Can’t start nursery at Easter?

[CosmicComet]

Started looking at nurseries for my DS because I want to put him on the waiting list for when he turns 3 and gets free hours. But I’ve been told I can’t, because he was born in January.

The kids who turned 3 over the summer are eligible to start nursery in September. Then the kids who turn 3 before Xmas are eligible to start in January. And finally those who turn 3 in the Spring are eligible to start after Easter.

Basically the local nursery has spaces in September because that’s when kids leave to go to school. So the September starters take some places, and if there are places left the January starters take them. And there are no places left for Easter starters. So the nursery said there’s no point putting my DS on the waiting list because there’ll be no places left by the time he’s eligible to start.

AIBU to think this is unreasonable? Their only advice was to “choose a crapper nursery because they’re more likely to still have places left at Easter. Try X nursery in the next town because Ofsted has rated it as Poor”. Why should my DS have to go to a nursery rated Poor just because of when his birthday falls?!

Are you aware that there are benefits available to pay towards childcare? I'm receiving tax credits that I am eligible for purely because I pay for childcare and are calculated to cover the vast majority of what I pay for DD's nursery fees.

But nursery isn't compulsory. Why don't you look at other options like a childminder?

If they haven't got spaces then I don't know what you want them to do. You will have to look elsewhere.

To be honest most January starters would not have got a place either. My DC nursery only had random half days available for January starters.

The applications for September places in my area are open now. They will be offered around March. You have to get in quick.

No one promised you a place in the nursery you want though!

Have a look at other nurseries, preschools or childminders that have spaces available in April.

How many other nurseries, have you checked? Not just the ones that your preferred nursery thinks might have spaces. They don’t all operate in the same way and the spring term born children in your area must be going somewhere.

I think the problem might be that you’ve left this a bit late rather than the system.

I know nursery isn’t compulsory but I’m supposed to get 15-30 hours free so I can go back to work. What’s the point of telling people they’re entitled to that if they can’t claim it?

DH earns too much for me to get benefits to cover childcare. I’m relying on the free childcare to go back to work. And I’m supposed to be entitled to that when he turns 3, not months or years later.

If nurseries aren’t compelled to offer free hours and they’re out of pocket then why do any of them offer it? And what’s the point of having the scheme if nurseries aren’t compelled to honour it?

I think the problem might be that you’ve left this a bit late

DS hasn’t even turned 1 yet. I want to put him on the waiting list for the free hours when he turns 3. Is two years notice not enough?!

Many nurseries simply cannot afford to offer the funded hours.

Did you really believe that being eligible for free hours meant you could pick any nursery you want and demand a place whenever you want it

Your son will be entitled to a school place the September after he turns 4, that doesn't you get to pick whatever school you want either.

Have a look at other nurseries, preschools or childminders that have spaces available in April

What’s the point when I’ve been told that only the shit ones will have places left in April? Would you trust a shit nursery with your precious child?

What’s the point when I’ve been told that only the shit ones will have places left in April? Would you trust a shit nursery with your precious child?
You have a choice then don't you - wait a few extra months for your preferred nursery, or choose a different provider where there is a space available.
Whether or not someone else thinks other nurseries are "shit" is irrelevant.

You can claim it but you have to find places that have the availability you need and accept the funding.

I have no idea why these places accept funding but they do just not 100% of their allocation. Maybe they would be full by full paying parents. Who knows but that's the way it is.

I'm going to be blunt now - you need to accept it and not keep arguing because it won't change. You need to put your energy into finding somewhere for your DC or else they may miss out in Septembers intake.

I also think you need to research this 30 hour funding as it seems you really have no idea how it works.

Did you really believe that being eligible for free hours meant you could pick any nursery you want and demand a place whenever you want it

Well I figured that there’d be A place at A nursery but I’m being told that by April there won’t be. And it’s not “whenever I want it”, it’s when I’m entitled to it.

Oh FFS your not even talking about this April. I'm off to bed.

I also think you need to research this 30 hour funding as it seems you really have no idea how it works

If I don’t work then DS is entitled to 15 free hours a week. If I work at least 16 hours then DS is entitled to 30 free hours a week.

I'm sure there will be a funded place available somewhere, just maybe not at your first choice.
School applications will be the same - you can express preferences but many parents don't get their first choice.

Oh FFS your not even talking about this April

No but it’s irrelevant. Apparently there won’t be a space by ANY April. This year, or next year, or the year after.

School applications will be the same - you can express preferences but many parents don't get their first choice

But not getting your first choice isn’t based on your DC’s birthday!

It’s ridiculous if nurseries can refuse to offer free hours. It negates the point of the whole scheme! I figured the “free hours” were basically hours paid for me by the government?

It’s the same for lots of people- it’s not a perfect system- my kid turns three on April 2nd. I’ll not get the funding till September so it’s a term missed compared to the kid born March 30th. But I just have to get on with it.
You said there was A place at A nursery so there are spaces. The government hasn’t guaranteed all nursery places will be at ofsted outstanding nurseries- just like you might get a school place in a non outstanding school. If you aren’t keen on the nurseries available pay for one you want. If you want an entirely free service then it’s whatever is available. It’s term time only funding so you’re missing 11 weeks?
And in two years that “shit” nursery may well be outstanding. The fact it’s open now means it is a certain quality as ofsted haven’t deemed it shit enough to close down surely?

It's only one term, I don't think it's worth getting that worked up over really. And just because one nursery tells you the others are crap you can't just take that at face value, you need to investigate yourself.

Oh and as a pp said, the government doesn’t pay the nursery the whole amount for your child anywhere near enough. So they don’t have to join in the scheme and lose money they could earn from fee paying parents.

It’s ridiculous if nurseries can refuse to offer free hours. It negates the point of the whole scheme! I figured the “free hours” were basically hours paid for me by the government?

Well, there's your mistake - in thinking a 'headline grabbing, non researched idea' from a politician trying to win a General Election, would actually work out in reality to be the ideal that it sounded like, without reading the smallprint.

You could look at it another way. For those of us who went back to work after maternity leave, if you have a 'young in year' dc, in effect, you pay a year's less childcare than those who have a September born dc.

What’s the point when I’ve been told that only the shit ones will have places left in April?
So there are places but you don't like them? What is wrong with them?
It does sound a bit snobby.