Preschool hours

[PreschoolMum4]

Hi,

First time poster so forgive me if I get this wrong 🤣. Just wanted to know if you do not utilise the preschool hours requested, does it affect the preschool’s funding? I have a 3 1/2 year old (September baby) Who’s just started preschool. She goes 2 1/2 days a week. I did plan on sending her for 3 half days but had to extend the days to accommodate my part-time work. She’s been a bit hit and miss so far a mix of being settled and tearful missing me. The thing is on the half day she only goes for 3 hours and we do not live as locally as before (marriage breakdown) so I find myself pottering around whilst she is wanting to be picked up. We use to go to a lovely playgroup on a Wednesday so I could take her there and she would still be doing activities and socialising with others. In short, if I drop my daughters preschool by 3 hours will it affect their funding? I will speak to the manager tomorrow who is great but I’m up thinking about it!

The preschool can only claim funding when she is attending- if you change the hours she attends they have to adjust their funding claim with the council. If she is poorly they can still claim and the odd time you want her to have a day off is fine but they can't claim if she is no longer attending.

How far away are you from the nursery?
Do you use public transport to get there?

Thanks for that info. We drive, it’s about 20 minutes from home but she has sisters in the school down the road. So a few minutes from there. I could go home for a short while just wondered if it was worth sending her for those hours whilst she’s not completely settled (and I don’t need the childcare)

I would still send her, it will deffo help with settling in.
I would go back home and enjoy a cuppa in peace

If you don't send her for that morning they can't claim her funding, but it opens the space for another child, maybe one whose parents want a full day. Our nursery don't do half days as most who do half days want mornings and then they're under capacity in the afternoons, meaning they're being paid less. So don't feel guilty, the hours should suit your family.

A cuppa in peace sounds great! 😌

Thank you for the info.I didn’t think of that still planning on keeping the majority of the hours so suppose it wouldn’t be too difficult to fill

I think if she has been struggling to settle whilst attending 3 days, it isn't going to help her if you drop to 2 days, as it will be even longer between sessions and less of the routine of going in to Nursery.

Thank for your input I did think about the gap too valid point

I think I’ll see how we go. I’m sure she’ll be fine in a few weeks time. Probably harder on me dropping her off tearful. She’s my last ‘baby’ but still not any easier!