Help me!

[Wheeliemummy]

Hi ! I'm a first time mum and my beautiful daughter is now 17 months so I'm starting to think about nursery's... problem is I know literally nothing about how to go about it and the whole process 😳😳
I know that I can apply for 15 hours funding once baby turned 2 but does that mean I cannot apply for any nursery's until then? From what I've seen you have to be put on a waiting list so do I look at as many nursery's as I can find and pay the registration fee for each nursery?!
Please don't laugh at how little I know on the subject 😂
Any help appreciated!!

When do you want her to start nursery? Firstly, make a list of the things you want in a nursery - be it home cooked meals, an emphasis on outdoor play, an emphasis on arts, whatever, and then have a look at nurseries in your area to see the ones that best match your values. Hi and have a look around the ones on your list and you’ll probably get quite a clear feel for the one that’s for you.

First look at why you even want your child to go to nursery.

Is it to enable you to work? If so then does the opening hours of local childcare providers cover the times you need?

Why a nursery and not a childminder, or a nanny? A nanny (someone who comes to your home) to care for one child is very expensive but they can do hours that other providers do not do. So you may rule that option out if the hours you need are provided by a Childminder or Nursery. Then compare nursery to childminder, which is better there. Think about now and think about later on.

Most parents do not get funding from age two. Universal 15 hours funding is from the term following a child's third birthday. Your county council website will have information about childcare funding, see what you are eligible for.

You are doing the right thing in asking questions. Find out as much as you can about different types of childcare available in your local area, the costs, waiting list lengths, funding eligibility. The more information you have the better.

Does your DD have sen or are you on benefits? Otherwise you won't get a free for twos place but will get funding once she is 3.

I also would look at childminders as well as nurseries. Take your child with you and see how she reacts (and how staff react to her) as well as how you feel. Look for signs that there is genuinely a lot of interaction with children.

Make some appointments to look round a few. Staff at the good ones will be able to give you plenty of helpful advice and it will help you focus on what you want.

Are you returning to work? Have you considered a pre school?

The child isn't old enough for a preschool.

Unless you're using the term to mean some kind of nursery rather than the type of setting that caters for the pre-school year.

Our preschool intakes at 2, but I have to pay until age 3. But as the hours are school hours or half a day ( 3 hours) it's much more manageable. A half day at a nursery around here is £57, but 3 hours at pre-school is £18.

There are few people getting free aged 2 care but as other posters they are on certain benefits etc.

It can be overwhelming. Around here there are nurseries that are pretty much for parents who need to commute to work - open year round, 7-7, quite indoorsy, usually in town or opposite a school or on the way to the train station.

Then there are other nurseries which are more sort of Montessori or forest school or less sort of standard/basic. One is only open until 2:30 so that obviously isn’t going to work for working parents.

So that can help you narrow down what you need really. I drive half an hour to get to DSs’ nursery but I don’t need to be anywhere and it’s worth the journey for us, we got the best vibe when we went to visit it.

DS1 started when he turned 2 and didn’t get any free hours until he was 3, and then we still pay about half the fees so not free.

It’s very confusing though. I still don’t understand childcare vouchers (they’re going out so don’t worry about that)

It is super confusing as the local school calls its preschool year it's nursery, which is takes from 2 years 9 months, but free hours from term after age 3.

I echo the above, my suggestion is that unless you are going to work, consider a toddler group or other less formal setting at first and book preschool from when free hours kick in which is age 3. If you are returning to work the nursery will need to fit with work hours which may restrict your choice

It might vary from area to area op, but where I am there are:
Private nurseries - take dc from 3 months - school (and some have wrap around for older dc too), open 50 weeks a year 7.30- 6.
School nurseries - take dc from 3, attached to a school ,do school hours and term time only, usually 5 mornings or afternoons a week, although our local one now accepts 30 hours funding and dc can do full (school)days.
Pre school- take dc from 2, not attached to a school, school hours and term time only.

We went with a local pre school, so both of mine went for 2 mornings a week from 2 which we paid for (£12 a session ), then increased their hours from 3 (using funded hours). I'm a SAHM so didn't need actual childcare though.

Childcare vouchers are a whole different thing from the 2s and 3s free hours.

childcarechoices.co.uk shows all the different types of financial help on offer, and there’s an awful lot of it. It will help you work out what you are entitled to and estimate how much you can claim/save.

If you are entitled to funded hours (sometimes termed "free" hours) then you should not be required to pay registration fees.

Hi everyone thankyou for all advice.
Reasons I'm looking into nursery's isn't because of work but I really would like my dd to be more involved with other children her age. She is very social and confident and would like the nurture that at an early age. I know there are toddler groups and play group type things, already do as much as possible but always assume nursery will be most beneficial for socialising and learning. I'm on benefits so will definitely get 2 year funding.
I'm just so desperate to encourage her learning and playing with other children her age however that may be 😊

Try talking to other local mums at the baby groups to get their views on the nurseries near you, as well as ringing the nurseries and going to look at them to decide whether one is right for both of you.