to be shocked that I still have to pay for nursery food and drink during my ds 'free' 12.5 hrs at nursery?

[darentinas]

DD is now entitled to the 12.5hrs 'free' childcare at nursery for 3 year olds. However, in her first week I have been presented with an invoice charging me for drinks, snacks and tea. Apparently because she goes from 2-5 for 4 days a week she has to have a light meal in the afternoon.

AIBU to think that surely the government should pay for this? What is the point of offering 'free' places only for parents to then have to find the money to pay for lots of extras? I just don't know how I'm going to afford the extra cash. I did ask if dd could attend the morning session but was told I would still have to pay for drinks, snacks and a lunch. There is no way round it, she cannot go for 'free'.

I was chatting to 2 other women who have said they are not going to be able to send their children to the nursery for their 12.5 hrs either because of these extra costs. It seems like this scheme isn't actually helping the people it is aimed at, people on low incomes who may not ordinarily be able to send their children to nursery so that chldren can enjoy socialising with others, preparing them for school etc.

I naively assumed that dd would go for her 12.5 hrs and I wouldn't have to pay anything. The Government bangs on about providing free childcare for 3 to 5 year olds but it isn't actually free is it? It seems like one big conspiracy to me.

It is confusing because I meant to type YANBU Sorry. I didn't expect to pay, don't have to pay and don't think there should be different rules.

DD2 is in nursery now as she qualified for the free time in Jan. It is just that- free- and I would be bloody surprised to be presented with a stealth bill. If they didn't say anything when you enrolled your DD I would be jolly annoyed. I'm not asking for her to be fed- she's only there for 2 and a half hours and is fed a meal either side! I haven't been notified of any snacks being offered so if they offer her something it's their choice IMO. Sometimes they do have fresh fruit but I have not been charged! (FTR it is a Montessori nursery, people raised their eyebrows when I said she was going there as it is apparently very expensive. I said she wouldn't be going if I had to pay anything!)

Can they really force you to make your child have a meal in those three hours?

With all that eating,is there time for playing/activities?

You can be shocked at the charges if you want.

But, many nurseries make a loss on the 'free place' scheme. They tend to be the ones with good equipment, premises and top quality staff. In other words you get what you pay for. Some nurseries are considering not accepting free places. Try going to a cheaper, lower quality nursery.

i too would be shocked at £2.50 a day for a light snack and drink

from what you've said they didnt make it clear from the beginning that there was this charge, so yanbu to be shocked and annoyed if this is the case.

Had they told you in advance about the charge it would be your choice to still use the nursery.

It was my understanding that if your childminder was registered with ofsted then you could claim the 12.5 hours there though, is that wrong?

I reckon you are paying for the extra half an hour a day of childcare as well as a snack. That would be really reasonable then.

not if i can also be shocked at all the true costs of sending my kids to so called free state schools...

DS goes to a state nursery and I pay £5 per week (2.5 hours only per day) for snacks, craft and "fund" for parties etc. He does not eat snack really but they do alot with the kids and this £5 provides materials the council doesn't.

I think it could be including the extra half hour too as they can only claim 2.5 hours per session and the OP is having 3 hours.

OP, if you live rural and the choice is limited then perhaps in order to keep the nursery going they cant survive purely on the grants alone. If they stop providing the service then your community would be missing out. Its still your choice to send your child, its not compulsory just because its "free".

Do they not actually owe you for the extra half hour though as your dd is only having 12 hours a week not 12.5?
I know you said you are rural but I'm assuming you have an idea of what school your dd will go to don't have a nursery or playgroup plus facility?

They dont owe you the time - you get 2.5 hours per session. And can have 5 sessions. I think it is changing to be more flexible, but as far as I am aware has not changed yet. The private nurseries around here dont offer 2.5 hours so you go for 3 hours plus and pay the extra. The state nursery 12 miles away does 2.5 hour sessions though. But they dont offer full day care - just 5 sessions of 2.5 hours.