Session & Fees
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Sessions, Fees, & Funding
Hello
Roots for Life is a vibrant, inclusive early years setting open to all children aged 1–4, offering a busy, enriching environment where every child is warmly welcomed, valued, and supported to grow and thrive.
Session & Fees
At Roots for Life, we offer flexible, term-time childcare designed to support families while giving children a nurturing, play-rich early learning experience. Our fees are fully transparent, and we proudly offer funded places.
Open Hours: 8am–4pm, Monday to Friday
Term Time Only: 38 weeks per year
Our standard rate is £9.50 per hour for 2,3 and 4 year olds and £13 for 1 year olds, with flexible sessions to suit your family, including breakfast club, after-school care, lunch club, half-day and full-day options.
Funded Spaces
We offer funded spaces that, alongside our Essentials & Extras Fee, ensure your child never compromises on rich, inspiring early education.
Available funding options at Roots for Life:
- Working Parent Funding (9 months–4 years)
- Disadvantaged 2-Year-Old Funding
- Universal 3 & 4-Year-Old Funding
- Childcare Vouchers & Tax-Free Childcare Accepted
Funded spaces are available 9:00am–3:00pm (term-time only)
Essentials and Extras
Our Essentials & Extras Fee supports the enriched learning experiences at the heart of our curriculum that aren’t covered by basic government funding. This fee does not apply to all children.
Attending less then 15hpw: £50pm
Attending more then 15hpw: £65pm
Registration Fee
We charge a £60 registration fee to secure your child’s place and support a tailored settling-in experience, helping them feel comfortable and confident from day one.
This fee does not apply to funded-only places.
At Roots for Life, we provide a nurturing, inspiring environment where your child can thrive. We are open Monday to Friday during school term-time and offer flexible morning-based sessions with optional wraparound care. We have a standard rate of £9.50ph for 2, 3 and 4 year olds and £13 for 1 year olds. We also accept government-funded places between 9:00am–3:00pm
Purple and Yellow Class (2, 3 and 4 year olds)
| Session | Time | Privately Funded | With Government Funding | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Breakfast Club |
8:00–9:00am |
£9.50 |
£9.50 |
Breakfast |
|
Morning Session |
9:00–12:00pm |
£28.50 |
Free |
Morning snack |
|
Morning + Lunch Club |
9:00–1:00pm |
£38 |
Free |
Morning snack |
|
Full Day |
9:00–3:00pm |
£57 |
Free |
Morning snack, after school snack |
|
Afterschool Club |
3:00–4:00pm |
£9.50 |
£9.50 |
After school snack |
|
Full Day including Wrap around Care |
8am – 4pm |
£76 |
£19 |
Breakfast, Morning snack, after school snack |
*Total cost shown excludes Essentials & Extras Fee (if applicable).
Green Class (1 and 2 year olds)
| Session | Time | Privately Funded | With Government Funding | Includes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Breakfast Club |
8:00-9:00am |
£13 |
£13 |
Breakfast |
|
Full Day |
9:00-3:00pm |
£78 |
Free |
|
|
Afterschool Club |
3:00-4:00pm |
£13 |
£13 |
|
|
Full Day including Wrap around Care |
8:00-4:00pm |
£104 |
£26 |
Breakfast |
*Total cost shown excludes Essentials & Extras Fee (if applicable).
Invoicing and Payments
We aim for clarity, transparency, and consistency in our invoicing and payment system.
Invoices: Sent monthly during last week of prior month.
Due: By the 3rd of each month.
Your personalised monthly invoice may include: Session fee, Essentials & Extras, and any agreed extras.
Payment: Bank transfer (include child’s name as reference). Bank details are provided on your invoice.
Late payments or late collection charges: Charged at standard hourly rate and added to your invoice.
Review of Fees
Fees are reviewed annually between January and April. They may change with national inflation, staff wages, or cost-of-living increases. Families are notified in writing ahead of any changes.
