afternoon nursery places

[hairtwiddler]

DD is going to pre-school in september. She has been offered an afternoon place which suits me as she'll have a new sibling around that time and I will have no urge to rush out in the morning!
Just found out pm sessions are slightly shorter. Only 15 mins but this adds up over the course of a week and month. Also the time she'll be there over the week is slightly less than 12.5hours per week.
Does anyone know if this is a guideline or a requirement.
I suppose I'm just nitpicking but like to know I'm getting what we're entitled to.
Does anyone else get similar provision?

[purepurple]

Just ask them why the session is not 2 and a half hours.

[hairtwiddler]

Have sent a polite email... just wondered if it was common to have shorter afternoons.
From my googling can only find that 12.5hrs is minimum requirement. Will see what they say.

[nurseryvoice]

Its actually a requirement as funding from the council is based on 12.5 hours

Sounds like they want an early finish.

[hairtwiddler]

Yes, that's my concern. I know it's not much time but when it takes a half an hour to do the round trip to do drop off and pick up an extra 15mins at home with new baby would be nice!
They haven't replied to my email. Any idea how to raise the issue without looking stroppy?

[jicky]

Is the pre school tied to a school ? Are the finish times arranged to match up in some way - either so people don't have to pick up at both places at the same time or hang around for a long wait between one pick up and the next.

[Singstar]

my ds's started at their pre school in afternoon slots and they were shorter times, the explanation given was that its a big change for the kids so they keep it shorter as the children will be very tired (they were !) and then when they get to a certain age they swapped to morning (and longer) slots.

It worked well but it could have just been an elaborate excuse for them to finish earlier in the afternoon !

[CatIsSleepy]

actually it's supposed to be 15 hours a week now isn't it?
dd1 starting in september and will do 3 hours a day in the morning

[hairtwiddler]

Good point jicky, one I hadn't though of. 3pm finish. Not sure when other years of school come out (yes, it is a school nursery).
She could start earlier though at 12:30....
15 hour change is from sept 2010 I think but some nurseries rolling it out now.
I'm probably just hormonal and hot today! I'm sure it'll be fine. Just feel I need an explanation!

[nappyaddict]

Sorry to hijack but

Singstar

I read on here that your DS didn't walk until 21 months. Could he get around at all before that - crawl (commando or normal), roll, shuffle, knee walk etc?