Frequently asked questions

View our FAQs, to help better guide you on our nursery policies.

What should your child bring to nursery?

Footwear – All children will need a pair of slippers to wear indoors and a pair of wellies to wear outside, these will be kept at the nursery, clearly labelled please.

Clothing – We strive to make children as independent as possible so please bear that in mind when dressing the children in the morning, dungarees are never ideal especially if potty training.

Outside – Wear Please ensure you provide your children with warm, waterproof clothing for outside.

Do I need to provide nappies and Sudocrem?

Yes, parents are required to supply nappies and creams (should they need them) for children whilst they are at nursery,
please ensure that these do not run out. Staff will let you know if you are running low.

Child being absent/ need extra sessions?

We do not substitute sessions If a child being absent due to illness or going on holiday, we trust parents understand the reasons, such as staffing and ratio.

We don’t swap sessions and If you require an extra session, you must book and pay in advance, and it won’t be refunded if your child didn’t attend.

We only accept extra sessions if we have an open space.

When is nursery closed and what happens?

We close at 4 p.m. on Christmas Eve or the last weekday before Christmas Eve and are closed until the New Year. In addition, we close on Bank Holidays. We also set aside 2 – 3 staff training days throughout the year, we aim to give parents one month’s notification of the days.

Bank holidays and training days are charged, however, days when the nursery is closed for holidays have already been deducted when calculating the monthly fees, so the fees you pay are already stripped of closed days

When do I need to pay fees by?

Fees are to be paid in advance by the 1st of each month. As an example: September’s fees will be due by the 1st of September. If you are paying by standing order or vouchers, please ensure that fees arrive in our bank by the 1st of the month. Fees received later than the 1st of the month will be subject to a £2.50 per day late payment fine.

How much is the registration fee?

Our registration fee is £35 per child. The registration fee is non-refundable.

Do I get a discount if I have two children at the nursery?

The sibling discount applies to children attending 3 days or more. The 5% discount will be applied to the lower fees.

Why are your fees the same every month and not based on how many days my child attended in a month?

As with most nurseries, the fees are calculated over the year by multiplying the weekly fee by 52 weeks and dividing by 12 months. This is done in order that standing orders can be set up and enables parents to budget their monthly outgoings more efficiently.

Why do you have to pay for the nursery when it is closed for holidays?

The monthly nursery fees are calculated with holiday days during Easter and Christmas already subtracted. The fees advertised differ to our actual daily rate which is closer to our flexi rate which is charged for extra days and part months.

Why do you have to pay fees when the nursery is closed for training?

The government recommends that nurseries close for staff training for a certain number of days per year. This enables your child to receive the best care possible, as better trained staff are better equipped to help your child develop essential skills. The nursery will give you at least one months’ notice of when a training day is scheduled to take place.

Why do you have to pay a deposit and when do I need to pay it by?

The deposit should be paid as soon as you have decided that you would like to place your child with us. Your child’s place is not deemed booked until the deposit is paid and as such may be given to someone else. Should you have difficulty with paying the deposit in one instalment, please contact Katya to discuss alternative options.

Can you pay your childcare fees using vouchers?

Yes, we accept most recognised vouchers, please email: info@littlegardennursery.com to find out if we are already registered with your nominated company as we may be able to provide you with a reference number. Vouchers enable parents to save on registered childcare costs. They are not means tested and are available to all working parents whose employers operate childcare voucher schemes. The amount of voucher you can claim may vary depending on your income. Vouchers can save you National Insurance and Income tax as a set weekly amount can be deducted from your salary and used to provide childcare vouchers for the same amount. This amount is deducted from your gross salary and is exempt from National Insurance and Income Tax.

Please pay any balance due after the voucher payment has been made, by direct debit.

Fees and important documents

View our yearly fees, and important documents related to the nursery.