Fees Old

Dear Parents and Carers,

Thank you for being part of the Clevercloggs family. We are deeply grateful for the trust you place in us every day to care for and educate your children.

We are writing to let you know about an upcoming change to our nursery fees, effective from 1/5/2026

Why Are We Increasing Our Fees?

We want to be completely transparent with you about the reasons behind this change.

1. The true cost of quality childcare has risen significantly.
   Delivering the high-quality care and education your child receives at Clevercloggs requires significant and ongoing investment. This increase reflects the real cost of operating a nursery to the standard your family deserves — it is a cost-recovery adjustment, not a profit increase.
2. Rising employment costs.
   From April 2026, increases to the National Living Wage and employer National Insurance Contributions mean our staffing costs have risen substantially. Staffing accounts for the largest proportion of our operating costs, and maintaining our experienced, stable team is our absolute top priority.
3. Government funding does not cover the full cost of childcare.
   While we are proud to offer funded places, the government hourly funding rate does not fully cover the cost of delivering quality care. The shortfall must be bridged through parent-paid fees, and this gap has continued to widen in recent years.
   
   

4. We are committed to keeping our team together.
   One of the things families tell us they value most about Clevercloggs is our consistent, experienced team. Low staff turnover means your child builds trusted, secure relationships with familiar practitioners. To retain great people, we must pay fairly — and to pay fairly, fees must reflect real costs.

How Does This Compare to Other Nurseries?

We understand that cost matters deeply to families. The average full-day nursery rate in outer London for 2025/26 is £90–£110 per day, with inner London nurseries commonly charging £95–£120 per day. Our new rate of £108.90 sits comfortably within the outer London market range, reflecting our location, the quality of our provision, and the experience of our team — while remaining below many comparable London nurseries.

Our Promise to You

We do not take this decision lightly. We know that childcare costs are a significant part of family budgets, and we are committed to ensuring every penny reflects the quality of care your child receives.

At Clevercloggs you can always expect:

• A warm, nurturing environment where your child is truly known and valued
• An experienced, consistent team with very low staff turnover
• Rich learning opportunities that build confidence, curiosity and independence
• Open, honest communication with your family at every stage

As always if you have any questions or would like to discuss your individual circumstances, please do not hesitate to speak with us directly. We are always here to help.

Kind regards ,

Chloe
Clevercloggs Childcare and Education, Welling