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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

New rules???

14 replies

moogy1a · 20/07/2013 10:01

"Have you thought about using a childminder? From September this year all childminders will be able to offer the 3-4 year old funding and those graded Good or Outstanding will be able to offer the 2yr funding as well."
just seen this on another website.
Is this true?

OP posts:

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

MaryPoppinsBag · 20/07/2013 12:45

Not heard anything.

But to provide funded hours you have to complete a course with your local Authority.

2plus1 · 20/07/2013 13:17

From a parents perspective this would make a difference financially and would probably put those childminders in high demand.

Twinklestarstwinklestars · 20/07/2013 13:30

It probably depends on what area you're in not heard anything in my area.

Tanith · 20/07/2013 15:40

I offer the free entitlement and the 2 year old funding.

It is a lot of extra paperwork for less than my usual fee. The CC doesn't pass on all the funding they receive.
No-one has ever approached me for the EYFE, nor has it come up when people are visiting. Those who claim it with me are existing clients and I have always approached them. Most use a preschool in addition to the hours I offer.
So I'll be very surprised if it makes us more popular with parents.

The 2 year old funding - I'm not sure.
For one of the children, it's worked brilliantly and the funding is much better. It's been very rewarding to see how he's come on with us.
The other one never showed up after 2 sessions.
The problem with it is that the parents are probably going to use only their funded hours and no more. That blocks a place. You can put 2 sessions in the same day, but it still means 5/6 hours instead of 8-10 hours. That was my problem with the 2nd 2 year old. First I held the place open for weeks while they made up their minds whether to use me or the nursery, then I had to keep it open in case they came back.

catabouttown · 20/07/2013 15:41

This is the case in my area. My LA have to approve you and will only allow childminders who they know are very good, you also have to 'be willing' to complete further qualifications in childcare, so an NVQ or such the like. You don't actually have to sign up to this though or do it within any set time frame so that's a bit of a pointless requirement as you could theoretically never do it.

I've been doing this for a year and there are benefits as the money is paid directly by your LA so no worry about hassling parents for late payments etc (unless they are doing extra hours with you on top of the funded hours), they also find the children for you so its wuite easy to keep vacancies filled. However, it is a set rate so that may be lower or higher than you normally charge.

lechatnoir · 20/07/2013 18:29

Those of you that offer funded sessions, can CM's charge top-ups or is it just the rate your cc pay (which in my area is £1.50ph less than I charge hence not doing it)

catabouttown · 20/07/2013 18:41

In my area you are not allowed to charge more for those 15 hours but if the parent wanted you for more hours then that then you can charge your normal fees for those hours.

It is a hassle if you are looking for a full time space as it is less likely that those parents will want that (although the idea is that it covers enough childcare to make it financially viable for the parents to work full time so it does happen), but if you are only looking to fill a part time space then obviously it's ok. My area pays 50p/hour more than the usual rate for the area so it's ok but I definitely wouldn't do it if it was less money!!

Peachyjustpeachy · 20/07/2013 18:49

I had twins for 10 hours a week (each). when they became eligible for funding i tried to register for this in January of this year, but oh the paperwork!

plus when i called to local authority i was told, quite sniffily that I couldn't keep the twins until i was registered for it and i probably wouldn't qualify, and only one cm on the island is actually registered and she's AWFULLY GOOD.

so i let the twins go. and it was really sad, because the only place they could get was 3 hours each on a Tuesday afternoon. I got incredibly cross because ultimately it was the twins who missed out on something that was designed to help them.

If it changes, I'd certainly look into it again

HSMMaCM · 20/07/2013 19:55

Yes. Some control is being taken away from local authorities and minders graded good or outstanding should be able to offer funded spaces. I am already part of an accredited network and offer the spaces, but as others have said it's more work for less money. It does mean that my lovely mindees have stayed with me until starting school though.

Tanith · 21/07/2013 00:38

Not allowed to charge top ups here, either, though that doesn't seem to stop the nurseries and preschools.
This year, I've been in the position of having to pay a top up to my DDs preschool (which the CC didn't want to know about) while subsidising the free entitlement for the kids claiming with me
We were also expected to send in items for snacks, pay for any additional extras and take part in fundraising events - none of which my parents have ever had to do with me. It certainly wasn't free!

Likewise, we're not allowed to do any of the other work-arounds that the nurseries do - charging a term in advance, then refunding the grant; charging a different rate for children claiming; insisting on an extra, loaded, half hour or hour, insisting on expensive uniform items.

Bonkerz · 21/07/2013 20:13

This is all to do with the changes proposed by elizabeth truss (spit)!

Along with childminder agencies!

Control is being taken from LEA and supposedly from sept all good an outstanding childminders who have level 3 qualification will be able to offer the free funding without jumping through hoops like they do now.

nannynick · 21/07/2013 22:28

As far as I can see it is due to:

the consultation on proposed changes to the role of the local authority in early education and childcare (Mar 2013) - as this is a consultation document, it is in Draft form at present. Changes will be made to it and then published in final form at some stage, I suspect prior to Sept 2013.

More affordable childcare (July 2013)

Funded place rate in Surrey is £4.15 for FEE3-4, yet childminders I know charge more than that for care currently, so will take up be that great? I suppose it does mean not losing the children to a pre-school/nursery.

Bonkerz · 22/07/2013 15:31

Current rate in Leicestershire is £3.45-£3.80. My rate is £3 so it would mean a pay rise for me ;0)

Akasa · 22/07/2013 23:43

I could offer funded places but choose not to as the rate I would receive is well below my standard hourly charge and as someone else has said they are often place-blockers. It is quite tricky but I have to say being in a network does nothing for me at all apart from lose me money!

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