Does anyone know what the amount of Nursery Education Grant should be for 5 sessions?

[galaxy]

I ask because my pre-school fee for this term ( 9 week term) has gone up by £100 and the NEG is showing as £373. I'm convinced it was around £480 for Autumn term which was 8 weeks. Does it vary depending on how many weeks in the term and if so surely I should get more allowance this term?

[LIZS]

It is worked out on a session by session basis, so could change each term if they differ in length. Our autumn term was longer than spring . I know Surrey (which iirc you are) is getting more fussy with its criteria and the setting has to be operating for a minimum number of weeks/sessions to qualify. There is no "right" amount as fees vary and you are reimbursed for up to 5*2.5 hours per week but may be capped at a maximum. iirc we got about £430 per term last year Our school may apparently soon no longer qualify at all but perhaps yours has changed its definition of sessions and/or fee structure to continue to qualify but at a reduced rate for those 2 1/2 hour sessions. You can but ask.

[galaxy]

Thanks Lizs. The nursery/pre-school operates 5 days per week, with 2 1/2 day sessions which are 9 till 12:45 and then 12:45 till 3:15 so both are more than 2.5 hour sessions. She attends 5 mornings and 1 afternoon.

The morning fee for 5 sessions is £1143 per term which I worked out to be around £60 per hour per term so surely the grant should be £60 X 2.5 hours X 5 sessions which would work out at £762 off per term. I've assumed there is a cap on the amount they can claim however, but can't see why it's reduced by £100.

[nannynick]

Surrey County Council have a guide on NEG for providers, may be worth a look.
Surrey CC - NEG Provider Guide

[nannynick]

On page 4 of that document, it says that currently (Jan 2007) grant in Surrey is £8.30 per 2.5 hour session. Maximum number of weeks for Spring term is 11, thus: £8.30 x 5 = £41.50 per week, x 11 = £456.50 This is the MAXIMUM amount for Spring 2007 term.

As your term is only 9 weeks, 9 x 41.50 = £373.50 so looks like your pre-school is calculating the figure quite well.

This is of course for Surrey. If the pre-school falls under Hampshire then it may be different.

[shosha]

Message withdrawn

[galaxy]

Thanks to both of you. Bit shocked that I have to find another £100 this term that I wasn't expecting but at least I understand why now.

Great help.

Thanks