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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

15 hours funding nursery

41 replies

Beigequeen · 21/04/2023 19:58

Can the nursery insist we use the full 15 hours ? Even if it’s not best for the child ?

We only want to do 4 mornings not 5 as ds has SEN and they are saying we have to do the full 15 hours ?
Is there any way round this ?

OP posts:
BendingSpoons · 21/04/2023 20:01

Is this a school nursery or similar? Some places offer set patterns of hours and expect you to attend. If you don't, they can't claim the funding and they can't (or won't) offer 1 day to another child. Is there another place that would be more flexible?

I don't know if it is enforceable but there is a risk they could take your place away I guess. I feel for you. It would have suited mine to do 4 days and I imagine even more so with some SEN.

Nevermind31 · 21/04/2023 20:02

They might withdraw the place and give it to someone who will use the full hours as they might otherwise lose funding

Original poster
Beigequeen · 21/04/2023 20:04

Yes a school nursery

OP posts:
Sissynova · 21/04/2023 20:05

Considering it’s a benefit in place to help children keep up with their peers and socialise I imagine they want the place to be used in full.

nurseynursery · 21/04/2023 20:07

Maybe best to try a private nursery as they'll have more flexibility

NuffSaidSam · 21/04/2023 20:09

Start with the five mornings and then if he doesn't cope talk to the school about reducing it down to four. At the point where they can see he is struggling they're much more likely to allow a four day week. You can also just not send him on a Friday if he's tired from the week etc. Sign up for all five and make the decision as you go.

Darkchocolatekitkat · 21/04/2023 20:11

A school nursery probably works on the basis of a class - it’s more structured then a daycare, it’s more akin to a school place. They aren’t going to fill a one morning a week slot, so they miss out on funding for those hours. Plus often they do projects in art etc that work on the basis children attend each day.

They may be more receptive if they believe it’s in the child’s interests or it’s a reasonable adjustment - have you spoken to them? Do they agree your child’s SEN means he needs to be part time?

Merryoldgoat · 21/04/2023 20:14

How different will 4 mornings be from 5 really?

I have two children with SEN - one accessed the 15 hours and one the 30 and both really benefitted.

Skybluepinky · 21/04/2023 20:27

Darkchocolatekitkat · 21/04/2023 20:11

A school nursery probably works on the basis of a class - it’s more structured then a daycare, it’s more akin to a school place. They aren’t going to fill a one morning a week slot, so they miss out on funding for those hours. Plus often they do projects in art etc that work on the basis children attend each day.

They may be more receptive if they believe it’s in the child’s interests or it’s a reasonable adjustment - have you spoken to them? Do they agree your child’s SEN means he needs to be part time?

They are no different to nurseries, pre schools or childminders they all follow the same curriculum.

Skybluepinky · 21/04/2023 20:28

Have a word with yr LA u can split yr place and use different providers if u wish, so they should accept u for less than 5 sessions a week.

montessorinanny · 21/04/2023 20:38

Yes the nursery can insist you do the full 15 hours there. It is entirely up to them how the offer funding. However you don't have to send them. You can just send them for the 4 mornings you want but the nursery will claim the 5 mornings. The advantages to this is the fifth morning will be there when your child is ready for it and allows you some flexibility if you want to send them on a different morning to one they did the week before. I am a childminder and have had families before who have paid for 5 day a week cover but only want 4 days, with these days being different each week. They pay for the space so it isn't used by another child.

Lalala0 · 21/04/2023 20:39

My LO goes to a private day nursery, it's open all year round so I spread the 15 hours over school holidays too and works out 11 hours a week, he does 1 full day and 1 half day (3 sessions a week)

Sirzy · 21/04/2023 20:40

If the full 15 hours aren’t used it creates issues with claiming the funding. It also means they have a place one day each week that isn’t being funded which many settings can’t afford

SephrinaX · 21/04/2023 20:43

Can you just take the 5 mornings and just not send him in on 5th one? They still get the funding so can't see why it would be a problem.

Darkchocolatekitkat · 21/04/2023 20:44

Skybluepinky · 21/04/2023 20:27

They are no different to nurseries, pre schools or childminders they all follow the same curriculum.

Show quote history

By structured I don’t mean the children’s day to day experience or the curriculum (which yes theoretically is the same across providers), I mean structured in that they don’t usually offer the same flexibility around hours and sessions you might get from a daycare type nursery or a childminder. At my child’s school you’d be expected to do five mornings or afternoons (or five full days) and that’s it.

Zooeyzo · 21/04/2023 20:45

Why not just skip a day? School nurseries don't really mind but not taking the 15 hours causes issues with funding. My son is sen and I send him 15 hours and it's ok. Certainly gives me a break.

CoozudBoyuPuak · 21/04/2023 20:51

Best to use a different nursery. With SEN a routine is often really helpful and the disruption of transitioning between "holiday" and "termtime" is unhelpful. The 15 hours term-time funding is much more beneficial used as 52 weeks a year of 11.25 hours, which could be 3 mornings a week year-round (you can pay for a 4th if you needed 4)

Original poster
Beigequeen · 21/04/2023 20:52

SephrinaX · 21/04/2023 20:43

Can you just take the 5 mornings and just not send him in on 5th one? They still get the funding so can't see why it would be a problem.

Yes I’m going to agree to get the place confirmed

OP posts:
drpet49 · 21/04/2023 20:56

SephrinaX · 21/04/2023 20:43

Can you just take the 5 mornings and just not send him in on 5th one? They still get the funding so can't see why it would be a problem.

Just do this OP. Everyone wins.

Mookie81 · 21/04/2023 21:23

I run a school nursery offering 15 hours, at 3 hours per day, and the expectation is to come every day. We don't offer part-time. If a parent was deliberately missing days I would take them off roll and give the space to someone who would use the 15 hours.

Original poster
Beigequeen · 21/04/2023 21:42

Mookie81 · 21/04/2023 21:23

I run a school nursery offering 15 hours, at 3 hours per day, and the expectation is to come every day. We don't offer part-time. If a parent was deliberately missing days I would take them off roll and give the space to someone who would use the 15 hours.

Would you make reasonable adjustments for disability / SEN though ? Is this something you can pre arrange before the start or does a child have to struggle with 5 days for that to be allowed ?

OP posts:
Snugglemonkey · 21/04/2023 21:52

Skybluepinky · 21/04/2023 20:27

They are no different to nurseries, pre schools or childminders they all follow the same curriculum.

Show quote history

I am not at all sure of that in practice. My son went to a school nursery. It was a forest school but was geared toward preparation for school. He learned so much in terms of numbers and phonetics etc.

My friend has a DC same age. He went to a playgroup style place but they did not do any of that at all.

It was weird because you could envision it more readily in their place than ours, but ours ran free outside in all weathers like wee savages, yet seemed to incorporate a lot more formal learning, without doing any formal learning.

Daisydu · 21/04/2023 21:56

at my kids school you don’t have to use it all. Been a while since I was entitled to it but my daughter only did 13 hours for quite a while and wasn’t a problem

Mookie81 · 01/05/2023 12:34

Beigequeen · 21/04/2023 21:42

Would you make reasonable adjustments for disability / SEN though ? Is this something you can pre arrange before the start or does a child have to struggle with 5 days for that to be allowed ?

Show quote history

A child with SEN would have reasonable adjustments that would be on a case by case basis. Its usually later arrival or earlier collection, but still in every day. It also depends on the level of SEN involved.

Lavenderflower · 01/05/2023 12:40

It depends on the child needs - on what grounds would be requesting a reasonable adjustment? Have you considered trying the 5 days week?