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Original poster

15 hour funding v 30 hours

34 replies

RGSD · 31/08/2024 09:49

My youngest just started nursery & gets the new 15 hours funding for 9 mo. My 3 year old goes to the same nursery and gets 30 hours funding now. They both go full time term-time only. I just got the bills and the difference between them is £31! How can 30 hours only be worth £31 a month?!!!! They waffled at me about funding hours and said they aren’t allowed to disclose the funding allocated but seriously: does this seem right??? Not to mention the £11 a day each for their food… I mean £11 for a 10 month old?!!

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Original poster
RGSD · 31/08/2024 13:37

Yes, meals are listed as an extra for both of them… at £11 each per day! 😮

OP posts:
Original poster
RGSD · 31/08/2024 13:31

This was the response I got from the nursery:
“Breakdown for 3YO
£64.00 x 5 = £320 (per week)
42 weeks = £13440
Divided by 10 months (Sept-June) = £1344
Minus
30 hrs funding for 3 year olds
Funding is for 38 weeks per year but we spread this out over the 10 months (12 months if attending for 51 weeks) We are not authorised to disclose the funding rate.
Total to pay monthly = £771.72. This figure includes meals and resources.
Breakdown for 9m-23m
£64.00 x 5 = £320 (per week)
42 weeks = £13440
Divided by 10 months (Sept-June) = £1344
Minus
15 hrs funding for 9m-23m olds
Funding is for 38 weeks per year but we spread this out over the 10 months (12 months if attending for 51 weeks) We are not authorised to disclose the funding rate.
Total to pay monthly = £803.07. This figure includes meals and resources.
As you can see, the amount of funding for 15 hours at the 9month old rate doesn’t differ too much from 30 hours at the 3 year rate. We are not authorised to disclose the funding rate. However to answer your question regarding the difference between 3YO and 9m-23m funding, the funding rate per hour for 9m-23m is much higher. I imagine the idea behind this is because younger babies need more resources.
”

OP posts:
nannynick · 31/08/2024 11:13

Yes, what LA gets and what they pass on to the provider are not the same thing.

What parents pay should not be affected by what LA gives to provider. So fees should be as a result of things like additional hours, food, nappies etc.

Snozzlemaid · 31/08/2024 11:00

nannynick · 31/08/2024 10:36

Local authority funding rates should be available online somewhere for your area.

9 month old funding can be £11ish per hour, whereas 3yr funding can be around £4. However staff to child ratio is different, younger children have more staff thus the higher rate.

What you pay for is the unfunded hours. So that can include lunchtime, early morning and late afternoon. Funding is done in sessions, and is term time only unless the nursery has agreement with local authority to split it across the year.

You may find the rates each LA receives from central government online but that's not necessarily what the nursery will receive from their LA.
Local Authorities can keep some funding for admin costs and SEN for example.

Oldermum84 · 31/08/2024 10:55

I thought the 15 hours for 9 months olds doesn't start till September...? Is this bill for August or September?

nannynick · 31/08/2024 10:36

Local authority funding rates should be available online somewhere for your area.

9 month old funding can be £11ish per hour, whereas 3yr funding can be around £4. However staff to child ratio is different, younger children have more staff thus the higher rate.

What you pay for is the unfunded hours. So that can include lunchtime, early morning and late afternoon. Funding is done in sessions, and is term time only unless the nursery has agreement with local authority to split it across the year.

anonhop · 31/08/2024 10:36

You need to firmly & politely ask for a breakdown.
Could it be something like you're paying extra for nappies for the younger one but not the older?
Also, they do need to tell you how the funding is "allocated"

TickingAlongNicely · 31/08/2024 10:26

I can see how it happens.
Its a 1.5 day difference in the childcare, but presumably meals and incidentals like nappies are a separate charge.

What is the daily rate?

Sorry thought that was £31 a week not a month!!

Big questions need asking!

SplishSplashSploshes · 31/08/2024 10:22

That doesn't seem right. They should be able to breakdown the charges on the invoice for you. But saying that our nursery have just changed their admin system and the new invoices are quite vague now without a breakdown. Still being invoiced what I expected though.

Do you know their hourly charge? Is the 9 months invoice what you expected but the 3yo is a lot more?