In a tiz about full 5 days a week in nursery

[Jellyboobs]

I've very recently accepted an offer for my little girl to go to our local nursery. It's attached to a school so it's compulsory to go five mornings a week. She's been at a different place just two mornings a week, but I wasn't totally happy with it. I'm now crying over how much I will miss her. I work Saturday too, so it feels like I'll only have one day a week with her. Not helped by everyone going on about how she'll start to draw away from me now she's going every day.
Argh, why is it so bloody hard???

[piggychops]

You'll have afternoons though, so plenty of time to do things together.

[dementedpixie]

I was glad when my 2 got their free hours at nursery. They did 5 x 2.5hours per week and that just about gave me time to do an exercise class or shop in peace.

[Eltonjohnsflorist]

I don't think that's very long- plenty of people do 10 hours a day 5 days a week (me included!) isn't it only a few hours a day?

[dementedpixie]

There will be plenty of time to do things in the afternoons and she will be able to tell you about her activities and new friends she has made

[Littlefish]

Are you sure it's compulsory to attend 5 days? In my local authority parents can take UP TO 15 hours. Settings cannot insist on full attendance, whether they are school nurseries or not.

It's definitely worth checking with the Local Authority Early Years team.

[queenofthepirates]

and it's nonsense about children drawing away, they just become more rounded and interesting as they develop friendships and social skills. I love hearing about my DD's day at nursery and who did what (it's a mini soap opera!)

[dementedpixie]

ours expected you to attend 5 mornings or 5 afternoons. They probably won't get the full funding if you don't attend the full hours

[Jellyboobs]

Thanks everyone. It is for funding reasons.
Going to make lots of afternoon plans. X

[tortoisesarefab]

I am the same with my Ds. I am just trying to look at it as I will spend the morning doing boring housework/ food shopping/ prepping or cooking meals so that we can just have fun in the afternoons

[Littlefish]

I understand about the funding (I'm a nursery teacher), but I'm still not sure that nurseries, even school ones, are allowed to insist that you use all your funding with them. I know that in my authority, parents have the right to use all their funding, split their funding between settings, or use only part of their funding, but I don't know if that's a national thing.

Please phone the Early Years Team at your Local Authority to check - they will give you the correct information.

Before you make lots of afternoon plans, please be aware that at least to start with, your dd may be very tired.

[Jellyboobs]

Thanks for that Littlefish, I will check with them.
My plans may well involve snuggling on the sofa

[Littlefish]

That sounds like a brilliant plan!

[lyssie29]

My 2 year old just started 2 mornings a week - 2 hrs at a time - and that's attached to a school. I don't get funding for it but before they even mentioned funding we had agreed on the days and times so not sure why they are insisting on 5 days.

[Jellyboobs]

Hmmmm, yes. We're in Bury, North Manchester.
I did confirm my discomfort with her current place this morning though.
There's no-where else I like and she has been bouncing around with her friend today, super excited that they'll be in the same class.

[SummerSazz]

They want 5 days to secure the funding and another child will fill the 5 afternoons. However you do not actually HAVE to send your child every day if you don't want to. They might get snippy and threaten you with canx the place or they may be happy to just take the funding and only Actually look after your child for say 3 days.

[Littlefish]

The school nursery where I work offers completely flexible sessions (as long as they are available). Children do a mix of whole days and half days and anything from 2 to 10 sessions a week. Although our numbers start lower in the Autumn term, we are usually completely full by January. We also offer wrap-around from 7.30am - 6.00pm

I'm saying this just to show that school nurseries can be flexible. As I said previously, in my Local Authority you are not allowed to insist on a child taking the full 15 hours and parents have the right to split their funding between 2 settings.