Sessions and Fees

Designed to Work for Families

We understand how busy family life can be, so we’ve designed our schedule to be flexible, dependable, and shaped around the realities of working families.

Our Daycare is open Monday to Friday, 8am – 6pm, for 51 weeks a year. (The Daycare is closed for 1 week during the Christmas period and Public Bank Holidays)

To maintain high-quality care and provide consistency for children, we ask for a minimum commitment of 2 full days or 3 full days or 5 full days each week.

Have unique needs? We’re always happy to chat and explore what might work best for your family – just get in touch with our management team.

The NEST Daycare: [email protected].

From 1 September 2025, the fees will be the below rates. For ease, the chart below sets out the amount you will be invoiced depending on the age of the child and the funding you are eligible to claim for.

tbc

*additional charges may apply

 

Funding

Families who meet the eligibility criteria for 15 hours/ 30 hours of free childcare must apply for funding via the Childcare Choices Government website before their child’s first birthday. Once you receive your eligibility code, please share it with us immediately. 

Click here to find out your eligibility: Understanding Your Childcare Funding Options

Booking Information

Attendance and Bookings

  • Children must attend a minimum of 2 full days per week to ensure consistency and quality of care.
  • Ad-hoc sessions may be booked when space allows and must be paid for in advance.

Accepting a Place, Invoices and Fees

  • A £50 non-refundable registration fee is payable upon completing the registration form.
  • A £250 refundable deposit is required to secure your child’s place at The Nest Daycare @ Portway upon signing your contract.
  • Fees must be paid one month in advance of your child’s start date.
  • If you change your mind, one month’s written notice is required from your child’s start date.
  • Fees include all meals, snacks, nappies, wipes, and other consumables.

Changes to Bookings

  • To reduce hours, please provide one month’s written notice, submitted by the end of a month.
  • Requests to increase hours will be accommodated wherever possible, depending on availability.

Holidays and Closures

  • Bank holidays, inset days, and training days are paid days.
  • We stretch funded hours across 51 weeks (instead of 38 term-time weeks) so families can make full use of their entitlement throughout the year.

Looking for term-time only or half-day options?

Portway’s Pre-school offers flexible sessions during school term time for 2YOs and 3YOs:

  • Full day: 8:30am – 3:10pm
  • Morning session: 8:30am – 11:30am
  • Afternoon session: 12:10pm – 3:10pm

Click here to express your interest: Register for a place today