Early learning and childcare: statutory guidance - July 2021

Charges for optional extras

84. As set out above, the entitlement to funded early learning and childcare must be provided without the payment of fees. However, there may be optional additional services that parents wish to purchase from the child's setting. This could include purchasing additional hours over and above their child's funded early learning and childcare entitlement.

85. Any charges which are in addition to the funded early learning and childcare entitlement must only be for optional extras, and limited to, for example, costs of outings or extracurricular activities, and snacks (excluding snacks provided through the Scottish Milk and Healthy Snack Scheme). These optional charges could include where a setting offers an additional optional service such as the provision of localised cover arrangements required by parents (for example acting as the emergency contact for a child, cover for parents' shift patterns, cover for periods when the child cannot attend their usual pattern of attendance due to being on holiday, etc) which requires the setting to retain a place in order to meet this demand during the hours that the child is receiving part of their funded early learning and childcare entitlement at another setting as part of a blended placement.

86. It is expected that settings make it clear that these are optional charges and that if the parent chooses not to purchase these optional extras then this will not prevent them from accessing their child's funded early learning and childcare entitlement at the setting.

87. It is also expected that where parents choose to purchase further hours, or optional additional services, in addition to the funded early learning and childcare entitlement, the associated fees and hours will be transparent and clearly set out in any parental communication and invoices.