Our DD has attended a private nursery since she was 10 months and she is settled so we would like for her to remain there. We had thought that upon reaching the term after her 3rd Birthday (which will be January 2012) we would be eligible for free funding.
I do not now work as am looking after our new DS so have flexibility in when I can take and collect our DD from her nursery. Although I am not working I am still keen for her to attend for a couple of mornings a week so she continues to experience the social aspect of nursery in the run up to her years starting school.
Upon asking about the free funding the private nursery she attends have been a little unhelpful with providing us with the correct info on how best to go about things. First of all they said that the correct forms were not yet in, something they are still telling us (I think said forms need to be completed and handed in quite soon!), and then today we have been told that as a nursery they only offer two free places which have already been taken!?
If perhaps we had been made aware of this we could of found out when we were eligible to apply for these two free places and then do so at the earliest opportunity in order to try and secure one. However, now it seems we will end up paying about £200/month for just two mornings a week when we had previously thought that at least some of the 15 hours free funding would mean this cost was greatly reduced.
Any advice on the ins and outs of this, whether the Nursery are playing by the rules or not and also how best to deal with the situation would be greatly appreciated. We are keen to remain on good terms with the staff given that they are looking after our DD.
Thanks!