Nursery FAQs

A Workplace Nursery Scheme is an arrangement where an employer partners directly with a nursery to support employees with the cost of childcare. The employer makes a financial contribution to the nursery and contributes to the nursery management. This creates a genuine partnership between the employer and the nursery, rather than a simple fee-payment arrangement.

The scheme is relevant to both nursery owners and managers. Owners are typically involved in the commercial and strategic aspects of the partnership, while managers may be involved in discussions around staffing, training, resources, and day-to-day operational challenges.

In addition to normal nursery fees, the employer provides additional funding to the nursery and participates in structured management discussions. This funding is not linked to occupancy or attendance levels and is intended to support the nursery beyond standard fee income.

Nurseries receive at least GBP1200 per child per year in additional funding from participating employers. This funding is in addition to the agreed normal nursery fees for each child.

All payments are made so that cleared funds are in the nursery's bank account before the 1st of the month in which the childcare is delivered. Payments cover the full month of care in advance. Funds are only ever delayed if an employer withholds payment.

Yes. The employer's contribution is committed for the full length of the agreed contract. The additional funding remains payable even if the employee leaves employment or the child leaves the nursery before the contract ends.

Yes. Employer funding can either be spent as it is received or ringfenced for larger projects, such as capital improvements, facilities upgrades, staff training programmes, or other agreed investments.

Evidence is required only for the additional employer funding, not for normal nursery fees. Acceptable evidence includes receipts, invoices, PDFs, emails, photographs, or other documentation that shows how the agreed funding has been used.

Evidence is uploaded through the Feel The Benefit online portal and verified by the FTB admin team. This allows all parties to view the information and confirm that funding has been used as agreed.

A small number of structured meetings are required during the contract. These meetings are facilitated by Feel The Benefit Ltd, recorded, documented and the details are shared with all relevant parties. The purpose is to discuss management matters and how employer funding can best support the nursery.

Meetings may cover staffing levels, staff qualifications and training, recruitment challenges, retention, facilities, long-term business plans, capital expenditure, and strategies for the nursery's ongoing success. These discussions are intended to be constructive and supportive. They are specifically not to do with the day-to-day running of the nursery.

No. Employers do not run the nursery and are not involved in daily operations, admissions decisions, curriculum delivery, or routine management. Employer involvement is focused on strategic and management-level matters rather than operational control.

A fundamental requirement of the legislation is that the employer is at least partly responsible for financing the care and managing the provision of the care. This can take the form of structured meetings, management discussions, or participation in agreed governance arrangements. This involvement must be genuine and substantive.

Nurseries must be Ofsted registered and meet or exceed expected standards. Nurseries rated as requires improvement may be considered on a case-by-case basis.

Changes such as reduced hours or a child leaving the nursery do not affect the employer's committed funding for the contract term. The nursery continues to receive the agreed employer contribution.

Yes. Participation is based on agreement between the nursery, employer, and Feel The Benefit. Any decision to end participation would be managed carefully to ensure existing commitments are honoured.

Feel The Benefit administers the scheme, coordinates employers and nurseries, facilitates and conducts the meetings, manages documentation, manages the funds and fees, and provides the online portal used to support transparency and record keeping.