To think that these nursery policy's on grant places are a load of bollocks

[pud1]

my dd2 starts her grant place in sept when dd1 goes to school. I have just called the 2 nurseries closest to my 2nd and 3rd school choices to be told that there grant places work as follows.
Children have to attend for 2 full days per week from 8-6 for 51 days per year. As the grants only allow for 15 hours per week term time I will have to pay about £30 each week for the short fall. If I take her in 9-4 for 2 days and not at all at holidays I will still have to pay for the short fall. I understand that they do not get there going rate for the grant places and they will in effect have a space during holidays but this is not a free nursery place

Thanks TT. Wasn't sure I was doing the right thing contacting the council

IUseTooMuch - the free funding sessions are free for the parents but the nursery will apply for funding from the government for each child. That way, the government gives money to the childcare setting to be able to provide the free care. If the nursery does not get the forms filled out on time and sent off, then they will lose money because they have a deadline. If a nursery keeps on top of the funding applications, money won't be lost.

Well, that's how it is where I work. Management strive to keep on top of paperwork for funded children so they don't lose money hand over fist. Time consuming but certainly not complicated.

You are only allowed to use up to 12 hrs within 2 days.

We have to pay for lunches so works out £50 a month for tge free sessions but you don't have to pay/go in during holidays.

TongueTwisted - private nurseries lose money on NEG children in two ways. Firstly if a child has a funded place 9-12 or 9-3, the nursery may be unable to sell the remaining hours that day, losing out on 8-9 and 3-6 etc. If a paying child takes a 8-6 place they make more money. Secondly, if a nursery place costs £4-£5 an hour, the nursery loses money as the grant pays a set amount, not the amount the nursery charges.

That's how it was where I used to work too TT. My boss claimed back the money, but it wasn't enough. It was a village nursery so numbers and we had to pay high rates to hire the hall each day. We had a high staff to child ratio and it was lovely, but what the government said would pay for a session just didnt cover the real cost.