Opening times, sessions and Fees

Core, funded hours, run daily 08.45 to 14.45

term time 190 days per annum
Mornings 08:45 – 11:45
Afternoons 11:45 – 14:45

A packed lunch is required for those staying all day or attending afternoons only

The following Fee paying sessions are available, bookable termly, to extend the Nursery day:

Early Bird session, an early drop off at 08.15, and breakfast available until 08.30.

Staying for Tea, an extended day from:

14:45 – 17:30 Monday to Thursday inlcuding a light supper/tea

Ad Hoc sessions for Early Bird and Staying for Tea are available, for an additional fee and subject to availability

Get in touch to discuss the schedule that suits your family best.

Flexible schedule options

Nursery sessions can be combined in a number of ways with set drop of a pick times across the day. :

Some children stay for the day, some come for just the mornings, or just the afternoons. Some stay whole days or a combination.

Our minimum session requirement is three sessions in a week over at least two days e.g. one and half days, or as three separate sessions (not including Staying for Tea.

Once your child is entitled to 15 hours funded education we require families to take up the 15 hours in total across the week e.g. two and half days, or five mornings or afternoons.

Children settle better, and get more out of Nursery if they attend regularly per week as the team can get to know them well and they don’t miss out so much on what is on offer. We want each child to develop a good sense of attachment and belonging to the Nursery family

Affordable fees

Our fees are reviewed annually and we do our best to update as soon as we can – any Fee increases usually come into effect each September .

Lake Street Nursery is a community group, and registered charity: we try to keep our fees reasonable while remaining financial viable. Nursery faces increasing overheads and utility costs, and we want our dedicated team to receive a fair wage. Fundraising, donations and grants are used for provision of resources for the children and for large purchases such as equipment and refurbishment.

Morning and afternoon sessions are charged at £9.50 per hour – booking for a whole session (either morning or afternoon – or both) is required with fixed drop off and pick up times.

You may be eligible for tax-free childcare or childcare vouchers. Please get in touch and we would be happy to help you access these options.

The fees for our extended sessions: Early Bird and ‘Staying for Tea are £10.00 per hour and booking for a whole session and term in is strongly advised.

Government Funded places: Nursery offers government-funded places of up to 30 hours per week during term time.

There are a number of government funding options that could help cover the cost of nursery and the government funded offer is expanding.

All 3-4 year-olds are eligible to 15 hours a week free childcare, and some 2-4-year-olds are eligible for up to 30 hours a week funded childcare.  We also have spaces for children under 3 in receipt of vulnerable funding.

Get in touch, with Ellilsha, our Nursery Administrator and discuss the best option for your family.  You can reach her on 01865-727939 or office@lakestreetnursery.org.uk every weekday morning between 9.00 and 12.00

Future Plans:

Lake Street is planning to run holiday clubs each half term for children aged 18 months to those of Reception age. We plan to open up for children in the local area as well as Nursery families. Maximum numbers will be 10 to 12 children. More details of this offer will be made available in the autumn.

Nursery is planning to welcome its first cohort of under 2s (from 18 months) in January 2027: with up to six places available

Did you know we are a registered charity?

For each free place we offer a child, we receive some government funding. This pays for salaries for our fantastic staff, as well as electricity, and water, and basic cleaning supplies…

Everything else is extra! 

We rely entirely on fundraising for paints and chalk and playdough for creative play, books for dreaming and learning, dolls and trains and dinosaurs for imaginary adventures, bikes and hoops and climbing equipment for outdoor antics, seeds and spades and watering cans to grow things in our garden… all the extras that we think make Lake Street a great place for our little people to thrive.

When your child takes up a government-funded place, would you consider making a small donation per term toward resources?