15 free hours only available in one section of nursery - how to handle

[lurkingmurking]

DS goes to a nursery which has a toddler centre from 2 and then a main nursery. The children usually start in the main nursery the September before they turn 4 - so for DS this will be September 2013.

He turns 3 in December so I assumed he would qualify for the 15 free hours childcare from January - however we've just been told that this is not the case and they only get 15hrs free in the main nursery and not the toddler centre. Surely that can't be right?

I have rung the council and they have confirmed that the main nursery is on the list of providers for the 15hrs funding but that the toddler centre should also have applied for the free hours.

Any advice on how to handle this?

How strange that they didn't apply for funding for their toddler centre. Not sure what you can do - maybe council can advise?

Hi, I would imagine that this is due to the setting trying to keep the toddler centre for paying parents where they are able to have higher ratios and make a small profit. The centre does not have to offer sessions for the 15 hours and many centres are beginning to opt out of the funding scheme as settings make such a loss. The otherside of the nursery I am assuming may be run at a loss but is supported by the toddler centre. I know that doesn't help, and I may be barking up the wrong tree, hope that helps a bit.

It's like having a school nursery - they take from then too. Not much you can do, the nursery gets to choose.