2 year funding

[ShinyGreenElephant]

Hi, I'm currently separated from my husband and have applied for universal credit. This means I would get funding for my 2 year olds nursery place, but when I've spoken to the nursery today they've said that the funding will only cover just over half of her place (currently we pay 350 a month, they will still be charging me 150). She does two half days (8hrs total) and the funding is for 15 hours. Does this sound right? My sister has a funded place for her 2 year old who does two full days 10-5 and doesnt have to pay any top up, this is with a childminder though.

I wouldnt change her nursery over it as she loves it there but it seems wrong to me - does anyone have any experience of this?

They'll only claim 8 hours and it sounds as though there is additional things bit included in the funding, meals and snacks maybe. Funding is also term time only so holidays will still need to be paid for.

Ultimately though you need to ask the nursery for a breakdown to understand it.

My 2 year old dd goes to nursery 20 hours a week and I only have to pay for 5 of these due to funding. I actually pay for 8 hours so she only has 12 hours free. That's because they allow her to go for 2 6 hour days in the school holidays

I could understand say 30-40 a month to cover food etc but they don't go on trips at the moment (and when they used to they were usually charged extra!), they no longer have the Spanish teacher or the yoga teacher coming in, etc etc covid has put paid to all the lovely things they did with DD1. So not sure what I'm being charged an additional £10+ a session for

@dazzlerdo ah I see, so I'm paying for the school holidays? There's no option not to attend during holidays without losing your place, but I didn't realise the holidays weren't funded

Sounds to me like they offer set free hours e.g. 9-12 everyday and you pay for anything outside that plus food etc

@GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat sorry you told me that too, missed that bit! Makes sense now. We don't have the option to attend term time only so I hadn't realised

The funding can be split to cover most but not all school holidays

[quote ShinyGreenElephant]@dazzlerdo ah I see, so I'm paying for the school holidays? There's no option not to attend during holidays without losing your place, but I didn't realise the holidays weren't funded[/quote]
I'm not sure you would need to speak to nursery about it. My dd is term time only due to me working in a school and having school holidays off. Her nursery gives you the option to have all your free 15 hours in term time or just have the 12 free and save 3 hours a week to be spread over the holidays. Not sure if every nursery does this so def ask