Any advantage to where you spend your 15 hours free childcare?

[colasoca]

Ill be entitled to 15 hours free childcare at age 3 - will I save more depending on which of my current childcare providers i ask to claim it? A cheaper childminder or a more expensive nursery?
Assuming they have differently hourly rates I'm thinking I may benefit more from one vs the other?

Possibly, but it isn't as straightforward as that.
They are businesses and have to recoup their loss created by the underfunding of the hours that the Government pays for, so you will very likely find there are charges for other things that you might not be expecting.
Alternatively, that you can only use the hours in certain ways, which might not fit in with the pattern of mixed childcare you have now.
The only way you can find out is by asking them.

I think (I have three children currently receiving 15 hours) I agree with PP. nurseries don't HAVE to accept anything and can pretty much dictate how it's done - although we adore our nursery and are very happy.

I think you need to have a ring around CM and nurseries to figure out what they offer/will accept and what works for you x

You will save paying 15 hours of whatever rate the setting charges your not given a pot to spend. The setting may ask for voluntary contributions, they may ask for you to pay for or provide food and consumables. Many nurseries have set times like 9 to 13 and 1 to 4 and can charge a higher rate for before, after and lunch time...or you pick up and return after lunch. My school opens at 8.40 parents can pay £70 to go in at that time or wait at the gate until 9.
Childminders tend to be more flexible over giving the hours you need and charge less in top ups if anything.

Sorry just to clarify - I'm at an (expensive) nursery- they've advised what the reduction would be if they claim the hours and it doesn't seem like much of a discount. If I don't claim the 30 hours with them I'll continue to pay full fees so they'll be no worse off.
I thought my childminder may pass on more discount but not sure if that's correct?

I think it will depend on what your overall rate with your current provider is. I'm a childminder and our local council pay us £4.20 I think it is but this is less than my hourly rate which is £5 so I ask for the difference (to cover food/supplies). Obviously if the nursery charge more per hour than your childminder they will ask for more to cover their costs. As an example, I charge £45 per day but one of our local nurseries charge £70 per day! Therefore your funded hours aren't going to go very far in the nursery.