Preschool and nursery funding stuff

[madamez]

Hiya
DS has 2 days a week at a private nursery and I get tax credits towards it. Now he is 3 is it feasible for him to have extra nursery time and would that get funded at all? Anyone know?

Negs start the term after the 3rd birthday and are for 5 sessions per week - 2.5 hours (paid at 7.95) or 3 hours (rarer to find, paid at 8.75 - I think, don't quote me on that one). Your private nursery may take NEGS for the first 2.5 hours, but can still charge you for extra time. Or they may just say no NEGS - lots do especially if they are oversubscribed.

No idea how it affets tax credits I'm afraid

this may help

You can onl;y claim Tax Credits on the CASH you pay. So if you pay £500 per month nursery fees but get refunded £75 per month in childcare vouchers (of any kind) you tell the Tax credits that you are paying £425 per month for fees.

Agree it is from term after 3rd birthday and you will get 4 seesions funding for his 2 days. You could have another half day funded but noo more. In addition, as has already been said the funding is for 2.5hrs so if it is a 5hr session you will have to pay for the other 2.5hr in the session anyway. (The 3hr sessions are in certain counties as a trial scheem I believe. Derbyshire is one I believe).

The rates of pay vary from county to county - but my understannding is that the nursery MUST provide 2.5hr care for that even if their fees are more expensive than the grant (although I am not sure on this as they don't seem to do this at my nursery ).

HTH

Oh and the best place to ask is your nursery. They will put int he application for you. Our nursery automatically told us at the right time - I think they just needded a copy of birth certs.

RIght, thanks all. I think I will leave things as they are at present.