Government Scheme - 3 yrs olds - nursery for free?

pennyuk

Hi all,

My daughter turned three at the end of September and attends a paying nursery 2 afternoons a week (can't afford to send her for more time).

Does anyone know when she will be entitled to the part-time nursery allowance via the government I've heard about? I keep doing searches on the subject, and can only come with very basic information - I do gather that it works in 3 montly sections? (i.e. she can't get her freebies until after a certain term?)

Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance,

Penny

sooz

try asking her nursery. they should know exactly when, and apply for it for you. i know mine turns 3 in march and will be eligable from april. just need to decide if i want to keep sending him to nursery only 1 day per week [it's sooo expensive], or to go 5 mornings to nursery at the local school, and get a childminder for the rest of one day.

i NEED one day a week to myself :T

Becles

From memory, I think they entitled to free nursery in the school term following their 3rd birthday.

However it depends on the space they have. I could only afford to send my son for 2 sessions a week. There wasn't space in the other sessions when he was entitled to the free sessions, so he still just got 2 a week.

Spendless

It'll be in the New Year (Jan)
My daughter is 3 end of March and I'll get her funding sometime after Easter

JC67

Your daughter definitely gets the grant the term after her third birthday so it is January (although this is confusing in areas that have gone to six terms per year!) Your local authority should produce information on how the funding works - you could check with your local Children's Information Service at https://www.childcarelink.gov.uk. You should be eligible for five 2.5 hour sessions per week for 33 weeks a year. However I think from April 2006 this will be extended to 38 weeks per year.

Hope this helps.

pennyuk

Wow... thanx very much all... brilliant response and very informative!

If anyone wants to 'borrow' her (and her baby brother of 19 months!) untill Jan next year.. I'll be most gratefull!

Seriously, many thanks again
Penny x

Lyndsay_21

i know my DD only goes twice a week and even thats sometimes £50 a month she's was 3 last week so after xmas cant wait to save some money woohooo

across

at our school children start nursery for 5 mornings or 5 afternoons the day after they are three and if you want to work they can stay all day (take pack lunch) for a very small fee which is probably better moneywise than any other option. my daughter goes mornings this session being slightly longer!!!
make sure you ask about all day fees they really were quite cheap and a lot of people do it at our shool. there is such a lot going on at the moment they are even building a new building within the school grounds were babies will be able to go more affordable than private places so keep your eyes open for new government schemes. hope this helps someone!!!

funky-footprints

as across, (our paths cross again) my daughter has a place after half term, she is 3 on the tuesday buts start nursery on the monday, She is going 3 mornings this term, and 4 after christmas, wont start 5 mornings until next september. The school we have chosen is very small so cant offer any more sessions. That is all funded, so no more fees for me .. hurrah !!!! ( well unless we go ahead with number 3 option) Pennyuk have you picked out your daughters school yet ? do they have a nursery ?

pennyuk

Many thanks again ALL for responses. I think the first thing I'll do is phone the nursery to check my options... the second thing I'll do is apply for a new Grandma/try my luck with selling children on eBay!

Thanks again
Penny

pennyuk

erm... and now I panic again!!! I believe (but could be mis-lead!) that as Alexandra was born AFTER 02 September 2002... (her birth date is 26/9/02) that I get the pleasure of holding onto her for an extra year before she qualifies for the new school year? Is that right... or should I rush out and buy a uniform and dance round the lounge that I have a break??? lol