Nursery free hours...when do they apply from?

[rathlin]

Our DS who turned 3 in March is at nursery full time and today I was given forms by the nursery to apply for the 15 free hours a week from September. However on looking at the paperwork it appears that he should have had the free hours from 1 April. I am not sure if I have got this right so would appreciate it if anyone can advise. I did think that he would only get the free hours from September but I'm now not sure and am kicking myself if we have just lost out on free hours for the past few months.

Yes, it's the term after their 3rd birthday - so Sept-Dec births is January, January-March is April and April-August is September.

It's definitely the school term after they are 3 so I think you are right and that you should have been eligable for the hours from April. I would talk to the nursery and if they wont backdate maybe ask them who you can ring about this. I didn't have to apply as such, nursery just gave me a form to sign.

Definitely the from the start of term following his 3rd birthday.

When exactly in march was it? It's schools went back on 16th April so you should have been eligible from then unless it's something to do with the date they broke up

Thanks for feedback I'll ask them about it tomorrow. He was 3 on the 24th March. I'm not clear whether I should have said or done something but the fact that they have only given me the paperwork now makes me think they are leading the process and are giving it to me so it's ready for September but really they should have maybe given it to me months ago. I'm paying over 1k a month so the deduction would have been handy.

Am trying to remember when school broke up for Easter as I have this vague feeling that if a childs birthday is in the holidays that it would count as the "next term" if that makes sense. Am pretty sure that this affected some people when I was on a pre school committee a few years ago and that a child could have been born the same date in different years but entitled to funding at different times.

But as different places seem yo have Easter holidays at different times I'm not sure exactly how it would work with that.

When was Easter this year?

It doesn't matter when Easter was- the cut off for that term (fit thus purpose) is 31st march.

Easter was the 8th April. I suppose some places might have broken up two weeks before ie 23rd march but seems unlikely. And it is only my vague feeling it could make a difference.

Oh crap, is that correct? My DS was born in April and we've been looking forward to our free 15 hours a week, but if that's correct he won't get them until he is 3.5years!

Ah cross posts and good to hear someone who knows more than my vague thoughts

Easter was 1st April. Our authority broke up a good week after OP's ds's birthday, and other authorities broke up even a week after that.
Agree with others - it is from the term after they turn 3.

Just looked at Easter dates for next year and it's March 31st. Crap! For the sake of a couple of days we lose 6 months worth of free 15hours!

Sorry, yes, we had Easter weekend, in the middle - the 8th

Yep, first term after 3rd birthday. Mine are both April babies so we've missed out on months of free funding for the sake of a couple of weeks. Seems really unfair, I think it should apply from 3rd birthday for all.

I never knew... I just assumed it was from 3 years old. Sigh!

It doesn't matter when Easter falls. Funding is allocated from 1st April for any children whose birthdays fall between 1st Jan and 31st March.

Children whose birthdays fall between 1st April and 31st August will get funding from 1st Sept.

Children whose birthdays fall between 1st Sept and 31st Dec will get funding from 1st Jan.

(Or rather, the term which starts after that date)

But terms don't start on 1st April? They start after e.g. Easter holidays... Either way DS misses out.

I'm ridiculously confused ... This is all new to me.

Term after Easter starts say??? 12th April 2013. If your DC is born on the 11th they get free hours immediately, if born on the 13th the wait 6 months until the September term starts?! Yes or no?

As far as I am aware, If your dc is born after 31st March, no matter when easter falls, they will not be eligible for funding until the start of the September term.

It's not 6 full months that you'll lose out, and it will just be a terms worth of free hours (the 15 hours don't apply to half terms or holidays).

Still bloody annoying though, I think it should be from 3rd birthday

Gary .. link here with more information

I have just checked council website and it states the info below. My DS would have been registered during the headcount week but it appears I should have checked that they were applying for funding. Am baffled by this!

When is my child entitled to a FEEE place?

If the child is born on or between 1 April and 31 August they will become eligible for a free place from 1 September following their third birthday

If the child is born on or between 1 September and 31 December they will become eligible for a free place from 1 January following their third birthday

If the child is born on or between 1 January and 31 March they will become eligible for a free place from 1 April following their third birthday
How do I access FEEE?

When you have chosen your provider and you are confident that your child will be happy there, you will need to register with them by completing a Parent Enrolment Form .

You will also have to provide proof of eligibility for free entitlement (e.g. birth certificate) and agree the hours your child will attend the setting.

To access FEEE, your child must be registered during the headcount week near the beginning of each term.

Though your child should be included on headcount forms by their setting if they qualify, you should check with your nursery/playgroup that they are applying for the funding on your behalf.

Thank you for the link. It is almost 6 months (to the poster who said it wasn't). If my DS was born on 1st April he wouldn't get his 15 hours until term 1st September. And he would be 3 years and 5 months old. If he was born 31st March he would get it term 1st April and be 3 years and 1 day.

I think this is unfair especially for working parents because we need and we pay for outside term time childcare. . I know the free hours are so all children can experience pre-school but when you've been paying for childcare so you can work from the age of 10 months you look forward to those free 15 hours. So I'm a little disappointed that we will lose out on 5 months worth of free hours for the sake of a couple of days.

Sorry to whinge, just disappointed.

I just meant that it's not 6 month free that you're missing out on, if that makes sense. Luckily for us DD was born right before Christmas, so we got the maximum funding. It is crap, I agree