Free childcare places- how to claim?

[Minkus]

DS has just turned three and so I gather he is entitled to a certain number of nursery hours paid for by the local council/central government.

Can anyone tell me please how I go about claiming these? I've had a look on the surestart website and although I now know that he was entitled to them as of 1st Jan (he was 3 at the start of Dec) I couldn't find any advice on how to actually claim them!

Any advice gratefully received.

[happystory]

Your nursery or playgroup will do it for you don't worry. They might ask to see his birth certificate as proof of DOB

[LIZS]

Is he attending anywhere yet ? The preschool/nursery give you the paperwork at the start of term and liaise with LEA who find it. It is up to 5 2 1/2 hours sessions per week , termtime only. If the actual sessions are longer you may have to pay the difference.

[Minkus]

Thanks for responses. DS already at nursery but they haven't mentioned this yet, wondering if the fact that we live in one county but he goes to a nursery in the neighbouring one, we're just on the border- maybe it's a bit complicated for them for this reason.

I'll ask them about it on Monday, thanks.

[LIZS]

They may not have received this term's forms yet.