Your questions answered

We care for children from 6 weeks up to 5 years old across our three rooms: Baby Room (6 weeks – 18 months), Toddler Room (18 months – 3 years), and Preschool (3 – 5 years). Each room has its own dedicated team and environment tailored to the age group.

We are open Monday to Friday, 7:00am – 6:00pm, 51 weeks a year. We offer both term-time and all-year-round places to suit your family. We are closed during the Christmas period (usually one week) and on Bank Holidays.

Use our Availability Check page to see current spaces, or call us on 07787 22 8000. We strongly recommend booking a tour — it gives us a chance to show you around, understand your child's needs, and answer your questions in person.

Once you've visited and chosen your sessions, we'll send you registration paperwork. A £100 deposit is required to secure your place — this is returned to you in full at the point of your first invoice. We'll then book your settling-in sessions and you'll be introduced to your child's Key Person before their official start date.

Yes. Mucky Pups Childcare is registered with and inspected by Ofsted. You can read our latest inspection report on the Ofsted website or view it on our Ofsted Report page.

Yes. We accept all government childcare funding schemes, including Universal 15 hours for all 3–4 year olds, 30 hours for eligible working families, 15 hours for eligible 2-year-olds, and 15 hours from 9 months for eligible working parents. We'll help you check eligibility at your tour. Visit childcarechoices.gov.uk for more.

Apply through the UK government's childcare portal at childcarechoices.gov.uk. Once approved, bring us your eligibility code and we'll set up the funding against your invoice. We've helped hundreds of families through this — just ask at your tour.

Yes. We accept all major childcare voucher schemes and Tax-Free Childcare (TFC). If you're on your employer's voucher scheme, give us the provider's details at sign-up and we'll take care of the rest.

Yes. A £100 deposit is required to secure your child's place — this is returned to you in full at the point of your first invoice. We require 4 weeks' written notice for any changes to sessions or when leaving.

Fees are payable whether your child attends or not — this covers our fixed staffing costs. Bank holidays and our Christmas closure week are not charged. Please do let us know if your child is unwell so we can plan for the day.

All meals are freshly prepared on site by our own professional chef. We serve breakfast, a hot lunch, and an afternoon snack every session. Menus rotate seasonally and are designed to be nutritious, balanced, and appealing to young children.

Absolutely. We cater for all allergies and dietary requirements — just let us know during the registration process and we'll make sure your child's needs are recorded and followed every single day. Our chef and team take allergies extremely seriously.

No — all food is included in the standard fee. You only need to bring weather-appropriate spare clothes. We supply everything else, including formula and puréed food for babies (please let us know in advance). Please note: if your child's place is fully funded through the government scheme, meals are charged separately, as funding does not cover consumables.

The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) is the statutory framework set by the UK government for all children from birth to 5 years in registered childcare settings. It sets the standards for learning, development, and welfare. At Mucky Pups, the EYFS underpins everything we do — from the activities we plan to how your child's progress is tracked and shared with you.

Every child at Mucky Pups is assigned a dedicated Key Person — a named member of staff who builds the deepest relationship with your child and your family. They observe your child's progress, plan next steps, communicate with you daily, and ensure your child always has a safe, familiar face to turn to. This is a requirement of the EYFS and central to how we work. Learn more about our Key Person system.

We use the Famly app to share observations, photos, and developmental updates with you in real time. Your child's Key Person completes regular progress checks and developmental summaries which are shared with you and, where relevant, with your child's school when the time comes.

Every child is different. We offer up to two gentle settling-in sessions before your child's official start date, gradually increasing the time they spend with us. Your child's Key Person will guide you through the process at a pace that suits your family. Read more about our settling-in approach.

Yes — especially for the first session. We encourage parents to be present initially so your child associates the nursery with safety and familiarity. Over subsequent visits, we gently extend the time your child spends with their Key Person independently.

This is completely normal and nothing to worry about. We have years of experience supporting children and families through this transition. We'll keep you updated throughout the day via the Famly app and will always call if we feel your child needs you. We never just leave a child to cry — we use child-led, attachment-based techniques to help them feel secure.