Overview
Early Entitlement Charges – A Guide for Parents & Carers
In February 2025, the Department for Education updated its guidance on how the early years offers are delivered, including clarification around additional charges.
The new guidance came into effect on 1 April 2025 –
Your provider can charge for additional extras like meals and snacks, nappies and trips, as long as these charges are voluntary and you are able to opt out if you choose.
The updated guidance states that providers can charge for the following extras in connection with the funded hours:
- Consumables to be used by the child, such as nappies and sun cream
- Meals and snacks consumed by the child
- Extra optional activities such as events, celebrations, specialist tuition (eg music lesson or foreign languages) or other activities that are not directly related or necessary for the effective delivery of the Early Years Foundaton Stage (EYFS) statutory framework.
However, the guidance makes it clear that these charges must be voluntary and the parents must be able to opt out.
If you choose to opt out, your provider should have a policy in place on what they can offer as an alternative, such as allowing you to supply your own consumable.
Your provider can charge for any additional hours you choose to take outside of the funded entitlement.
Parents can still make voluntary contributions if they wish to do so.
The Department for Education has confirmed that if a parent wishes to make a voluntary contribution then they can do so, provided it is wholly voluntary and they are not being charged for services or items like top up fees, materials (crafts, crayons & paper), business running costs, registration fees and non-refundable deposits as a condition of taking up an entitlement place, or general charges.
By January 2026 – your provider should publish a breakdown of any optional additional charges on their website, or on Redcar & Cleveland Information Directory if they do not have one (providers caring for less than 10 children at any one time are exempt).
By January 2026 – your provider should provide a clear breakdown of fees and charges on their invoices.
Invoices and receipts should be itemised, and broken down into the following categories:
- The free entitlement hours
- Additional private paid hours
- Food charges
- Non food consumables charges
- Activities charges
If you require any further advice or information, please contact Families Information Service on 01642 444532 or by email at FIS@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk