If you’ve missed the wider 2026 changes and why this is being tightened, start here:
Childcare Funding 2026: “Free Hours Must Be Free” — What Providers Need to Change Now This post is the ultra-practical one—written for the real questions I’m seeing from childminders and nursery managers:
• “Am I required to provide breakfast/lunch/dinner/snacks?”
• “Can parents opt out of consumables?”
• “How do I invoice this so it’s compliant and doesn’t trigger complaints?”
Let’s make it simple.
Funded entitlement hours must be available free at the point of delivery—meaning you cannot make any mandatory charge a condition of accessing those hours.
What that means in practice
• Parents must be able to take up funded hours without being forced to buy meals, consumables, trips, or extra services.
• You can offer extras, but they must be voluntary and clearly itemised.
No—there’s no requirement that you provide food as part of the funded entitlement. The funding is intended to deliver childcare hours, and government funding is not intended to cover the costs of meals and consumables.
So, you have three compliant options:
1. Parents provide all food (packed lunch / snacks)
2. You provide food but treat it as an optional extra parents can decline
3. A hybrid (e.g., you include water + basic snack as goodwill, but lunch is parent-provided)
There isn’t a single “right” choice—what matters is that it’s clear, optional (if charged), and consistently applied.
The statutory guidance lists examples of charges that can be made only if voluntary, including:
• Consumables used by the child (e.g., nappies, sun cream)
• Meals and snacks consumed by the child
• Extra optional activities (events, celebrations, specialist tuition etc.)
The key test is: Can a parent decline and still access the funded place?
Your invoice should make it obvious—at a glance—that funded hours are free and extras are separate.
A complaint-proof invoice layout (example)
• Funded entitlement hours (15/30) — £0.00
• Additional non-funded hours — £X.XX
• Optional meals / consumables package — £Y.YY (optional)
• Optional activities / outings — £Z.ZZ (optional)
Two non-negotiables:
• Don’t bundle extras into the funded line.
• Don’t label extras in a way that sounds compulsory (avoid “required”, “must”, “standard fee”).
If you charge for consumables/meals, the cleanest approach is opt-in with a clear alternative.
Simple parent choice wording (copy/paste)
Optional Consumables / Meals Package
Please tick one:
• ☐ Yes, I would like to opt in to the consumables/meals package
(£__ per __)
• ☐ No, I will provide my child’s consumables/food as follows:
o nappies/wipes/cream (if needed)
o packed lunch / snacks (as agreed)
Why this works:
• It demonstrates the charge is voluntary
• It shows the opt-out route clearly
• It reduces misunderstandings and protects your relationship with parents
You can set this up either way, as long as it’s clear and optional where charges apply.
Common, workable approaches:
• Parents provide nappies and any specific milk (especially if allergy/diet-related)
• Or you offer an optional consumables package (opt-in) that includes nappies/wipes/sun cream etc.
If you’re a childminder, keep it simple—parents appreciate clarity more than complexity.
Example 1: Childminder day (funded hours)
Best practice:
• Parents supply lunchbox
• You provide water (and optionally a basic snack if you wish)
• If you charge for snack, it’s opt-in and parents can provide their own
Example 2: After-school care to 5pm
This isn’t usually part of the funded entitlement hours (it’s typically paid wraparound), so you can price it however you choose—but keep it transparent.
What most providers find realistic:
• After-school snack (fruit/toast/yogurt etc.)
• A full “dinner” by 5pm often means serving it too early and creates parent confusion (“they’ve eaten already”). A snack is usually the sensible middle ground—unless your families specifically request an early meal routine.
When a parent challenges charges, your tone matters as much as the policy.
Here's an example script:
“Your funded hours are free. We offer optional extras like meals/consumables for convenience, but you can opt out at any time and provide your own instead. We’ll always itemise optional items clearly so you’re in control.”
This keeps you firm, professional, and non-defensive—exactly what complaints processes look for.
Ask yourself:
1. Can a parent access the funded place without paying anything extra?
2. Are extras itemised separately on invoices?
3. Do parents have a clear opt-out route in writing?
4. Do staff know the script and apply it consistently?
If the answer is “yes” to all four, you’re in a strong position.
The next pressure point I’m seeing is income unpredictability—especially for childminders doing the “age mix maths”.
Kim Tupper is the Founder of EYFS Training Hub, providing practical, high-quality safeguarding and early years training for childminders and early years teams.
Explore our training or get in touch to find out more.