Please Note
Children must attend minimum 2 mornings per week
We recommend spreading your child’s attendance across fewer days with longer sessions (e.g., 2.5 days). This gives children the full nursery experience, helps them settle into routines, and better prepares them for full days at school
At Roots for Life, we are committed to making every child’s start with us warm, personal, and seamless. Our registration process ensures that your child’s first experiences are positive, supported, and set up for success.
Why we have a registration fee
At Roots for Life Thame, we want every child’s journey with us to begin with warmth, confidence, and genuine connection. To support this, we charge a £60 registration fee, which helps us provide an exceptional, personalised settling-in experience for your little one. This fee does not apply to children attending on funded-only places.
What the Registration Fee Helps Us Provide
🌿 Administration & Enrolment
Careful processing of paperwork, planning, and preparation to ensure a smooth transition and clear communication with families.
🌿 Extra Photos & Communication During Settling
We understand how reassuring it is to see your child happy and engaged. We take lots of extra photos during the transition period and send frequent updates so you feel fully connected.
🌿 A Roots Welcome Pack
A warm welcome with information, key contacts, and a few special touches like a Whatsapp group with activities and photos to help your child feel comfortable.
🌿 Additional Settling Sessions at No Extra Cost
If your child needs a little more time or comfort before starting fully, we happily offer extra settling visits free of charge.
🌿 A Smooth, Happy Start
Our goal is always to make your child’s first days feel positive, gentle, and nurturing — laying the foundation for a bright, confident future at Roots.
Our registration process
- Book a visit / show-around: Come and see our inspiring environment and meet our team.
- Complete enrolment forms and Registration: Tell us about your child’s needs, interests, routines and your child’s preferred days/hours. Access personalised support.
- Agree a start date and settling-in plan: Your child will be guided into nursery at a pace that suits them.
- Welcome to Roots!: You will be sent a welcome package, details of your child’s key worker and added to our WhatsApp group.
Early enquiries are encouraged as spaces fill quickly!
If your child is only accessing a funded space?
At Roots for Life, we believe every child deserves the very best possible start in life. Children accessing funded-only places are not charged a registration fee, in line with government funding guidance.
We are committed to working closely with families to ensure all children can access a warm, nurturing and enriching learning environment. If you have any questions about funded places or registration, please don’t hesitate to get in touch. We’re always happy to help
Who pays the E&E fee?
The Essentials & Extras Fee applies to children who receive Working Parents Funding and are aged 2 or under. Once all children are on three year funding this funding does not apply. We feel this is a fair way of covering all the extras we do at Roots.
How much is the E&E fee?
The optional Essentials & Extras Fee is added to your monthly invoice and can be paid by bank transfer, along with any standard childcare fees.
Our current monthly rates are:
- £50 per month for children attending up to 15 hours
- £65 per month for children attending more than 15 hours
How is the Fee allocated for £50 and £65?
✨ 30% – Healthy snacks and drinks
£15.00 or £19,50
Nutritious snacks provided twice daily to promote wellbeing and healthy eating habits.
✨ 25% – Specialist activities
£12.50 or £16,25
Sessions such as Rugby Tots, African Drumming, Mandarin, and Sign Language.
✨ 15% – External visitors & community experiences
£7.50 or £9,75
Dentists, fire crews, animal encounters, workshops, and more.
✨ 14% – Seasonal & cultural celebrations
£5.00 or £6,50
Special events including Diwali, Chinese New Year, World Book Day, Christmas, and more. This covers visitors, seasonal gifts, and additional craft, art, and sensory materials to make each celebration extra special.
✨ 10% – Gardening & eco projects
£5.00 or £6,50
Hands-on nature learning and sustainability activities.
✨ 2% – EYLog Online Parents App
£1.00 or £1,50
Parents have immediate digital access to their child’s learning journal updates, along with any daily updates.
✨ 2% – Little Explorers fund
£1.00 or £1,50
Local trips to the market, library, and community spaces.
✨ 2% – Roots Memories keepsakes
£1.00 or £1
Special mementos celebrating each child’s learning journey.
Who pays the E&E fee?
We understand that every family’s circumstances and preferences are different. The Essentials & Extras (E&E) Fee is entirely optional, and families are not required to pay it in order for their child to access their government-funded hours.
