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Our Fees

At Dottie Tots Nursery School, we offer high-quality, flexible childcare in a warm, nurturing environment. Our nursery fees are designed to be clear, fair, and tailored to each family, recognising that no two childcare needs are the same. This page applies to families booking private childcare places at our nurseries. If you are looking for a funded-only childcare place, please visit our Funded-Only Places page.

Flexible, Family-Focused Nursery Care

We understand that choosing childcare is an important decision. Our private nursery places are designed to support families with flexible options, clear arrangements, and a consistent, nurturing experience for children.

Fees are agreed individually based on your selected sessions and the care provided. All private places are subject to availability and are covered by our Private Place Agreement.

Securing Your Child's Nursery Place

Once a private childcare place has been offered and accepted, a non-refundable registration fee is payable to secure your child’s place. This allows us to begin planning your child’s start at nursery, including staffing arrangements, settling sessions, and resources to support a smooth transition.

How Our Nursery Fees Work

Rather than offering a fixed price list, we provide personalised nursery fee quotations based on your child’s attendance pattern.

Before your place is confirmed, you’ll receive a written quotation that clearly outlines:

Your chosen days and session times
The total weekly cost of care
What’s included in your child’s nursery place
How and when fees are charged

We’re always happy to talk through your quotation and answer any questions.

What's Included in a Private Nursery Place

Our private childcare places are designed to support busy families while providing high-quality early years care in a nurturing environment. Depending on your booking, this may include:

A range of flexible start and finish times, with multiple options available throughout the day to suit different family routines
A consistent attendance pattern, supporting your child’s sense of security and belonging
Occasional ad-hoc childcare hours, where needed and subject to availability
Freshly prepared, hot and nutritious meals available throughout the day, with balanced menus designed to support healthy growth and development (details and charges confirmed in your quotation)

Everything included in your child’s nursery place will be clearly set out in your personalised quotation.

Additional Childcare Services

We understand that family needs can change from time to time. Where availability allows, we’ll always try to support requests for care outside of your usual booking pattern. Any additional services are agreed in advance and confirmed in writing, so you always know what to expect.

Nursery Fee Discounts

We may offer discounts on standard booking patterns, including:

Full-time nursery attendance
Siblings attending nursery together at the same times

Only one discount can be applied per family at any time. Discounts do not apply to ad-hoc or occasional hours and are calculated monthly.

Paying Your Nursery Fees

Fees are charged monthly in advance
Invoices are issued around the 25th of each month
Payment is due within 7 working days
Payments can be made by BACS, standing order, or direct debit

Fees remain payable during periods of absence, illness, holidays, Bank Holidays, and planned nursery closure days, as set out in the Private Place Agreement.

Late payments may incur charges in line with your agreement.

Notice Period

If you need to reduce your child’s hours or withdraw from a private nursery place, we require 12 weeks’ written notice.

This helps us plan staffing and availability fairly for all families. If notice is not provided, fees remain payable for the full notice period, in line with the Private Place Agreement.

Help with Childcare Costs

We accept a range of recognised childcare payment schemes, including:

Tax-Free Childcare
Childcare vouchers (where supported by providers)

Our nursery administrator is always happy to help you understand your options.

Get in Touch

If you’d like to check availability, request a personalised nursery fee quotation, or talk through what childcare options might work best for your family, we’d love to hear from you. Email: hello@dottietots.co.uk