‘15 hours’ free childcare, is it legal…

RichFog

Is it legal for nurseries to charge a higher day rate to families using 15hours free than to those not using it?

We have new fees coming into force in just a couple of weeks, and they’ve released a structure which charges more per day for those using 15 or 30 hours government funding then for those on “standard pricing”. Apart from being grossly unfair, I’m wondering if this is actually legal?!

lisyloo

Nursing/residential homes use a dual pricing model and often charge private residents more than local authority payers as a form of "cross subsidy".
So educated guess would say it's legal.

Does the government pricing come direct from the government or from the individuals?

marcia_

RichFog said:

Is it legal for nurseries to charge a higher day rate to families using 15hours free than to those not using it?

We have new fees coming into force in just a couple of weeks, and they’ve released a structure which charges more per day for those using 15 or 30 hours government funding then for those on “standard pricing”. Apart from being grossly unfair, I’m wondering if this is actually legal?!

 No it's not, they are not allowed to add top up fees to those receiving free hours 

lisyloo

marcia_ said:

RichFog said:

Is it legal for nurseries to charge a higher day rate to families using 15hours free than to those not using it?

We have new fees coming into force in just a couple of weeks, and they’ve released a structure which charges more per day for those using 15 or 30 hours government funding then for those on “standard pricing”. Apart from being grossly unfair, I’m wondering if this is actually legal?!

 No it's not, they are not allowed to add top up fees to those receiving free hours 

Is it a top-up fee? or perhaps a discount for the other?
I'm not being picky, these nuances are crucial.

marcia_

 Seems like a top up to me if they're charging them a higher rate 

lisyloo

marcia_ said:

 Seems like a top up to me if they're charging them a higher rate 

so what's the difference between nursing homes doing it and nurseries doing it?
It happens widely across the country for the former.

Wonka_2

marcia_ said:

RichFog said:

Is it legal for nurseries to charge a higher day rate to families using 15hours free than to those not using it?

We have new fees coming into force in just a couple of weeks, and they’ve released a structure which charges more per day for those using 15 or 30 hours government funding then for those on “standard pricing”. Apart from being grossly unfair, I’m wondering if this is actually legal?!

 No it's not, they are not allowed to add top up fees to those receiving free hours 

Maybe I misread but I took it that the OP is looking for more hours than the 15 'free' and is being quoted a different price for hours 16+ than someone who already pays for hours 1-15 ?

@RichFog can you confirm ?

I can't see any legal issue here as nurseries rates are not controlled

At the end of the day then if they don't cover their costs then the 15hrs 'free' becomes a null point as they won't exist

sheramber

It would be clearer if you gave details of the different charges you are talking about.

Without that is is not possible to compare  if it  is like for like

Cavouranth

Remember 15 hours free is over 38 weeks and not 52. Also the amount of money per hour is, I believe dictated by the local council. Locally here is £8.50.

So with this in mind it's more like 10.96 hours per week if child is going full time. At £8.50 is £4844pa/£403.69pm.

There's also something different about this Summer term where they're not receiving this full amount until September, I don't fully understand why, maybe because they don't receive the hours over Summer holiday months? Not sure.