30 hrs free start date ?

[Greengrass432]

Hi all,

I had a discussion today with my daughters nursery regarding 30 hrs free. She turns 3 in December so is eligible from term starting 1st January. But the nursery manager made a comment that I didn’t think about until I left. It’s also driving me insane because I remember reading something last week that mentioned it but now cannot find it anywhere. She said it would start the 2nd week of Jan. my question, why not the 1st week.

thanks x

Do they only allow it for term time only? Some nurseries stretch it for the full year but others work on school terms, so it may be that they start later in January?

The funding is term time only so likely it won't count the first week.

this still makes no sense to my tho 🤯 January term starts Monday 2nd Jan. So technically the 1st week is term time. X

I'm only guessing but if they're doing it term time, it woukd follow school terms.

It’s only 30 funded hours if term time, if you want to stretch it all year round is only 22 a week.
You just need to email and ask, there might be some setup time needed but I don’t know why

Are you stretching the hours?

If not, First term back in my area after Xmas starts 9th Jan.

The first week of jan is school holidays this year. That's why

Also bare in mind unless they do inset days there'll be an unfunded week around Easter time too on top of the 2 weeks holiday

Also the funding from local authorities is shockingly low. Childcare providers have to find other ways to make up the shortfall given they can't charge actual top up fees.

Possibly a staggered start for new children starting? They might have existing children back for a week first to get the routine back on track and then the new starters the following week, so they can then settle those children in.

Funding weeks also never quite match school terms. They're always slightly less.