The why is because the money the nurseries get from the govt to actually provide it is a pittance and they couldn't function or survive on it.
All nurseries do it differently tbh. We stretch throughout the whole year so he gets 11 free hours a week. We pay for 8-6 3 days a week. His first day is just covered by the hours. And then an hour on day 2 is covered. So we pay for 15 hours a week plus £15 a week for ‘consumables’. All meals are included in the price. Comes to about £550 a month. X
Any funded hours from the govt is term time only and essentially school hours. If you are using a privately run nursery and they are open longer hours then you also pay wrap around. You also pay for any consumables because the funding literally only covers the care. Not the food, nappies, milk, snacks or extra curricular activities. Most will then stretch the hours so you get less per week but means you can use them during half terms. Our lo is entitled to 30. They are stretched to cover all year except the month of August. We then pay extra for meals and extra curricular activities they provide and the hours between 8 and 9 12 and 1 and 3 and 6. However, we are in a private nursery. If you're in local authority. You'll pay less on top but they are often only open 9-3 and offer less.