Nursery is changing how they use our funded hours

[afineto]

Hello everyone,

The nursery my child attends is changing the way they use our funded hours.

Before:
The nursery is open from 08:00 until 17:30. They would only let me use the funded hours from 09:00 until 16:00. With the lunch hour being unfunded, and charging for snacks in the morning and afternoon.

From April 2024:
Now, they are forcing everyone to use their funded hours during the time that the nursery is open (from 08:00 until 17:30) whether or not you use those hours.

Can they do this? Also, can they change the way they work with the funded hours in the middle of the year?

Thanks in advance

Yes. They can run their business in this way.

I'd definitely have a close look at your contract as it appears they're changing terms part way through? I'm guessing you're paying something even with the funded hours

youmustrememberthis

yes.. We were already paying extra for lunch hour and morning and afternoon snacks. Plus a full afternoon unfunded. But with this new decision, it will go up £140pm (nearly £400) for 3 days with 15h funding. :(
For hours that were not even using...

I would think they can implement the change, but should give notice in line with notice either of you has to give to end the contract - so essentially your current terms would continue until the end of the notice period - giving you the opportunity to withdraw if you were not happy with the change and have it never impact you.

It's far from ideal - if they have given the correct notice period can you look at some alternatives?

Or if you have no other alternatives can you use the hours so they aren't wasted, and fill them with things like bulk cooking for a few days dinners/cleaning etc while knowing they're looked after. Not ideal but may give you some time to complete stuff and have more quality time when with them on the days off if you have prepped in advance?

I’m unsure exactly what you mean but really they can choose to deliver the funding hrs in the best way for the business.

When are they starting the new funding pattern? How much notice have they given ?

Most nurseries operate in half day sessions (or similar). Having people decide they want to use only 10-4 or something takes up a whole space for the day, so it just isn’t viable for them to offer that hourly rates like that.

TBHc, £400 for 3 days a week childcare, so 12 days a month, is a bargain. That equates to £33 a day.

Yes FT is probably about £1200 a month.

The problem is the phrase ‘free hours’ makes people think it will be, well, free. And that they can simply choose the hours that suit them.

But it’s such a poorly designed policy. The rates the nurseries get are far too low and they have to be able to maximise the money they make from each space just to be financially viable.

Yes. Our nursery did this. It is essentially just another way around losing money on funded hours. To be fair, most private nurseries have a standard day and if you use less that’s up to you. I pick my son up between 4.30-5 most days but we pay until 6pm.

A provider can only claim for the hours your child is actually there...

This is just my local guidance rather than national but my area says that you can't add artificial breaks to the day eg lunchtime.

I'd ask to see your local policy.