🌼 The True Cost of Quality Childcare — And Why Toddlers Inn Goes Further for Your Family

What Funding Really Covers

Funding pays for the hours.It does not properly fund:

• leadership and management

• core operational costs

• compliance with health and safety

• proper staffing conditions

• professional development

• essential consumables and waste disposal

• real resource‑rich learning environments

With so much talk about “free hours” and “funded childcare,” it’s easy to assume that government funding covers the full cost of a nursery place. We completely understand why parents think this — we wish it were the case too. Unfortunately, the funding nurseries receive only pays for a fraction of what it actually takes to run a safe, nurturing and genuinely high‑quality early years environment.

At Toddlers Inn, we refuse to offer the bare minimum. Children deserve rich, meaningful experiences that spark curiosity, confidence and joy — and that means investing far beyond what funding provides.

💼 Why Funding Falls Short

🧭 1. Leadership and Management

• staff management

• timetabling and deployment

• employment

• managing resourcing

🧾 2. Finance and Management

• resourcing/shopping

🏠 3. Buildings Costs

• Rent, rates, utilities

🧽 4. Cleaning & Hygiene

Funding does not cover:

• daily cleaning

• deep cleans

• infection control

• specialist waste disposal

👩‍🏫 5. Staff Pay, Holidays & Pensions

Funding does not include:

• holiday pay

• sick pay

• pensions

• competitive salaries

🎓 6. Training & Professional Development

We invest in:

• safeguarding

• first aid

• SEND training

• specialist courses

🎨 7. Enrichment & Learning Resources

Funding covers the basics — not:

• high‑quality materials

• sensory & creative resources

• visitors & workshops

• trips & outings

🧩 8. SEND Support

SEND funding rarely covers:

• additional staffing

• specialist equipment

• tailored support

• external agency meetings

🍽️ 9. Home Cooking

We are proud of our food options but funding does not cover the whole cost of:

• hot meals using locally sourced fruit and veg and raw ingredients

• in house chef

• repairs and upkeep

🌱 Our Nature‑Rich, Ambitious Curriculum

We aim to create an environment where every child feels capable, confident and eager to learn. Through meaningful, hands‑on experiences, our curriculum helps children recognise their potential and develop a strong sense of self‑belief.

The natural world is woven through everything we do. From woodland adventures to beach explorations, farm visits and outdoor play, children develop curiosity, resilience and the ability to solve problems independently. Learning in nature inspires children to take thoughtful risks, ask questions and explore new concepts — all of which strengthen their academic growth over time.

🌟 What Makes Toddlers Inn Truly Special

🐄 Farm School

At Toddlers Inn, we believe in nurturing a deep and lasting connection between children and the natural world — and we know that the best learning happens through real, hands‑on experiences. Our furry and fluffy friends, including guinea pigs Ghost, Marbles, Pip and Posie, bring joy, curiosity and a wonderful sense of responsibility to nursery life. We also have our wonderful and playful trio of pygmy goats—Willow, Maple, and Douglas! Named after trees, these curious little goats are full of character and bring smiles and a touch of magic to every day at the nursery.

Children build important life skills as they prepare tasty meals for Cookie and Crumble, our gentle rabbits, and they practise early maths by counting and observing our feathered friends — Reggie the cockerel and hens Fran, Frizz, Belle, Stumpy and many more.

Daily interactions, such as collecting eggs from our chickens or gently stroking Flash, Crackers and Elsa the African Land Snails, help children develop empathy, confidence and a genuine love for nature. These small moments create big learning opportunities — and memories that stay with them long after they leave us.

🌊 Beach School

At Toddlers Inn, we believe children learn best through real‑life exploration — and our Beach School at Seaford brings this to life beautifully. The shoreline becomes a vibrant outdoor classroom where learning unfolds among the shingle, sand and salty sea air of this stunning coastal spot.

One of the most magical parts of Beach School is seeing the pure wonder on children’s faces as they encounter new sights, sounds and textures. Through discovery, enquiry and imagination, they deepen their understanding of the natural world and build knowledge in the most joyful, meaningful way.

🌳 Forest School

At Forest School, our ethos is simple yet powerful: nature is the greatest teacher. We know children flourish when they have the freedom to explore, take meaningful risks and form deep connections with the world around them. Whether they’re building dens, climbing fallen logs or cooking over an open fire, every experience is hands‑on, real and designed to build confidence, resilience and joy.

It’s about giving children the space to find their own pace, passions and purpose in a natural environment. From sharing stories in the yurt to harvesting vegetables they’ve grown themselves, every part of our day is intentionally crafted to nurture curiosity and care — for themselves, for one another and for the beautiful planet they’re growing up in.

💬 Why We’re Sharing This

Transparency matters to us. Parents should be able to see clearly how funding works, why exceptional childcare requires investment beyond the government rate, and the genuine benefits their child gains from being part of our nursery community.

Our curriculum is rich, meaningful and rooted in real experiences, and we put far more into each child’s day than funding alone allows. Your children deserve nothing less than the very best beginning.