15 hours free childcare uk

[Nicolacloey]

The nursery I have my lo going to have now said that he can’t now go to nursery for the hours that I wanted if I want the 15 hours funded. Basically I had booked for lo to go two mornings a week (10 hours) and that would last for the 51 weeks of the year and be completely free, but now they are saying he either needs to do four mornings or two full days!

that means for 2 full days I need to pay £56 per week (the extra 7 hours) why would I pay £56 for him to do extra hours that I don’t want him going for ? I’m so confused.
any other nurseries doing that?
this nursery have also introduced a meal fee which I expected and that’s fine but this new rule is just crazy! I mean you’re supposed to be better off by going to work!

Thats a really common rule, to make it easier for children to settle. All the nurseries near me have it, too.

We also pay meal fees, plus a funding hourly subsidy, and a weekly additional consumables fee. It means despite by son doing 16 hours a week, we pay £200 less than we didn’t have the 15 hours funded 🤷‍♀️

Nurseries can apply their own rules, and many have had to, as the funding from the government is woeful.

It’s absolutely crazy! My eldest goes there and I get his free now that he’s 3 but have to pay for his meals etc which is fine but this new rule is just mental

Completely normal, but annoying.

With the extension of the free hours our nursery have just completely removed the option of a half day. But will only let you use 5 hours of funding a day, meaning you have to pay for the rest of the day which is £42

Even prior to the free hours most round here required a minimum of three or four "sessions" per week ie either 4 mornings or 2 full days.

I think with the free hours many of them have to make up the cost of the hours elsewhere as the govt don't pay as much as the parents did.