Fees and funded hours, in plain English.
Funding arrangements and fees depend on the nursery, your eligibility and the dates you need care. This page explains the options; your nursery manager can confirm the details for your family.
Check session prices Common questions
What your session may include
Meals
Breakfast, lunch and tea as the session covers, plus snacks and fruit all day, cooked on site.
Weaning
Weaning food and drinks for babies, planned with you.
What your booking includes
Your nursery can explain which activities, services and consumables are included and which optional charges apply.
You bring
Ask your nursery which items you need to supply and which are included in your booking or care package.
Funded hours: what you can claim
Eligibility depends on your circumstances and the scheme rules. Funding generally starts from the term after the qualifying age. Check eligibility through Best Start in Life and confirm your code with the nursery.
Universal, from age 3
Every child, 15 hours a week in term time, from the term after their third birthday. Apply through us.
Working families, from 9 months
Eligible working families can get up to 30 hours a week for 38 weeks a year, from the term after their child turns nine months until school age. Work alone does not guarantee eligibility. Check the current criteria and apply through Best Start in Life.
Two-year-olds with extra support
Eligible two-year-olds whose families receive extra support may qualify for 15 hours a week for 38 weeks a year. Check the scheme criteria with your local authority.
| Child's birthday | Funded hours start |
|---|---|
| 1 January – 31 March | Term starting on or after 1 April |
| 1 April – 31 August | Term starting on or after 1 September |
| 1 September – 31 December | Term starting on or after 1 January |
Eligibility codes must be kept up to date and provided to the nursery in time for verification. Late, incomplete or lapsed codes may result in normal fees being charged.
Two ways to use your funded hours
Funding arrangements depend on the nursery and the date your sessions take place. Arrangements change from 1 January 2027 for Bristol and South Gloucestershire.
Effective dates: Bristol and South Gloucestershire follow the afternoon/flexibility arrangements below through 31 December 2026. From 1 January 2027 they join the Bear Necessities model used in Plymouth and Dorset. B&NES, Somerset and Torbay remain in the afternoon/flexibility group under the published funding policy. All sessions are subject to availability.
1. Free, afternoons
Up to 24 funded hours a week over 47.5 weeks of the year, completely free, as afternoon sessions starting at 1pm in any mix of 4 and 5 hours. Meals included. No registration fee.
Best for: families who can manage afternoons, or who want to add paid mornings on top.
2. £2.50 an hour, any session
Pay a flexibility charge and spread your funded hours across any session on the price list, mornings and full days included. The charge applies to all your funded hours.
Ask the nursery to compare the total cost of the available sessions for your family.
Plymouth and Dorset; Bristol and South Glos from 1 January 2027
At our Devon (Plymouth) and Dorset nurseries, funded hours can be used across any session with no flexibility charge, but government funding there doesn't cover food or consumables. Those come as a Bear Necessities package: meals, snacks, drinks, nappies, wipes, creams and enrichment activities, at £10 for a 4-hour session up to £25 for a full day. You can opt out and bring your own by arrangement with the manager.
Read the funded-hours opting-out policy and agreement (PDF, reviewed October 2026)
The afternoon option depends on your entitlement: up to 24 hours a week for 1,140 annual hours, or up to 12 hours for 570 annual hours. Term-time booking options and the full session conditions are explained in the published funding information.
Session prices and charges
Prices vary by nursery and effective date. Open your nursery page for its dated price list and ask the manager to confirm the price for your planned start date.
Flexible booking arrangements
Ask your nursery about flexible booking options, availability, notice periods and the terms that apply to your sessions.
Other help with the cost
Tax-Free Childcare
Tax-Free Childcare may help eligible families with childcare costs. Check the current rules and how it works with any other support before applying.
Childcare vouchers
Mama Bear's accepts vouchers from major and local suppliers. If you already use a scheme, ask the nursery to confirm that your vouchers are accepted.
Universal Credit childcare
Eligible working families on Universal Credit may be able to claim back up to 85% of childcare costs, subject to limits and scheme rules. Check current Universal Credit childcare rules
Young parents and students
Care to Learn and student support may help with childcare costs. Check current eligibility and rates through GOV.UK or your education provider.
Common questions
Are the funded hours really free?
The published arrangements vary by nursery and effective date. Some sessions are fully free; other arrangements separate food, consumables and services. See the funding policy and ask your manager which option applies to your family.
Why are funded hours spread over 47.5 weeks rather than 38?
The published nursery funding policy spreads the annual entitlement over 47.5 weeks. This gives up to 24 hours a week from 1,140 annual hours, or up to 12 hours a week from 570 annual hours. Confirm the funded dates, any term-time option and charges outside funded weeks with your nursery.
What happens if my code lapses?
Keep your eligibility code up to date and give it to the nursery in time for verification. The published policy says late, incomplete or invalid applications and lapsed codes may mean normal nursery fees are charged.
Do I pay for holidays and sickness?
Ask your nursery to explain the terms and the dated price list that apply to your booking, including absences and any flexi-care arrangements.
Is there a sibling discount?
Ask your nursery manager whether any current sibling arrangement applies to your family.
How much notice do I give to leave or reduce hours?
Check the terms supplied with your nursery price list and confirm the notice needed with your manager before changing a booking.
Not sure what you'd pay?
Your nursery manager will work it out with you at your visit, funded hours applied. Or call Finance on 0117 958 2030.