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Nurseries: Fees and Charges

Asked by Mr Andrew SnowdenConservativeDepartment for EducationTabled Answered 16 June 2026UIN 5261

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, if she will take steps to ensure nursery collection fees in cases where parents and carers are unable to collect children on time due to circumstances beyond their control are not used as an additional income source for nursery providers.

Answered by Olivia Bailey

Through the department’s Best Start in Life strategy, we are focused on reforming the childcare system, delivering on our plan for change.

Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of funded, high-quality, flexible childcare, free of charge to parents. There must not be any mandatory charges for parents in relation to the funded hours.

Charges applied by private childcare providers for non-funded provision are established independently by providers and are regarded as a private business matter between parents and providers. These must not however be made a condition of accessing a funded place.

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