🌿 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

Children thrive when immersed in real experiences — woodland, coastlines and outdoor play all build resilience and independence.

🌟 What Sets Jabberwocky Apart

🐄 Farm School

Children care for our five giant African Land Snails, prepare snacks for Gordon & Gilbert the guinea pigs, and share Forest School with hens and a cockerel — building confidence and curiosity.

🌊 Beach School

At Brean Beach, children explore rock pools, make marks in the sand and enjoy the freedom of a vast natural environment.

🌳 Forest School

In the arboretum, children lead their own learning through exploration, creativity and meaningful risk‑taking.

💬 Why We’re Being Open With You

Families deserve clarity:

• what funding does and doesn’t cover

• why high‑quality childcare costs more

• how much value your child receives

We invest far more than funding provides — because childhood should be extraordinary.