Sure Start fees

[lenaw]

I am really fed up. My dd started going to Sure Start nursery 3.5 years ago, when she was 6 m.o. Hourly fees went up 3 times ('too keep in line with other establishments ' - what the f* does this mean? Private nurseries cheaper!), I have to pay full price when we go on hols.
Last blow: I've been asked to do some overtime at work, up to 16 hours per week for up to 8 weeks, with a view that after first two weeks this will be reviwed and hours might be reduced. I've explained this to the nursery manager, she wrote it all down. So. After 2 weeks I've desided to work only 8 hrs overtime, informed nursery staff - the manager was on hols. Then I receive invoice for September and the hours have not been reduced!. I went to see the manager - she says you have to advice us re decrease in hours 4 weeks in advance. HOW?? says I - this all started 4 weeks ago? And I've told her from the very beginning that it's all provisional. She makes a 'sorry-understanding' face at me and 'she will see what she can do'!!
Another thing - full day pay is less then 2 half-sessions. So why when they calculate fees for day when dd goes to school for 2.5 hours, it's 1 half session plus another half session minus 2.5 hours, not full day minus 2.5 hours? I've tries to ask the manager, but she just cannot understand what I am on about.
Does anybody else have same paroblems with Sure Start or it's just my luck?

If you mean LEA vouchers I think the sessions are predefined times , so if you use part of one session , even for less than full 2 1/2 hours, that counts as one. Perfectly normal to pay for your holidays if she is there full time.

3 price increases in 3.5 years seems reasonable lote of epople get annual wage increases I guess your nursery workers are some of them
Usual to pay full price when on holiday,staff get apid holiday just like you even if you only pay half price you will pay the cost be steeper weekly prices for when you are there
it's 6 weeks notice herecan't quite follow the last bit, I think it might have soemthing to do with not being able to use place or just how they do the sums
sorry

Everything you say seems prefectly reasonable and in line with what other nurseries policies are

I pay full if we are on holiday and have to give 1 month notice of a change of sessions.

Full days are often less than 2 half days, its a full day discount. If your child is going to school for 2.5 hours on a particular day they are not entitled to the full day discount, in fact you are lucky that they allow this. Most nurseries would charge full day and not knock the 2.5 hours off.