Sure Start 12.5hrs/wk free nursery education

JayZed

I understand that all children aged 3 or 4 are entitled to 12.5 hours per week of free nursery education for 38 weeks a year under the Sure Start programme. How does this actually work?

My daughter will be turning 3 in the summer so will be entitled to this from September. She currently goes to nursery five mornings a week, 51 weeks a year. Will she simply be able to continue to do this, but get 12.5 hours of that funded for 38 weeks of the year, so that we pay less? Or is it more complicated than that?

Also, her nursery is not in the same local authority area as our home (as we live right on the border of two London boroughs. Will that complicate matters?

HotLips_2

It all depends on the Nursery and how they implement it. My advice would be to speak with the nursery that your child attends as they would/should already have people in the same situation your in.

FYI, I have been looking at placing my little girl with a nursery but fulltime. The nursery that I have looked at has funded places which can be used throughout the week for morning or afternoon sessions but as my little girl would be there fulltime all year they them give a daily discount of £x amount to balance out the funded placement so that your monthly fees are even thoughout the year, IYSWIM.

Hope this helps

fsdss

i'm pretty sure its 15 hrs a week entitlement 5x3hr sessions (well it is in my area! - now whether thats different i dont know)

JayZed

They're introducing 15 hrs in all areas from Sept 2010, but for the moment I think they're only trialling it in a few areas.

lynnexxxo

My son goes to a private nursery too. You'll be sent a letter from the council asking you to put down what nursery you would like her to attend, and what days suit you best. I had original spoke to my sons nursery and they had already reserved him a place to continue the days he already came. I then just filled in the council letter (it asks you pick three nurserys but I didn't i just put the one he goes to).

The nursery just adjust my payment so that I pay for 12.5hrs a week less. However the do insist that the council hours are 9-11.30 and 1 till 3.30 and hours outwith this will be charged even if you don't use your full funded hours. They also offer a direct debit where you pay the same amount each month so you don't get a nasty shock during the school hols when the funding does not apply

astonsmummy

If your child is in a private nursery the nursery should just amend your invoice for the qualifying sessions.

jackomdj

Our creche continues to charge the full amount but then refunds you the money when they make the claim. This is partly because my fees are paid via a slaary sacrifice scheme. It is quite nice as the refund goes directly to our savings account.

Also we claim 4 of the 5 sessions from creche (she goes 2 full days) & the 5th is claimed via her pre school where she goes 3 mornings.

Nicky

onlyroz

At our nursery we get £144 a month discount on our regular fees. My boy attends 9-4, 5 days a week.