How to remain profitable with the new funded hours rollout by correctly charging for meals, snacks, and supplies.
With the rollout of funding for children from 9 months old in September 2025, the landscape of childminding finance has changed. While you cannot charge "top-up fees" for the Early Education itself, you can and should charge for consumables.
The government funding rate is intended to cover the cost of curriculum delivery (staffing, insurance, training), but it is not intended to cover the cost of:
As of January 2026, "bundling" fees is banned. All charges must be explicitly itemised. Consumable charges for food and supplies must be labelled as "voluntary" or "optional". Parents have a statutory right to opt-out (e.g. by providing a packed lunch) without losing their child's funded place.
Model your business finances accurately for 2026. Blend private fees with the new government funding rates and see how much you can really earn.
Incl. food, toys, utilities, etc.
Applied to all funded childcare hours.
Add each child to see the per-child breakdown.
Monthly Revenue (Avg)
Gross Turnover
£29,760
Operating Costs
- £3,000
Personal Income
Before tax & national insurance
💡 Pro Tip
As a childminder, you can claim significant tax allowances called "Simplified Expenses" for heating, council tax, and repairs.
KinderStart automatically handles complex UK and Scottish billing rules, ensuring you stay fully compliant with Ofsted and Care Inspectorate mandates.
Transparency is a legal requirement. To prove the funding is "free," your invoice must list funded hours at £0.00. Additional hours and consumables must be listed as separate line items.
Use this tool to show parents exactly what they are paying for in a transparent, professional format.
Includes meals, snacks, nappies, wipes, sunscreen, and regular trips.
Most childminders charge between £1.50 and £3.00 per funded hour for consumables, depending on what is provided. If you provide hot home-cooked meals, your costs will naturally be higher.
Be honest about why this charge exists. Explain that the government funding rate has not kept up with inflation, and this charge ensures you can continue to provide high-quality meals and experiences without cutting corners.
See exactly how much you're losing on funded hours and how consumables can bridge the gap.
Open Funding CalculatorKinderStart automatically itemises consumables and funded hours to keep you 2026 compliant.
Explore AccountingKinderStart's digital invoicing handles consumables, hourly rates, and funding offsets automatically. No more calculator stress.
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KinderStart strives for accuracy. Competitor features and pricing comparisons are based on publicly available information as of May 2026. Details are subject to change by respective providers.