Help!! Difference between universal and extended funding early years

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Hi all
Please help!
Currently my son (4 in February) is at a childminder four days a week. We are looking to split his care between two settings (2x at childminder and 2x at private nursery). My childminder says she will take 15 hours from his universal funding and 3 hours from his extended funding to cover the hours at her setting. She is also making us pay an £8.80 per day to make up costs. This leaves 12 hours of extended entitlement- can this be used at the private nursery? I have asked the nursery and they have said they don't know.
Thank you so much!
I'm so confused!

In theory yes but it's up to each individual setting as to what they will and won't accept.

Thank you - do you know why some settings will only accept universal/extended hours?

The universal you are always entitled to so they will always be paid. The extended is dependant on your circumstances and so more at risk of being pulled/ you not renewing your eligibility on time etc and then they won't be paid or might be asked to repay it. Then they have the hassle of chasing you for the fees instead...

Oh I see - so that is why fewer settings offer it? Should the nursery know if they accept extended funding?

It might be a head office/ management decision. I wouldn't expect the room staff to know.

Fewer settings accept the extended funding because they simply can't afford to.

The amount the government pays per hour is (substantially) less than most settings charge or can charge for anything over the basic 15 hours.

Historically, settings offered the initial 15 hours at a loss to themselves, but made up the shortfall by charging more for additional hours.

Settings simply can't afford to offer the extended hours, or the soon to be introduced 15 hours for working parents of 2 year olds.

The whole system is a mess, caused by the government.

Thank you for explaining

Why can’t you just keep your child settled in one setting and the funding in one place rather than split him between two and then throw another change to school in September? I wouldn’t like to be an almost 4 year old never knowing where I was coming or going and having to get used to another new place.