15 hours funding query

[PinkCherryPie]

I have received my September bill from nursery and it is more taking account of the 15 hours (11 adjusted) funding than it is without. Has anyone else had this problem?

Apparently the council require that the extra time around the free hours is charged hourly.

I get 2 hours at £4ph (for consumables), and then have to pay the other 8 hours at their hourly rate of £11 an hour, rather than the discounted full day rate.

So rather than the day rate of £90, I now have to pay £96 per day.

I’ve heard of the cost not reducing very much with the hours applied due to poor funding rates but for it to actually cost more is ridiculous.

I don’t think you have to claim the free hours, so stop and you should get the old rate back. How very frustrating though!! Is there another nursery you could use?

Thanks,
I wasn't expecting a huge reduction, but was maybe expecting 10% (even though the free hours are 25% of this total hours). But to cost more just dumfounded me.
I have spoken to them and they are going to go back to the council, but it sounded like their hands were somewhat tied.

Well the obvious answer is they don't need to charge £4 an hour for consumables....

Contact your LA as this doesn't sound right.

Doesn’t sound right at all. Your LA should be able to help both you and your nursery sort this out.
£4 ph consumable charge seems very high!

How many hours is your child in nursery a day I'm struggling to work out why in a 10 hour day you only get 2 funded hours? What funding sessions do they offer?
Consumables charges are voluntary and what they cover should be included in their funding policy.

How old is your child and what is your local council?

Well 15 hours funding is 11 hours stretched. Divide that across 5 days a week and it’s just over 2 hours a day. Perhaps you can only take full advantage of the funding if you attend full time? I’ve heard of things like this before.

Some settings especially nurseries have set hours they take funding for so you might be given 3 lots of 3 hours or 2 lots of 5 you need to ask for a proper breakdown. The odd hour would then be lost