Fees & Funding at The Willows
At The Willows, we are passionate about providing a nurturing, enriching, and inclusive environment where every child can thrive. In line with government guidance, we offer both privately funded places and access to the Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE). However, these offerings differ significantly in scope, experience, and availability.
The Full Willows Experience
Our core offering is designed to deliver the highest standard of early years care and education. It includes:
- Full access to our qualified and experienced team
- Fresh, nutritious meals and snacks daily
Enrichment activities (e.g., yoga, music, forest school) - Excursions and community visits
All consumables (nappies, wipes, craft materials) - Individual learning journeys and enhanced ratios for safeguarding
- Use of our indoor and outdoor learning environments
This option provides a comprehensive nursery experience that fosters your child’s emotional, social, physical, and educational development.
Our waiting list is given priority to children enrolled in the Full Willows Experience.
Government-Funded Early Years Entitlement (FEEE)
We are registered to deliver the government’s Free Early Education Entitlement, which offers:
- 15 hours per week for all 3- and 4-year-olds (universal offer)
- Up to 30 hours per week for eligible working families with 3- and 4-year-olds
- From April 2024: 15 hours per week for eligible working families with 2-year-olds
- From September 2024: 15 hours per week for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to 23 months
- From September 2025: Up to 30 hours per week for eligible working families with children aged 9 months to school age
Important: Safeguarding & Limitations
At Willows, we take our statutory duty to safeguard and promote the welfare of every child extremely seriously. In line with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS)—particularly Sections 3.1 to 3.4—we must ensure that no child is placed at risk of exclusion, inequality, or emotional harm due to differences in access to resources, meals, or experiences.
While we support the government’s Free Early Education Entitlement (FEEE), current funding levels do not cover vital aspects of care, such as meals, enrichment activities, educational resources, or additional safeguarding staffing. Without these, children may not receive the full support they need, raising concerns about our legal responsibilities as outlined in the Children Act 1989 and 2004, and the EYFS safeguarding and welfare requirements.
As a result, families considering funded-only places should be aware that, while all children receive the full statutory EYFS provision, they may not access the complete range of enhancements included in the Willowsway Experience. An exception to this is meals: for safeguarding and inclusion reasons, all children are provided with the same high-quality, nutritious meals as part of our standard offer.
We believe shared mealtimes are not just about nourishment but also a vital part of social and emotional development — a daily ceremony of community, connection, and care. This can lead to unintentional exclusion, which might affect emotional well-being, social development, and inclusion.
We are carefully monitoring this situation in light of current legislation and policy guidance, and will continue to review our offer accordingly.
Questions? Let’s Talk
We understand the funding landscape can be complex. Our team is happy to discuss your options and help you know what’s best for your child and your family.
