headcount Day is the cut off each term where children wishing to claim funding must be in attendance in order to receive the funding for that term. This applies to all children with the exception of Local Authority funded 2-year-olds (with a valid 6-digit eligibility code) who may be able to start at any point during the term. The exact date for Headcount is set by the local authority and dates can vary. They are, however, usually towards the end of January, April and September.
If you wish to join Bunny Tales after Headcount Day, we will not be able claim any funding until the following term. All sessions will therefore be charged at their respective full rates.
If you wish to move from Bunny Tales to another provider, we will claim any unused funding in line with contract
