Childminder and nurseries open 51 weeks a year! Is this a fairytale?

[goforit99]

My 2.5 year old is eligible for the 15hr free childcare for 2-3 year olds. When I signed the contract for this, I was advised by the body that organises these hours and pays the childminders, the if I take 11hrs per week, I will get 51 weeks of childcare (instead of 15 hrs over 38 weeks) meaning my daughter will be covered during half-term, summer hols etc..
i explained this to the childminder but I found that she tends to take a couple of weeks hold here and there so I’m wondering where are my hours going as she doesn’t make them up! I am struggling to find any childminders or nurseries that are open throughout the year! I am starting full-time work soon and will be topping your after the 11hrs but I don’t know what to do when nurseries/childminders are away. I am a solo-parent and don’t have the privilege of grandparents or other members that can assist.

any advise? What do those in the same situation do? I will probably have holidays to take but is that the only solution?

There should be nurseries that open 51wks. My children’s nursery did, it was always closed Christmas week and open the remainder of the year apart from bank holidays. Childminders are going to be different as they are one person and will want their own holidays of course

You’re struggling to find a nursery that is open throughout the year?

Im so confused, are you only looking at school nurseries?

Ive never known a daycare nursery to be term time only.

I am not arguing that CM’s shouldn’t take hols, I am just wondering what is the 51 week cover for and asking if there are any nurseries or CM’s that do full-year cover .

my nursery is open all year round excluding a week for Xmas and bank hols so they do exist but maybe few and far between. Childminders I can see would have their own holidays to factor in.

Yes you can take holiday but also look in to parental leave it is unfortunately unpaid but is an entitlement to extra time off for looking after children.

My daughter's private nursery was open all days of the year 7am-7pm apart from bank holidays. They do exist. This particular one was linked to a private prep school.

Most day nurseries are open 51 weeks a year. I've found most childminders take around six weeks of leave and yes we just used our holiday allowance at the same time.

Most nurseries are open all year round except for bank holidays. As a childminder of 20 years I take holidays at the same time as parents where possible to minimise disruption. You won't find a childminder that works 51 weeks but there will be plenty of nurseries that do.

In terms of the financial support you get 15 hours p/w for 38 weeks p/a so if you want full days for 51 weeks it will feel like a drop in the ocean off the total bill.

The bigger nursery franchises are open 51 weeks a year. We used Bright Horizons

My nursery opened 52 weeks - only closed on bank holidays, opened the three working days between Christmas and New Year. As did the others we looked at.

@Darbs76 Completely agree re CM’s holidays, I was just so confused because I called so many nurseries and none are open throughout the year (bar Xmas period)

There will be some nurseries that are open 5 weeks but it will limit your choices. Most childminders won't do this. They tend to want time off with their own families so they are not a great option if you need care year round.

Ours is open all the time except bank holidays and a few inset days. Christmas Eve, New Year’s Eve and the days between them are half days only. So do exist.

Private will close each bank holiday - more expensive than child minder

Childminder private business, takes holidays when they want

You can't bank hours. Also unless different 30 free hours, these are only term time.

I suggest you take 15 over 38,then top up. I'm not really sure how you'd lose out given you'd be ft. It's the same amount of hours just spread differently

@luxxlisbon yes, I cannot find a nursery that does not close during summer holidays or half-term.

Literally all nurseries i know of are open 51weeks a year. Some may mot stretch funded hours

@GeorgiePorge they do seem to be a rarity unfortunately. I’ll have a look into parental leave. Thank you

Do you mean school nurseries? Because literally all the private day nurseries near me open 51 weeks per year.

Re the childminder holidays - it's common to pay her even during her holiday time. Usually contract will allow for X many weeks holiday per year

Strange that you can't find a private nursery open over the school holidays, as they are not linked to schools in any way. But regardless, just take 15h for 38 weeks and pay full price for the rest of the year.

@nokidshere I think the confusion lies with what was communicated to me by the body that sorts the 15hrs free childcare. They are adamant that there are CM’s that cover 51 weeks. I’ll certainly have a look into this as I’m losing the hrs she is entitled to. Thank you

Ours is open 50 weeks. It's shut for two weeks over Xmas and that's it. Open all BH. The funded model is either term time or 48 weeks, so if you choose the latter you take your child out for two weeks of your choice across the year.

It sounds like your looking at nurseries that are attached to schools, so term time only. I would look at nurseries that start at age 6 months to 5 years as they are likely to be private nurseries which are open more weeks.
My daughters nursery only shuts for a week at Christmas and bank holidays.
You will find nurseries that are open all year round far more expensive than the term time ones.

I think most nurseries are - private daycare nurseries. School nurseries are of course just open school term times but I’d think nearly all nurseries are open 51wks minimum

@TheHoover thank you, I will have a look.

Are you looking at private nurseries??

I looked into literally 15/20 nurseries in my area when I was putting my daughter in last year and now one single nursery closed other then bank holidays and Christmas.
Surely the only nursery’s this applies to are the part time ones attached to a primary school?

All private nurseries around us operate similar year-round. It's only school nurseries that are term-time only here.