Nursery - help!

[Ilona11]

Hi everyone. I need help.

I am 21, and I am student and mother. My son is 2 years and 8 months.
We were funded for 15 hours free in nursery when Olivier turned 2. He started Nursery in January 2013. It is private nursery, but he had half term as in public nursery (school and colleges)

This week is my last week at college, so I don't need to use nursery until September.
I keep calling the early education service but they don't pick up the phones!!
I just want to know :
Will I be charged by government if I will just stop using nursery?
And second thing,
Can Olivier starts nursery from September? Or the term after his 3rd Birthday?

Can someone explain it for me? I don't understand this system..

Please answer as soon as possible.

[libertyflip]

Hi, your little boy will be able to access his free 3 year old place from the term after his 3rd birthday but his free 2 year old place should continue until then. The government won't charge if you stop using the nursery but if you no longer want the place it is better to let the nursery know so they can offer it to another child.

Best wishes

[AuntieStella]

You need to check the nursery T&Cs, especially if you buy hours in addition to any governent funded ones. You may have to give notice (or pay in lieu if notice).

Many nurseries are on an absolute shoestring of a margin, and need the notice period to refill places as they simply cannot afford gaps.

If you leave a nursery, you have to reapply for the place when you want to restart. If the nursery is full at that point, you have to join a waiting list until a place comes up (with no guarantee that one will). It might be better, for his continuity, to see if you can find a way to keep him there for the next 3 months rather an risk losing the place altogether.