Nurseries £1,200 refund for childcare that should have been free

A nursery has refunded a father almost £1,200 after an investigation found he had been charged mandatory "top-up" fees for hours of childcare that should have been free.

- Shane Hickey

Tiago Gomes's daughter was eligible for government-funded childcare at the Lake House day nursery and preschool in Bristol, but he was told that he must pay an extra compulsory fee for "consumables".

In England, children aged three and four can receive 30 hours of free childcare a week, while those aged between nine months and two years qualify for 15 hours.

The law says nurseries must be transparent about additional charges for consumables - such as nappies and sun cream - and they must be optional. Nurseries are not allowed to apply top-up fees.

The Local Government and Social Care Ombudsman has investigated 23 complaints about fees, and earlier this year the high court ruled in its favour in a separate case involving Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole council.