Free Nursery Place for all 3 year olds?

[firststeps]

Is this right, my friend mentioned that her lo just turned 3 now gets 20 hours per week free at nursery (the same one she has been in since 5 months), if so do I have to put my lo name down for a nursery place and by what age (he has never gone to nursery as my parents look after him 3 days a week whilst I am at work). thanks

They are entitled to 5x 2.5 hour sessions a week or equivelant hours.

They are entitled from age 3 to 5 x 2 1/2 (this now might be 3 hours) sessions free. The nursey sorts out all the paperwork. Go and have a look at some and see whether you and your dd like any, the manager will tell you what you are entitled to and how they deal with claiming the money back etc.

It is not just for daycare nurseries, but you are entitield to the same free session at a playgroup for example. The funding starts in the school term after they turn 3 so if your lo has a May birthday they don't get the funding until Sept.

You can claim funding form LEA from the term after they turn 3 for up to 5 2 1/2 hour sessions(not 20 hours)per week. Howevr it could equally apply to a Childminder, nursery, playgroup or preshcool as long as the setting has been ofsted and LEA approved and meets certain oeprational criteria. How old is your LO, many nurseries etc have waiting lists as places can be limited so for around aged 3 you probably need ot look when he is 18 months-2 years old to get good choice? If she is getting more than the basic 5 sessions perhaps she is also getting assistance via Tax Credits, employer or Surestart .

His birthday is 29th December so would he attend after Easter. Where would I get a list of nurseries in my area? Thanks for the quick replies!

here , local library, LEA early years dept or HV

It's doesn't always work out free. I still have to top up as the grant works out at about £8 per session yet my dd's pre-school charges £11. It still takes alot off our bill though!

Our nursery takes full days only, and when children turn 3 they claim back the 2.5 hours a day from govt and reduce it from our fees. My friends children that don't go to daycare nursery get preschool places other or 2.5 hours a day which is usually free. As the govt says there should be a place for each 3 year old to have at least the free 2.5 hour a day sessions you should not have to go on a waiting list?

You can also use an accredited childminder for the funded sessions, or split the time between a nursery and accredited minder.

It is very true that all children aged 3 and 4 are entited to a 5 2.5 hour nursery sessions a week but there may well be a waiting list for a lot of nurseries due to the limited number of children each nursery is allowed to take. So the fact that your dc is entitled to a place does not automaticly mean the nursery HAS to take him/her.

Now is a good time to start enquiring though, as lots of nurseries will have recently lost a number of their 4 year olds to the xmas school intake! Good luck in your search.