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Original poster

Nursery funding question, please can anyone help.

10 replies

Somethingtoask · 05/09/2022 11:04

Hi all,

Firstly, we are based in Wales. My son is due to start the nursery attached to the school this week with his free funding. I think he has 15 hours a week. He's doing 12.30-3.15 5 days a week. Just under 3 hours a day isn't overly practical (school traffic, don't physically have enough time to collect my eldest from comp and the youngest from nursery, can't increase my work for 2/3 hours a day).
I assumed we had to use the free hours at the school based nursery as the form we received was for this particular nursery.

However, my friend suggested this may not be the case and we can use a private nursery and choose hours (depending on their availability). Is this true? If so, I wish I had known! I'd much rather he does 2 or 3 longer days. I can actually work more!
As he's due to start this week is it too late to change to a private nursery?

I have emailed some of the local nurseries this morning and am waiting to hear back. I just wondered if anyone knows the answer!

Thank you.

OP posts:
tealandteal · 05/09/2022 11:08

I am not based in Wales but I used my DS’s 30 hours at the private nursery he was already attending so it just knocked some off the price. There are no school nurseries near here however. Does he need to go? He can start a private nursery at any time, it doesn’t have to be at a start of term.

Popaholic · 05/09/2022 11:13

Yes you can use the free hours in a private nursery BUT:

  • Free hours are typically spread over the whole year not just school terms, so it doesnt work out at less than 15 hours per week.
  • private nursery sessions are often longer than 3 hours eg 8am to 1pm and 1pm to 5pm so you have to fund the extra hours at full price
  • free hours doesn't include a meal and a private nursery made make a supplemental charge for breakfast, lunch and tea

Overall you'll end up paying a little bit to do it via private nursery BUT if you can work it may work out worthwhile. Plus you don't have to entertain them in the school hols.

Original poster
Somethingtoask · 05/09/2022 11:29

Thank you both, it's very helpful. We are happy to pay some towards it if needed. I just think private nursery would be more suitable. It would be helpful to use some of the free hours towards work and it would be nice to be back and forth less.
Just waiting to hear back from the nurseries I have emailed. I wish we were told we could use the hours at a private nursery!

OP posts:

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

Childcare & nursery Families
tealandteal · 05/09/2022 21:12

Not sure if you are aware but you can use tax free childcare to save on any amount over the funded hours that you pay.

Tumbleweed101 · 05/09/2022 21:39

We offer 30hr term time only or stretched funding that works out to be around 22hr week. We offer completely free sessions but charge a little for more flexibility if hours are needed outside of this. Private nurseries tend to have more options with hours than school ones but as they are privately owned you may need to contact each one to find out how they work.

RewildingAmbridge · 05/09/2022 21:45

Not all private nurseries will stretch funding, ours doesn't. So if he goes in the holidays we pay full price. Also there may be additional fees we get charged for lunch £10, every hour before 9 and after 4 in an hourly rate, we also have Montessori and forest school fees on top so costs quite a lot even with funding, so just make sure you ask about that with any nursery you look at. We're happy with ours because the hours work for us and it's a fantastic nursery. They have dance classes, choir (herd of cats), Spanish lessons , forest school, etc so if we paid for all of those things as extra curricular it would cost more.

RewildingAmbridge · 05/09/2022 21:46

And yes to getting a tax free childcare account, the government top up everything you put into it by 20% and you pay the nursery from that account

SunshineClouds1 · 05/09/2022 21:50

We have stretched our hours out over the year.
He does 3 days 8-1 and 1 day 9-3.
There was a variety of sessions to choose from.
We're lucky we don't have to pay any extra but we certainly would if needed.

Our reason for not putting him in a school nursery was the hours and being term time only. Holding off on the holidays for as long as I can haha.

Sprogonthetyne · 05/09/2022 21:55

Your friend is right you can use them at private nursery, or with a child minder, if registered. Many have different rules about when they are used or have top ups, but not all. DD currently dose 3x 5 hour days, I drop her off affter the school run at 9.30, and pick her up at 2.30 just before picking up my eldest.

yougotthelook · 05/09/2022 21:57

Somethingtoask · 05/09/2022 11:29

Thank you both, it's very helpful. We are happy to pay some towards it if needed. I just think private nursery would be more suitable. It would be helpful to use some of the free hours towards work and it would be nice to be back and forth less.
Just waiting to hear back from the nurseries I have emailed. I wish we were told we could use the hours at a private nursery!

How old is your son? If he is 2 it's 15 hours and if he's 3 it's 30 hours
Also you can use your funded hours with a childminder, if they accept them (most do)

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