Funding and Fees at Little Dots Day Care
At Little Dots Day Care, we are committed to making high-quality childcare accessible, affordable and flexible for families. We offer Government-funded childcare places and are always happy to help parents understand their options and make the most of their funded entitlement.
Government-Funded Childcare
Eligible families may be able to access either 15 hours or 30 hours of Government-funded childcare each week.
Government funding is provided for 38 weeks of the year (term time only). As Little Dots is open all year round, we can stretch your child’s funded hours over 50 or 51 weeks, helping to provide a more consistent childcare arrangement throughout the year.
How the Stretched Funding Is Calculated
15 Hours’ Funding
- 15 hours × 38 weeks = 570 funded hours per year
- If stretched over 50 weeks: 570 ÷ 50 = 11.4 hours per week (11 hours 24 minutes)
- If stretched over 51 weeks: 570 ÷ 51 = 11.18 hours per week (11 hours 10 minutes)
30 Hours’ Funding
- 30 hours × 38 weeks = 1,140 funded hours per year
- If stretched over 50 weeks: 1,140 ÷ 50 = 22.8 hours per week (22 hours 48 minutes)
- If stretched over 51 weeks: 1,140 ÷ 51 = 22.35 hours per week (22 hours 21 minutes)
Opening Times
| Monday – Friday | 7:30am – 6:00pm |
Families Not Accessing Funding
For families who are not currently eligible for funded childcare, a booking fee of £75.00 applies. Our childcare rates are shown below:
- Half Day (4 hours): £44.50 – Between 07:30am – 01:00pm or 01:00pm – 06:00pm
- Full Day (8 hours): £68.50 – Between 07:30am – 06:00pm
Any hours over these bookings are charged at £9.92 per hour.
These fees apply to children aged 0 to 5 years.
Flexible Funded Sessions
At the enquiry stage, we will discuss available session times and create a bespoke package based on your requirements and our availability. Funded hours can be used across available sessions Monday to Friday, between 7:30am and 6:00pm. We offer flexible arrangements tailored to the individual needs of families and, where parents wish to access only their funded entitlement and avoid additional charges, we will work with them to identify suitable session times that enable them to do so.
Check Your Eligibility
You can check whether your child is eligible for funded childcare by visiting:
Childcare & Early Years Education – Best Start in Life
Please remember that 30 hours’ eligibility codes must be reconfirmed every three months to ensure your funding continues.
For information about Early Learning Funding for eligible 2-year-olds, please visit:
Free early education for 2-year-olds – Oxfordshire County Council
Additional Hours Above the Funding Entitlement
If your child attends for hours beyond their funded entitlement, the following additional charge will apply:
- Children aged 0 to 5 years: £9.92 per hour
Nutritious Meals and Snacks
We know that healthy, nutritious food helps children learn, grow and thrive. That’s why we provide freshly prepared meals and snacks each day in a relaxed, family-style dining environment, where mealtimes are enjoyable social experiences.
Children are encouraged to develop independence by serving themselves, making choices and building confidence at mealtimes. Our meals offer a convenient, nutritious option for busy families and give children the opportunity to enjoy a varied and balanced diet alongside their friends.
Children attending funded sessions of up to four hours can enjoy meals and snacks at no additional cost. For children attending longer funded sessions, we ask for a contribution of just £3.50 per day, which includes:
- Breakfast
- Lunch
- Dinner
- Morning snack
- Afternoon snack
If your child is absent from a booked session, any meal charges will be credited back to your account. Children in receipt of Early Years Pupil Premium receive meals at no additional cost.
Families who prefer to provide a packed lunch are welcome to do so. We simply ask that parents follow our Packed Lunch Policy , which is also linked at the bottom of the page.
Little Dots Dinners
| 7:45am – 8:45am – Breakfast – On Friday’s parents can join us. In the Winter we have a cooked breakfast and during the Summer months we have a continental breakfast |
| 11:45am – 12:30pm – Lunch – Homemade traditional dishes with vegetarian options Lunch Club Days – Invitations to a parent or family member to join the children for lunch too |
| 10am & 3pm – Snack Bar – Available for the children with a choice of healthy snacks and a drink of either milk or water |
| 4.45pm – Dinner – We have an onsite cook and our menus have been created to ensure that a healthy and balanced diet is provided |
Enrichment Activities and Special Experiences
At Little Dots, we believe children learn best through exciting experiences, exploration and play. To support the wide range of activities we offer, families are invited to make an optional contribution of £16.50 per month.
This helps us provide:
- Forest School sessions
- Yoga classes
- Saltbox activities
- Occasional educational outings and local visits
- Baking resources
- Sun cream
- Seasonal celebrations and family events
Throughout the year, children enjoy a variety of memorable experiences, including Christmas celebrations, Easter activities, family BBQs, afternoon teas and special themed events that support learning, confidence and social development. If you choose to opt your child out of these activities, they will be offered an alternative activity that supports and promotes the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum.
Supporting Every Family
At Little Dots Day Care, we understand that every family’s circumstances are different. We want all families to be able to access their funded childcare entitlement.
If you wish to access only your funded hours with no additional charges, we will work with you to identify suitable session options that meet your family’s needs, subject to availability.
Our friendly team is always here to help. If you would like advice about funding, fees or the childcare options available, please speak to Lynsey, who will be delighted to talk you through the choices and help find the best arrangement for your child.