15 free hours @ nursery

shambles999

My 3-year-old attends nursery 2 days per week. He started in November and the nursery sent me an invoice which I paid.

In the new year I realised that we (and indeed, anyone) are eligible for the 15 hours of government funded childcare (we're not eligible for the 30). I pointed this out and they said they'd stop charging that part. I asked for a refund of the money I paid before Christmas and they said that because he'd started mid-term that we'd missed the cut-off for government funding. I was under the impression that the funding cut-off only applied to the 30 hours, not the 15, which is supposed to be universal.

FWIW they also charge £20 per day top-up to the government funding (plus £4 more for snacks and other incidentals). I know they're not supposed to do that, but my son has SEN issues and they give him 1 to 1 attention, so in his case I think we get a good deal, and it would be churlish to whine about it.

shambles999

I forgot the question part, I'm wanting to check if what they said about the pre-Christmas charge for the 15 hours is correct or not, i.e. am I due a refund?

cr1mson

When did he turn 3? My understanding the funding for the 15 hours is available the term after they turn 3 so assuming birthday is in November would only be eligible from 1st January.

cr1mson

Sorry link here

Help paying for childcare: 15 hours free childcare for 3 and 4-year-olds - GOV.UK

shambles999

His birthday is in August, so before the start of term in question.

sheramber

https://forums.moneysavingexpert.com/discussion/comment/81919200#Comment_81919200

Check with your local council as they provide the funding.

Phildebeast

Might be worth checking out nurseryadvice.co.uk for info on funding/fees etc, some half decent articles on funding.

Time2count

I work in education. Our local authority give us dates each term by which we have to have listed all children we're claiming either 15 or 30 hour funding for. The dates are usually very early in the term (eg 15th-22nd Sept). We don't accept new children starting mid term unless they're self funding.

Unsure if all local authorities work in the same way but for us, I'd totally believe the nursery.