How to proceed with potential new nursery with lack of clarity re government funded hours

[TruthorDie]

We have toddler twins that go to childminder 2 days a week at the moment, we are thinking of moving them to a nursery as the opening hours are longer, it’s ever so slightly cheaper and they include wipes / nappies / food. The potential nursery have sent us an email this week to scope out days and they are asking if we have a funding code. Problem is the twins aren’t 2 yet but are theoretically getting government funded hours from September 2024 but it hasn’t been agreed and we have a general election very imminently!

Husband thinks we should ask for 3 days and hope for the best. I’m considering sticking with childminder until things are clearer or going with 2 days -it might take time to get day / hours changed with our employers. Problem is we can afford 2 days just about (twins are very expensive!) and can’t afford 3 days without any funding. We get tax free childcare but that’s it. Are we missing anything?

Funding is confirmed for September, submissions to the LA for the autumn term are due by the end of July by settings.

I got my funding letter for my child who gets funding from sep, he turned 1 in Feb

If you want 3 days then why not ask for that? What are you worried about?

If the new government make early years funding worse, there will be riots.

You say nursery are cheaper you may find it is not cheaper. The funding is not sustainable for a lot of nurseries and they may stretch the funding over the year and you will find the additional hours are higher .
ask them to tell you the September cost for 2 days and 3 days in September and ask the childminder the same - I would stay with the childminder personally . They deliver the same education.

Apply for your code now from here www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
You will then know if you are definitely eligible.

Even if we have a new government after the general election no change will be made to funding entitlements from September. It takes months/years to make such changes.

OP doesn't need to do this, they are already registered as they are receiving tax free childcare. The code will be given automatically at the renewal following 12th May 2024. She just needs to check her account.

Sorry yes, I missed the bit where she said they get TFC.

Email from the nursery basically says confirm which days you want and give us £55 registration fee to secure them. Needless to say I doubt it’s as simple as this, especially as it’s 2 children for 3 days! So lm not handing over the £55 x2 until they confirm they can actually accommodate the days or not

It’s 5% cheaper so far. Plus free wipes, free nappies and free food. Plus the hours are better; childminder closes earlier and is no longer doing Fridays. I will be getting quotes from both though

Sorry, I'm a little bit confused by what question you are asking. Codes are being given out now for children from 9 months to use from September and the 2 year funding has been in place since April. As long as the nursery are offering the hours and you have the code it will be applied from September.

Have you asked the nursery about top up fees on funded hours?

I’m also confused by what you’re asking and what you’re concerned about. Could you clarify so people can help better?

I would clarify with nursery about whether the food, wipes and nappies will still be free if you take up the funding option. Usually these are the first things to become chargeable as nurseries try to plug the gap between the funding rates and actual running costs. They are consumables which they are entitled to charge for.

Does this include the sustainability or consumables fees?