If you choose not to opt into the E&E package, we will provide alternative inhouse activities that are fully in line with the EYFS. We may also ask you to provide a healthy snack that meets our Food Policy.
No child will ever miss out on meaningful experiences because a family chooses not to take part. We speak with families individually and always aim to be fair, supportive, and transparent.
We accept government-funded hours to help make childcare more affordable for families. Here’s an easy breakdown of what funding is available and how it works at Roots for Life.
What are funded spaces?
Government-funded spaces are childcare places supported by the Government to help families access early education for children aged 9 months to 4 years. Depending on your circumstances, this support can include:
- Up to 30 hours per week for eligible working families
- Up to 15 hours per week for families on a lower income or children who are disadvantaged
- Childcare vouchers through some employers
- Tax-Free Childcare, where the Government adds £2 for every £8 you pay into an account to help cover childcare costs
At Roots for Life, these funded hours are available between 9am and 3pm, any week day, from 1 years old. You can extend your child’s day with additional privately funded hours.
Who can get funding?
Working Parents: If you (and your partner, if applicable) meet the Government’s work and income rules, your child may get up to 30h of funded childcare hours starting from the term after they turn 9 months up until the end of the term they turn 5. If you are eligible, you will be provided with an 11-digit funding code. You will need to reconfirm this code every 3 months to keep receiving your funded hours.
Disadvantaged / Income-Based 2-Year Funding: Some 2-year-olds may be eligible for 15 funded hours per week if:
- Your household income is below a certain level
- You receive certain benefits
- Your child is adopted, looked after, under a special guardianship order, or has an EHCP
If your child is eligible, you will be given a unique reference code which will allow you to access this funding from the term after they turn 2 until the end of the term they turn 3.
Universal Funding for 3–4-Year-Olds: All children aged 3 and 4 receive 15 free hours, automatically from the term after they turn 3 until the end of the term they turn 5. No application needed.
How to access your funding?
To use government-funded hours at Roots for Life, here’s what we need from you:
- Apply through Childcare Choices (www.beststartinlife.gov.uk) for Working Parents and 2-Year Funding. 3–4-Year-Old Universal Funding is automatic. You do not need to apply or provide a code.
- Provide your funding code and any requested information the term before you want the funding to start.
- Complete a Funding Declaration Form for our records.
- Reconfirm your code every 3 months. This applies only to Working Parents funding. If you don’t reconfirm, the funded hours will stop.
We are happy to guide you through every step to make using your funding simple and stress-free, so your child can enjoy all the experiences Roots has to offer.
Additional Information
- You can switch from private hours to funded hours, but this can only happen from the start of the next term.
- If your funding ends or you no longer qualify, your child will automatically move onto private hours.
- Funding ending does not automatically end your nursery place. A month’s notice is still required if you wish to leave. Until notice is complete, private fees apply.
Need help?
Funding can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time. We’re always happy to help you apply, check eligibility, or explain reconfirming. Just ask!
Further Funding Support available
Funding can be confusing, especially if it’s your first time. We’re always happy to help you apply, check eligibility, or explain reconfirming. Just ask!
Disability Living Allowance (DLA)
DLA is a benefit you can apply for if your child has additional needs or a disability that affects their daily life. It is paid directly to families to help with the extra costs of supporting their child. Receiving DLA can also unlock other support, such as the Disability Access Fund.
Disability Access Fund (DAF)
If your child receives DLA and attends our setting for their funded hours, we can claim the Disability Access Fund on their behalf. This is a one-off annual payment to the nursery, used to help us make adjustments, buy resources, or provide additional support to ensure your child can fully access nursery life.
Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP)
EYPP is extra funding the nursery can claim to support three and four year old children who meet certain criteria (for example, if their family receives certain benefits, or if the child is in care or adopted from care). This additional funding helps us to enhance their experience to ensure they thrive.
Our Location
Roots for Life Nursery Thame
46b North Street,
Oxfordshire,
OX9 3BH
United Kingdom
Tel : +447788211928
Email: [email protected]
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