Can someone PLEASE explain funded nursery places for 3 year olds to me !

mattgod69

Hi Moneysavers

My son attends a nursery in East Sussex for three mornings a week. Each session is 3 hours, so in total he attends 9 hours a week, less than the 12.5 hours a week free entitlement. However, I am asked to pay additional fees for the half hour session per day.

Whilst this does not amount to much money (it is money and any saving is a saving as Martin would say) it does appear that Local Authorities are not following guidelines (although it seems Kent are - see above).

The Governments Code of Practice encourages local authorities and providers to deliver the free entitlement as flexibly as possible, as part of a wider integrated early education and childcare service, taking into account parental demand and the needs of children.

I do not feel that three sessions a week on the same days and at the same time is in breach of these requirements and I do not see why the additional time over the 2.5 hours a week should be payable, assuming of course you are using 12.5 hours a week or less.

I think this is a valid issue (along with the so called 'top up' fees)...... My partner has been told by the nursery that it was set at three hours by popular demand, but the cynical amongst us might say that it was done as a means to increase income and obtain direct additional funding from all parents direct. It would be interesting to know that if everyone knew they could get the 2.5 hours free, but pay an additional amount for three hours..... how many would say oh just stick with the 2.5 hours!!! Let us know!!!

Matt

Jo_Porter

I am really confused. Please can somebody help!
My son has been going to a private nursery for 2 afternoons a week partly paid for with tax credits. He has just turned 3 and in addition to the above has started his 5 2 and a half hour sessions at a state nursery. Will I still recieve tax credits for the private nursery or do I lose all this and just get the state nursery allowance?

hippychick1

Hi Jo.

I think that the amount of tax credits you receive is dependant on how much you are paying out to a childcare provider (as long as you are working more than 16 hours per week). You should still receive tax credits for the private nursery, as you are still paying for it. Receiving the extra free place should not affect this.

HRV

Im a nursery teacher in a state nursery currently offering 2.5 hours pm and am (child has either an am or pm place) from sept 2010 children are entitled to 15 hrs free.

One of the other posters asked about the 'flexible' proviosion. We have recently had guidance on this. We were really worrying how we would offer this in a one form entry school.

Basically the 'flexible' care is really at the discresion of the school- we are planning something along the lines of a 3 hr session in morning 8.30-11.30 then a 2.5 hr sesion pm with the option of a drop in sesion in the morning. This is apparently all ok legally.

I can see where you guys are coming from- to me this isnt flexible but apparently all within the rules..

Other guidance has been correct- seems to depend massively on your setting!

Although I would suggest that in my LEA school based settings provide cheaper care overall if you can find one which provide wrap around care. My step daughter's school provides breakfast club before her funded 2.5 hrs in nursery then lunch/ afternoon/ afterschool care for about 17 quid per day. May be an option to consider

HeatherH

I think it definitely differs from nursery to nursery as the one my son went to had a system where you could do 3 (2.5h) gov funded sessions in a day to make up from 8am til 3:30pm of course you only had 5 gov funded session in one week and anything else would be charged at the nurseries normal rate.

I found this extremely flexible as I was able to cover my university hours, but from what I've seen, and I do find this a bit odd as my son's old nursery is the only one I've seen do this. He's now at full time school, so no idea if they've changed it.

Heather