Can anyone explain to me about pre-school funding?

[MisterMaker]

My ds turned 3 in November and started pre-school last week. I'm confused about the funding side of things.

[PandaG]

will be entitled to 12.5 hours of pre school education per week free. you have to state hpw many hours you want from the provider (you could be claiming hours from ore than one setting) and the setting will claim the payment - you do not need to do anything else.

[nigglewiggle]

I was told 15 hrs? A max of 6 per day. Only available during term-time and from the start of term AFTER your child has turned 3. In your case, from Jan.

[MisterMaker]

Thanks PandaG. So would he already be funded as his birthday was in Nov? I am trying to work out the invoice I have from the pre-school.

[MisterMaker]

Thanks niggle.. you answered my question. Im confused with the invoice, I'll have to question it with the pre-school.

[PandaG]

is going up to 15 hours per week - but afaik not in all areas yet, just some trial areas (could be wrong on this) but, am pretty sure that the hours can be combined so you could use all 12.5 or 15 hours over 2 days at a daycare nursery rather than a preschool

[TheFallenMadonna]

Depends on the LEA I think. 12.5 hours here still. Max of 5 per day.

[snuffyp]

At my dd,s nursery i cannot use all the hours over 2 days she can go 2.5 hours in the morning then 2.5 hours in the afternoon!It used to be term time only but as my dd only does 2 mornings aweek she can now go during holidays as well

[PandaG]

so snuffy do you mean they only do sessional rather than full day care? so yes, if only 2 sep sessions available you cannot run them together, am pretty sure than here (SHeffield) you can use all your hours over say 2 or 3 days if your provider provides longer than 5 hours a day care.

[BONKERZ]

if its a nursery then the amount of funding you get will just be taken off your bill so

for example if you paid £30 per day and your dc did 3 days a week and funding was £45 per week you would pay £45 for the 3 full days.

if its a pre school that do sessions then you can get funding which generally covers the full cost of those sessions up to 15 hours per week. the 15 hours must be used over a minimum of 3 days.
My DD was 3 in december and has just started 5 mornings at pre school she does 3 hours every morning and its all funded so i pay nothing but i do know of other pre schools in the area that charge more per session than the funding, and in that case you would be expected to pay the extra on top. for example if funding is £10.45p per session but the pre school charge £15 then you would have to pay the extra £4.55p

Im sorry if thats all a waffle!

[snuffyp]

Panda the nursery does full day but as i only have the grant sessions i could take her 9-11.30 and 1.30-4 which is pointless but i guess its as the others have there dinner which is,nt covered with the funding.I know if i wanted dd to go a full day i could pay the difference so i don,t know if it would work if you had to sessions in a day and make up the difference.I think here its like £8.50 for the session she has so i could take that away from the £3o something day fee

[Plonker]

Mistermaker - each child is entitled to 12.5 hours per week (5 x 2.5 hr sessions) free education. This should be free at point of delivery so I'm not sure what you're being invoiced for unless your ds is accessing above the 12.5 hours?
You fill in the claim form and the setting arranges the rest. The money is paid directly from the LEA to the setting.

Some pilot areas are offering 15 hours (5 x 3hrs) per week but this isn't being rolled out to all LEA's until 2010.

In our authority you can claim a maximum of two session per day (must have a break between each education session) but there is talk of this changing so that the hours can be used in succession and more flexibility can be offered to parents .

hth

[MisterMaker]

I think they've messed up with my invoice. My ds does 2 x 3hr session per week. so I shouldn't have to pay anything from what I've read on the feedback I've received. Thank you to all that have given me advice

[tiggerlovestobounce]

In the area I am in you can only use 2.5hr of funding per session, so here you would be paying for 2x0.5 hours. That is in theory, what would actually happen at the nursery my children are at is that you would be paying the half day rate minus the funding amount.

[TheFallenMadonna]

Agree with tigger. In this LEA the preachool could charge you for the extra 0.5 hour.

[Plonker]

It depends though MisterMaker.

Is your setting piloting the 15 hours per week (5 x 3 hour sessions) or is it accessing the standard 12.5 hours (5 x 2.5 hours)?

If it the former, you won't have to pay anything. If it is the latter, then you're only entitled to 2.5 hour sessions and the pre-school could be charging you for the extra 1/2 hour.

[Plonker]

x posted there

[BONKERZ]

and dont forget they will only claim for 2 x funded sessions not the 5 you are entitled to. So if they charge £15 for the 3 hour session then your invoice would be
EXAMPLE
2x £15 - 2x £10(funding) = £10 to pay