Parent Case Study: Why Paying the C&S Charge and Tops Meals Makes Life Easier

At Tops Day Nurseries, we understand that parents want the best for their children while also managing busy family life. That’s why our meals and Consumables & Sundries (C&S) charge are designed to make mornings simpler, support children’s nutrition, and give families peace of mind.

We spoke to Gemma, a parent at our Bearwood nursery, about her experience with Tops meals and the C&S charge, and why she encourages other parents to consider this option.

Making Mornings Stress-Free

Q: How important is it that nursery meals are taken care of so you don’t have to prepare packed lunches every day?
Gemma: Very important. As a busy working mum, having meals included at nursery takes a huge weight off my shoulders. Without it, my husband and I would have to make sure not only that lunches were packed, but also that we had enough food stocked at home to provide for them. I also feel my child would get bored eating a packed lunch every day, most of which would probably be the same food over and over.

Q: Does having all meals and snacks provided by the nursery make your mornings easier and less stressful?
Gemma: Absolutely! Mornings with a toddler can already be stressful, and adding the extra pressure of making sure their bag is packed and lunch is ready can be overwhelming. Knowing that my child will be fed breakfast straight away and then have set snack and meal times makes the start of the day so much calmer.

High-Quality, Balanced Nutrition

Q: How confident do you feel in the nutritional quality of the meals and snacks provided by Tops compared to a typical packed lunch from home?
Gemma: I feel very confident. Most packed lunches would consist of a sandwich, some fruit, and another snack, whereas the meals provided by Tops are things like Lentil Shepherd’s Pie, Mousakka, Dhal, and Goulash, all high in protein and fibre. They’re much more varied, interesting, and nutritionally balanced than anything I could easily provide at home.

Q: Does it reassure you to know that Tops meals are planned to be balanced, age-appropriate, and in line with allergy and dietary guidelines?
Gemma: Definitely. I feel reassured that the meals are safe and suitable for all children, including those with allergies or dietary requirements. With packed lunches, unless you make everything yourself, you can’t always know exactly what’s in them. At Tops, every ingredient is carefully considered before it goes into a dish, which lets me relax knowing my child is eating well.

The Benefits of Paying the C&S Charge

Q: Why do you pay the C&S charge?
Gemma: We pay for the Flexible Funding Package, which includes the C&S charge. It’s what works best for our family. Even if our circumstances changed and we had to pay it as an extra cost, we would still opt to do so because of the convenience and benefits.

Q: Would you encourage other parents to pay it?
Gemma: Absolutely. The daily meal charge costs far less than buying the ingredients to make a packed lunch of the same quality. On top of that, the C&S charge covers practical items like washable nappies, wipes, and suncream, which stay at nursery and save us the stress of packing them every day. It also gives access to the eyLog app, where we can track learning progress, and the MyTops portal, which provides resources such as recipes to recreate favourite nursery meals at home.

Supporting Sustainability and Quality Resources

Q: How important is it to you that the nursery invests in high-quality resources, sustainable materials, and experiences for the children?
Gemma: This is very important. Teaching children about sustainability from a young age helps them grow up with it in mind as they become teenagers and adults. Knowing that the nursery invests in materials and experiences that are safe, sustainable, and engaging reassures me that we’ve picked the right setting for our child.

Q: Do you feel clear on what the C&S charge covers?
Gemma: Absolutely. Tops clearly communicates everything the charge covers before you agree to it, so I know exactly what my money is going towards, from meals to resources, experiences, and sustainability projects.

Better Value for Time and Money

Q: When you compare the cost of providing a packed lunch with Tops meals, which feels better value for your time and money?
Gemma: Tops meals are definitely better value. Not having to prepare, wash, and repack lunches every day saves a huge amount of time and stress. Once we get home from nursery, I can focus on spending quality time with my child instead of worrying about what they ate or what needs to be prepared for tomorrow. The variety of meals is beyond expectation, my child regularly enjoys foods like Shepherd’s Pie, Mousakka, Dhal, and Goulash, which introduces them to different textures, flavours, and cuisines they wouldn’t normally try at home.

Additional Thoughts:
Something I’m very grateful for is receiving the weekly menus in advance. This makes family meal planning much easier. For example, if my child is having Shepherd’s Pie at nursery, I won’t give it to her again at home that week. My parents are always impressed when I tell them what she has been eating!

Why Tops Meals and C&S Charge Make a Difference

Gemma’s experience highlights how paying the C&S charge and having nursery-provided meals:

• Reduces morning stress for busy families

• Provides high-quality, nutritionally balanced meals

• Introduces children to a wide variety of foods, textures, and flavours

• Supports sustainability and high-quality learning resources

• Offers excellent value for time and money

At Tops, we aim to make life easier for parents while giving children the best possible start in life, through nutritious meals, thoughtful resources, and enriching experiences.