Where do closed preschooler parents stand with 30 hours free childcare

[CaughtInTheCovid]

I get school isn’t childcare

But for parents who’s 3 year olds are at preschools attached to schools which are now closed due to covid and not eligible for places as not key workers where do they stand with the funding?

We are in this position. Our account is linked to the preschool so we can’t seem to transfer the free hours elsewhere (private nursery/childminder) for just a couple of months (hopefully). But our friends with kids in private preschool their kids are attending as normal and can wfh or work effectively.

The 30 hours free is for CHILDCARE. The stuff on tapestry isn’t childcare it’s learning and that’s fine but I can’t work at the same time.

Working parents who’s kids go to school rather than private nursery have been screwed over. EYFS is meant to be open...except if attached to a school. Why?!?!

Bump

Bump anyone??

You can move to a different provider. You have to do it before the head count day though I think. Find a provider and ask them if they will initiate the transfer. You may not get your place back at the preschool though.

Sorry what does the head count day mean?

They do a census, I think once a term. If you want to transfer before then, the new provider has to ask the old one if they can transfer funds. Not sure what will happen with the current situation.
www.togetherforchildren.org.uk/sites/default/files/2018-01/FAQs%20for%20providers%20-%2030Hrs.pdf

Guidance changed on nursery attached to schools on Friday night:

assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/950510/School_national_restrictions_guidance.pdf

On page 5:
‘ Early years provision should continue to remain open and should continue to allow all children to attend full time or their usual timetable hours. This includes early years registered nurseries and childminders, maintained nursery schools, as well as nursery classes in schools and other pre-reception provision on school sites. Only vulnerable children and children of critical workers should attend on-site reception classes. This is the default position for all areas irrespective of national lockdown restrictions.’

You may want to ask the school if they are planning to planning to reopen in light of the revised guidance.

Our preschool attached to school is opening on Tuesday :) are you sure/had it confirmed yours is def remaining shut?

Also, they cannot claim the funding in respect of your child if they are not open:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures/coronavirus-covid-19-early-years-and-childcare-closures#funding-and-business-support

Funding for free childcare places

‘Local authorities should not fund providers which are closed, without a public health reason, from the start of the 2020 autumn term.’

And from here:

www.gov.uk/government/publications/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care/coronavirus-covid-19-financial-support-for-education-early-years-and-childrens-social-care

From 1 January 2021
‘In the spring term 2021, local authorities’ funding to providers should return to the normal approach of funding on the number of entitlement hours delivered. The following guidance is relevant to EYproviders being funded on this basis.‘

If you want to transfer provider you can. This guidance did only come out on Friday though! So you may get an update from them on Monday.

I had something similar, school nursery said I would loose space if went elsewhere until Feb half term, I guess they rely on the funding. They changed tune and have now offered a place, as far as I am aware, and if you check the info recently released from department of education, school nursery's should be open.

Thanks all. I don’t want to transfer her because I like the preschool but it’s been a nightmare. I’ll be interested to see what happens on Monday since they updated the guidance. I really feel for the staff I wish they would vaccinate them ASAP.

They have updated the guidance but just a warning, the NEU and Unison are planning on suggestion Section 44 again under these conditions so this may or may not be a permanent change. It’s completely unfair and unsafe for EYFS provision to be open as normal.

And if they can’t open because the staff feel don’t feel safe working I can understand that. At that point shutting and furloughing is most appropriate course of action.

In our case vulnerable and key workers children in the rest of the upper school have been prioritised. Nursery staff have been reallocated to the upper school. No vulnerable/key workers nursery children have been granted places despite applying.

In this situation parents shouldn’t be prevented from transferring the funding if they choose to do so to a provider that is open.

If you don’t want to transfer her what sort of answers were you expecting people to give? Genuine question, I thought your response was going to be ‘oh I didn’t realise we could do that, that solves my problem, thanks!’ But now I’m confused 🤷🏻‍♀️

Sorry @GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat I’m not trying to be a pain. If it will open up soon again for everyone I’ll keep her at the current preschool because she loves it but obviously if it’s not going to (which I do understand) I will have to look into transferring her as a week in homeschooling/looking after a 3 year old and working from home is not working! Thanks for all your advice.

If it helps, headcount day in our borough is 21st January.

I would email the manager and ask what their plans are and explain your predicament.