EY Funding
In the 2023 Spring Budget, the former Government announced universal free childcare for 30 hours per week in term-time for 3-4 year-olds from 2025. This announcement prompted us to consider a way in which we can offer meaningful support to parents considering our nursery, Little Knellies.
The cost of living crisis continues to affect us all and has led to rises in our costs and fees as an independent school. Nursery is the only area of our provision that receives government funding. Aligning our fees with the funding available is one way we can help during this shared time of difficulty.
This means free nursery places for eligible families and low fees for all here at Little Knellies.
A strong curriculum focus wrapped around happiness and play
Fees
Little Knellies all-year round price guide
The price for each family will depend on your eligibility for childcare funding, which you can check here (30 hours funding) and here (tax-free childcare). The criteria are broadly the same for both forms of support.
Families eligible for 30 hours funding and tax-free childcare
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: zero
Cost for 12 weeks holiday provision: £2,195
Total annual cost for all-year round provision at Little Knellies: £2,195
Any additional weeks during the holiday (a maximum of 4) will be charged at £175 per week
To help you even more with the fees, you can also benefit from the tax-free childcare scheme.
All other families
All families are eligible for 15 hours funding of childcare. The additional costs are:
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £3,348
Cost for 12 weeks holiday provision: £2,195
Total cost for all-year round provision at Little Knellies: £5,543
Any additional weeks during the holiday (a maximum of 4) will be charged at £175 per week
Little Knellies term-time only price guide
You may, if you wish, send your child to Little Knellies only during school term-time. Again the price will depend on your eligibility for funding.
Families eligible for 30 hours funding and tax-free childcare
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: zero
Total annual cost for term-time provision at Little Knellies: zero
All other families – 15 hours funding
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £3,348
All other families – zero hours funding
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £6,696
Criteria:
Your daughter can join Little Knellies after turning three years old
You must commit to 30 hours a week during term time, four days a week between 08.30 – 15.30. (Term 1: September – December; Term 2: January to March, Term 3: April to July)
Your daughter must be out of nappies before she starts at the nursery.
Fees
Little Knellies all-year round price guide
The price for each family will depend on your eligibility for childcare funding, which you can check here (30 hours funding).
Before School Care is available from 7.30am to 8.30am and After School Care is available from 3.30pm to 6pm and is no additional cost to our Nursery families.
Also included in the price are our wonderful specialist lessons including, Swimming, Ballet, Music, Physical Education (PE), French and Drama.
Families eligible for 30 hours funding
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: zero
Cost for 12 weeks holiday provision: £3,000
Total annual cost for all-year round provision at Little Knellies: £3,000
Any additional weeks during the holiday (a maximum of 4) will be charged at £250 per week
To help you even more with fees, you can also benefit from the tax-free childcare scheme.
All other families
All families are eligible for 15 hours funding of childcare. The additional costs are:
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £3,537
Cost for 12 weeks holiday provision: £3,000
Total cost for all-year round provision at Little Knellies: £6,537
Any additional weeks during the holiday (a maximum of 4) will be charged at £250 per week
Little Knellies term-time only price guide
You may, if you wish, send your child to Little Knellies only during school term-time. Again the price will depend on your eligibility for funding.
Families eligible for 30 hours funding and tax-free childcare
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: zero
Total annual cost for term-time provision at Little Knellies: zero
All other families – 15 hours funding
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £3,537
All other families – zero hours funding
Cost for 35 weeks during school terms: £7,074
Criteria:
Your daughter can join Little Knellies after turning three years old
You must commit to a minimum of 4 days per week during term time between 08.30 – 15.30. (Term 1: September – December; Term 2: January to March, Term 3: April to July)
Your daughter must be out of nappies before she starts at the nursery.
Little Knellies Nursery is now at full capacity for the 2025-2026 academic year. However, we warmly welcome applications for Pre-Nursery and Nursery places for 2026 and beyond.
My daughter has never been so happy. She can't wait to get to Nursery each morning.
Visit Us
We encourage you to visit our unique environment and experience the joy and energy of our youngest students. Knell House is a vibrant, happy and delightful environment in which your daughter will take her first educational steps.
Together with a detailed chat with our admissions team, you will be accompanied on your tour by our Nursery Manager who will answer any questions you may have.
From Ants to Zebras - my daughter can now name them all!
Admissions process
We offer a pre-reception nursery school year, for 3-4 year olds, based on a full-time Monday to Friday offering. Children can join the nursery after their third birthday.
I love the fact my daughter attends the only all-girls' nursery in Berkshire!
Settling in days
We encourage all families to enjoy our Stay and Play programme: this is an ideal opportunity to make an initial connection for your daughters. Until they join us, children continue to attend these sessions to build familiarity with staff, our setting and our ethos.
We have designated dates for special new starter events just before your daughter begins with us. As children join us throughout the year, we can offer an individualised approach to building her confidence before her first day.
We’re going swimming today mummy
Virtual tour
I love playing in the garden
Term Dates
Summer Term 2025
- Thursday 24 April – Summer Term begins for all students
- Half Term: Monday 26 May – Friday 30 May
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Tuesday 26 May – Friday 30 May
- Friday 4 July – Last day of School year (Finish at 11.30am)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Monday 7 July – Friday 29 August
Autumn Term 2025
- Monday 1, Tuesday 2, Wednesday 3 September – Staff Inset Day
- Thursday 4 September – Term begins for pupils (Full day)
- Half Term: Monday 20 October – Monday 3 November 2025 (inclusive)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Monday 20 October- Friday 31 October
- Monday 3 November – Staff Inset Day
- Friday 12 December – Term ends (Finish at 11.30am)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Monday 15 December – Friday 19 December
Spring Term 2026
- Monday 5 January – Staff Inset Day
- Tuesday 6 January – Term begins for pupils (Full Day)
- Half Term: Friday 13 February – Friday 20 February 2026 (inclusive)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Friday 13 February – Friday 20 February
- Friday 27 March – Term ends (Finish at 11.30am)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Monday 30 March – Friday 17 April
Summer Term 2026
- Monday 20 April – Staff Inset Day
- Tuesday 21 April – Term begins for pupils (Full day)
- Half Term: Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May 2026 (inclusive)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Monday 25 May – Friday 29 May
- Wednesday 8 July – Last day of school year (Finish at 11.30am)
- Little Knellies Holiday Provision: Thursday 9 July – Friday 28 August
We are closed during all bank holidays and staff inset days.