🌿 Understanding the Real Cost of Childcare — And Why Jabberwocky Offers So Much More

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

There’s a lot of conversation around “free childcare,” and it’s no surprise that many families believe the government covers the full cost of a nursery place. We wish it did. The truth is that funding only pays for a portion of what it takes to run a safe, inspiring and high‑quality early years setting.

At Jabberwocky, we’re committed to giving children an enriched, experience‑led childhood — one filled with discovery, imagination and meaningful learning.

💼 Why Funding Doesn’t Match Reality

🧭 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. Staffing Costs

Funding does not include:

• holiday pay

• sick pay

• pensions

• competitive salaries

🎓 6. Training & Development

We invest in:

• safeguarding

• first aid

• SEND training

• specialist courses

🎨 7. Enrichment & Resources

Funding covers the basics — not:

• high‑quality materials

• creative & sensory resources

• workshops & visitors

• trips & outings

🧩 8. SEND Support

SEND funding rarely covers:

• additional staffing

• specialist equipment

• tailored interventions

• multi‑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 Curriculum: Rich, Ambitious and Rooted in Nature

Our nursery is a place where children are encouraged to feel confident, empowered and excited about learning. We offer a curriculum rich in real experiences that help children understand themselves, build self‑belief and uncover what they can achieve.

Nature is one of our greatest teachers. Whether we’re among the trees, by the sea, with the animals or simply outside in the fresh air, children develop resilience, curiosity and strong problem‑solving skills. This nature‑led approach invites children to think independently, embrace safe challenges and explore meaningful ideas — laying the groundwork for future academic success.

🌟 What Sets Jabberwocky Apart

🐄 Farm School

Childhood should be filled with discovery, adventure and joy — and that’s exactly why animals play such a special role in daily life at Jabberwocky. Throughout their time with us, children learn to care for our five giant African Land Snails, prepare colourful vegetable snacks for Gordon and Gilbert, our much‑loved guinea pigs, and share our Forest School space with our friendly hens and cockerel. The children also love collecting the eggs, and we’re delighted to be able to share them with our parents.

These simple, hands‑on moments help children grow in confidence, spark their curiosity and nurture a genuine love for animals and the great outdoors. At Jabberwocky, we believe these experiences shape not just learning, but the kind of people children become.

🌊 Beach School

At Jabberwocky, Beach School is all about savouring the joy of discovery. Children adore exploring the rock pools, peering closely to see what tiny creatures might be hiding beneath the water. The wide, sandy beach becomes a giant canvas where they use sticks, pebbles and even their hands to make marks and practise early writing.

For our children, Brean Beach is a place of pure freedom — a landscape where imaginations stretch as far as the shoreline. The natural elements offer endless opportunities for hands‑on exploration, creative play and meaningful learning in the fresh sea air.

🌳 Forest School

At Jabberwocky, we believe that nature is one of the most powerful teachers children can have. Forest School isn’t just an outdoor activity — it’s a daily, hands‑on journey where children lead their own learning through exploration, creativity and meaningful risk‑taking. Immersed in the natural world, they build independence, resilience and confidence as they discover, play and even cook together beneath the trees.

In our beautiful arboretum, every stick, leaf and muddy puddle becomes a learning opportunity. Children are encouraged to grow at their own pace — naturally, joyfully and with a deep sense of wonder and excitement.

💬 Why We’re Being Open With You

Families deserve clarity:

We believe families deserve complete honesty, and that includes understanding exactly what funding does and doesn’t cover, why truly high‑quality childcare costs more than the funded rate, and the real value your child receives while they’re with us. We’re deeply proud of the enriched, experience‑led curriculum we provide — and we choose to invest far beyond the funding level because your children deserve the strongest, most inspiring start in life.