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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Free Part-time Nursery, at 3 years old - I don't understand the £ I'm getting - HELP

38 replies

Oblomov · 27/03/2007 13:01

Dear All

Ds 3.5 has just got a letter from nursery , saying that he is entitled to £539.00 this term.

Great.

But I don't understand how the system works:

childcarerules

But surelty this is disciminaing against certain children.

On page 3, it says:

"3 and 4 year olds have a right to free part-time nursery, for 2 years, before they reach compulsory schhol age.

But ds is born Feb.
So he will be getting this entitlement in the summer. When he wull be 3.5.
H e will get it until next summer, when he will be 4.5 and then he will go to school in the september.

But this means that I get free-nursery fro one term this academic t=year and then 3 terms next academic year = 4 terms.

It says "free nuresery for 2 years"
= 6 terms.

But I am only getting 4.

If another child was born at a different time of the year and ther local school , as many do, took them when they were already 5, then they wouldg get OVER 2 years of free nursery.

How is this fair ?

Am I missing something ?

OP posts:

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cazzybabs · 27/03/2007 13:03

My daughter us born in May and we get money off ou school fees when she went into reception. I guess you do get it but actually if you go to a state school they actually get it as part of their funding.

Original poster

Oblomov · 27/03/2007 13:07

link didn't work, let me try again:
rules

Please clarify cazzybabs - I am not stupid, but I jst don't get it - how did it work with your dd ?

OP posts:

bundle · 27/03/2007 13:09

you normally get the grant the term after the child is 3, and our nursery takes the money off the fees without hassling parents over it because it's so complex

Pixiefish · 27/03/2007 13:10

The child doesn't actually have to start school until the term he/she is 5 although most peeps do start them the September after they are 4 for convenience for the school with having one intake

cazzybabs · 27/03/2007 13:14

I can't remember when we started to get it must have been in the autumn term - so got a cheque from nursery (she was at a private nursery)..now she is at a private school we get the money off our fees so we have had our 6 terms of money.

However, had she have gone to s state nursery they would have taken the money and we would have taken the money and similary the school.

Original poster

Oblomov · 27/03/2007 13:16

We have had a letter from nursery.

I agree with bundle - it is so complicated.

But my point remains, in my case I get less entitlement than someone whose child is born at a different time of the year - this can not be right - I must have got it wrong.

Surrey County Council would not bring this in, if it was so disciminating against which month of the year a child was born - right ?

So how come I don't understand it?
Why do I feel like I am being swindled out of part of my entitlement ?

OP posts:

rebelmum1 · 27/03/2007 13:17

Sorry to just jump in but my dd is 3 in sept what does this mean for us? I'm thoroughly confused she currently attends a private nursery.

cazzybabs · 27/03/2007 13:18

Ye but here a child can start state nursery when they are 3...my child in May would start later than a child born in September.

It is just how it works. You could keep him at your nursery till the term he turns 5 - this getting your 6 terms of money.

rebelmum1 · 27/03/2007 13:18

is it diff everywhere?

cazzybabs · 27/03/2007 13:19

Also the child born earler in the year as been at nursery longer and so paid more nursery fees than you! For example both of mine started when they where 6 months.

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:23

you get it the term following their birthday

so dd1 was 3 in the October, didn't get money till the January term

tough titty imo

dd2 is August so will get her fees paid from the September, right from the start

dd1 gets 2 years nursery, dd2 will get 1 year and 1 term as she starts school next year just after she is 4

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:23

no one is getting swindled, it depends on when they are born

Original poster

Oblomov · 27/03/2007 13:23

Yes rebelmum, ds too is at a private nursery.

Thank you crazybabs, because I am getting alot from your replies.

But it seems a swizz that I have to put him in a private school to get the benefit of the 6 terms - to which I am ENTITLED !!!!

I have his name down for a lovely little primary schhol - catholic, dh went there - best in area.

So, private school, only for the reason of getting my final free -terms, entitlement, doesn't seem to make sense.

OP posts:

BizzyDint · 27/03/2007 13:24

they are funded from the term after they turn 3, then in theory until the term after they are 5 when they have to start compulsory school. however in reality, most children would start school the september, not waiting until the term after they turn 5.

BizzyDint · 27/03/2007 13:25

i dont see it as a swizz, dd's a may birthday and will go to state school, so she'll only actually be funded for 1 year, 3 terms.

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:26

I really don't see what you are complaining about tbh

it is just how the system works

you get it the term after they turn 3

no one is being swindled!

cazzybabs · 27/03/2007 13:26

You don't have to send him to a privte school 0 just tell your state sschool you do not wish him to start until he is 5. Although if your nursery costs anything like my nursery, you'd be better off being less bitter about it and sending him in September.

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:27

I could in theory keep dd2 out as she will literally be just 4 - born August 27 - but I want her to start with everyone else and not be the new girl on her own

Original poster

Oblomov · 27/03/2007 13:28

But oliveoil, that is what I am saying, how can it be right that one of your daughters gets the full 2 years, and the other 1.1 term ?

In theory you , as the parent have paid the same amount of money for each child's childcare, but on one occassion, more money, is ....'paid back to you' / entitlement. than the other dd.

I am sure I am missing something, but I don't know what.

OP posts:

zubb · 27/03/2007 13:29

There has to be some cut of point, and it is now the term after your 3rd birthday. Before it was from 4 so it's getting better.

Also they fund 5 sessions a week - if your child does less you are not ENTITLED to the extra money.

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:29

BECAUSE THAT IS HOW IT IS!!!!!!!

dd1 will know more re letters and numbers etc than dd2 as she will have more time at playgroup

I am not getting worked up over it, swings and roundabouts

oliveoil · 27/03/2007 13:30

and I am pleased that she sneaked in in August, a week later and I would have another year of childcare

mumto3girls · 27/03/2007 13:31

I don't understand this...if your dc goes to school then you won't be paying any nursery costs anymore..so what does it matter? Am I missing something here?

zubb · 27/03/2007 13:32

This payment is to make sure that all kids have access to early years facilities. Most pre-schools don't take children until they are 2.5, with some preferring them to be 3 - so the money covers the majority of the time they are there.

BizzyDint · 27/03/2007 13:35

oblomov- every child is entitled to 2 years funded YES? however, most parents choose not to fully take this up as by the time the september they can go to normal school anyway so have no fees to pay anyway. if you are going down private school route then it's even better for you because you keep getting the funding.

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