Parent Info
& Practical
Details

Everything you need to know about hours, fees, funding, and daily life at Toybox.

Hours That Work Around You

We understand that living and working in a rural community means shift patterns, seasonal hospitality hours, and unpredictable schedules. That is why we don’t force parents into rigid, full-day booking blocks.

Ultimate Flexibility: We offer booking blocks starting from just 1 hour per day. Whether you need a couple of hours a week to attend an appointment, a few mornings to cover a shift, or full-time care, we work with you to suit your family’s routine.
Days Open: Monday to Friday
Daily Hours: 8:30am – 3:30pm

Clear, Honest Pricing

As a Registered Scottish Charity, we keep our rates as low and accessible as possible. Every penny goes directly back into maintaining our high standards of care and supporting our dedicated team.

Hourly Rates

We offer ultimate flexibility with a minimum booking of just 1 hour per day to suit your specific needs.

  • 👶 Ages 0 to 2 Years: £6.60 per hour
  • 🧒 Over 2 Years: £6.00 per hour
  • 🌟 Funded 2-Year-Old Places: If your child is aged 2 or over, you may be eligible for a fully funded Early Learning and Childcare space depending on your circumstances. We even provide a free, simple lunch for our funded 2-year-olds!
Check if you Qualify for Funding

    Invoicing & Payments

    • When to Pay: Invoices are issued monthly in arrears.
    • How to Pay: Payments are made via direct bank transfer.
    • Save 20% on Your Fees: We highly recommend that tax-paying parents sign up for a Tax-Free Childcare account. For every £8 you pay into this online account, the government (HMRC) tops it up by £2, effectively giving you a 20% discount on your childcare bills.

    Absence & Holiday Policy

    Because we must secure our staff ratios and stay sustainable, we have a clear policy for when children cannot attend their booked sessions:

    • 📅 Planned Absences (Holidays & Appointments): If you give us at least two weeks’ notice, there is absolutely no charge for your child’s absence.
    • 🤒 Sickness: If your child is off sick, the first day is charged at the full rate (as we cannot re-sell the space at such short notice). Any booked sessions missed after the first day are charged at half price.

    Changing Your Hours / Notice Period

    • Permanent Changes: If you need to permanently change your regular hours or drop a booked session, we require two weeks’ notice.
    • Flexible/Weekly Booking: We understand that local shift patterns and seasonal rotas change constantly. If your hours fluctuate from week to week, do let us know and we will be flexible when possible.

    A Gentle, Stress-Free Start

    Leaving your child at a centre for the first time is a huge milestone for both of you. We want this transition to feel entirely safe, warm, and secure. To ensure your child gets used to our room, our routine, and our faces at their own pace, we proudly provide free initial settling-in sessions:

    • 👶 Under 2 Year Olds: Receive up to 3 free, hour-long settling sessions.
    • 🧒 Over 2 Year Olds: Receive 1 free settling-in session.

    How It Works Step-by-Step

    • Step 1: The First Visit & Chat (Parents Stay) For your very first session, we ask you to stay in the room with your child. This gives us a wonderful opportunity to sit down together, have a chat, and deeply discuss your child’s specific routines, needs, and likes.
    • Step 2: The First Brief Goodbye If, after our chat, your child is completely happy and playing happily, we often offer you the chance to slip away for a coffee or tea nearby and return at the end of the hour. We find this gentle approach works beautifully!
    • Step 3: Building Up From there, we gradually increase their independent time over the next sessions until your child is entirely comfortable, happy, and fully settled into the Toybox family.

    We know that all families and children are completely different, so we don’t believe in a one-size-fits-all approach. We will always work closely with you to tailor this process entirely to your child’s individual needs.

    Ready for the Day: What to Bring

    Because we love messy play, active games, and daily outdoor adventures, we highly recommend sending your child in comfortable clothes that you don’t mind getting a little dirty! Please pack a bag with the following items, and please clearly label everything with your child’s name (it is a huge help to our staff team and keeps things from getting mixed up!).

    • 👕 Plenty of Spare Clothes: Please pack a full change of clothes (including multiple pairs of pants, socks, and spare shoes if your child is currently toilet training). Note: Indoor shoes aren’t strictly necessary, as shoes are generally taken off inside the playroom.
    • 🧥 Weather-Appropriate Essentials:
      • In Winter: Warm hats, gloves, and thick winter coats.
      • In Summer: Sun hats and pre-applied suncream.
    • 🥾 Outdoor Footwear: A pair of wellies for our wonderful park and beach walks.
    • 🍼 Nappies & Personal Care: If your child is in nappies, please pack enough nappies, wipes, and any specific barrier creams for the day.
    • 🧸 Naptime Comforts: Any specific comfort items, blankets, or dummies your child needs to feel safe and secure during nap times.
    • 🍏 Lunch & Snacks:
      • Snacks: We proudly provide healthy mid-morning and afternoon snacks to all children completely free of charge.
      • Lunches: You must supply a healthy packed lunch if your child is staying across the lunch hour. However, if your child is in a funded 2-year-old space, we provide a simple, nutritious lunch for them.

    Next Steps

    Have a question or want to check our availability?

    Spaces can fill up quickly, especially during peak seasonal months. Get in touch with us today to check current availability for your required hours.

    Check Availability / Contact Us