What are the chances the nursery will let me use 2 sessions in 1 day?

[CrazyPlateLady]

DS qualifies for his 15 hours a week nursery funding next Easter.

I will have a 3 month old and don't relish the thought of having to trek to the nursery (it isn't far but I have M.E. and it is going to be a pain walking there and back each day for a 3 hour session).

Do nurseries generally let you use 2 sessions in 1 day so the child can have the morning and afternoon and you pay or provide their lunch? I am hoping to do 2 full days and 1 half day.

[cakesaregood]

It does depend on the sessions available at the nursery. Is it a day-nursery or a pre-school setting? Since the hours went up to 15 a week, lots of settings have been more flexible, but if there isn't a lunch session, they won't be allowed to have your DS under their rules of registration.

I think the official rules state that you've got to spread the sessions out over three days, so you can probably do 2 6 hours and 1 3 hours. You will probably be able to 'top up' as well.

You really need to chat to the nursery to find out what their sessions are and how you can mix and match them. I'm sure they'll be sympathetic to your situation, and have suggestions if not solutions!!

Good luck

[cakesaregood]

2 days of 6 hours and 1 day of 3 hours :-)

[choufleur]

DS's nursery would let you use 2 sessions a day but we had to pay for the hours in between the sessions and for lunch. morning session was 9-12 and pm 1.30pm-4.30pm so had to pay for 1 1/2 hours and extra for food.

[CrazyPlateLady]

Ok, thanks for your replies. I'll ask the nursery nearer the time.

I have put DS down for 2 as my friend put her DD down for the preschool one, nearly a year in advance and she didn't get a place so I have put DS's name down for the actual preschool and a nursery that is all on the same site.

[MumInBeds]

At the setting I work at it depends on availability of spaces but if there is availability then parents either do 5x 3h days, or 2x 6h days and 1x 3h day and pay extra for lunch club on the full days or they do 3x 5h days from 9am-2pm.

The funding is changing a bit in April and each local area sets their own criteria for 'bonus' funding, some areas give more if a setting offers a lot of flexibility so if you live in one of those areas then the setting might be keen to do as you'd like.