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LaurenB1990 · 25/06/2025 15:59

Hi all,

does anyone know of any nurseries in the beckenham area that offer the 30 hours of funding and no additional charges or minimum days?

I understand as it’s split across the year, it works out as 21.75 hours per week and we only require 2 days of childcare per week.

however every nursery I have enquired with have said there is a 3 day minimum for the 30 hours of funding or additional costs.

caffelattetogo · 26/06/2025 18:09

How old is your child? Would a nursery attached to a local school work? The ones near us are all free with funded hours (apart from food, but you can send a packed lunch).

jannier · 26/06/2025 18:11

LaurenB1990 · 25/06/2025 15:59

Hi all,

does anyone know of any nurseries in the beckenham area that offer the 30 hours of funding and no additional charges or minimum days?

I understand as it’s split across the year, it works out as 21.75 hours per week and we only require 2 days of childcare per week.

however every nursery I have enquired with have said there is a 3 day minimum for the 30 hours of funding or additional costs.

Have you tried childminders?

Daisytails · 26/06/2025 22:18

LaurenB1990 · 25/06/2025 15:59

Hi all,

does anyone know of any nurseries in the beckenham area that offer the 30 hours of funding and no additional charges or minimum days?

I understand as it’s split across the year, it works out as 21.75 hours per week and we only require 2 days of childcare per week.

however every nursery I have enquired with have said there is a 3 day minimum for the 30 hours of funding or additional costs.

You would be better starting your own post, you may get more replies. I will say though, most settings, no matter childminder, nursery or preschool, are going to have some stipulations on how they offer the funding. They’re in an impossible situation as the sector is severely underfunded government have knowingly underfunded for years, with the new funding be ming available in September the sector is now in dire straits

mrsnjw · 27/06/2025 07:07

@TartanMammywow where is this? Bold move! Do local authorities have the power to implement that? Poor private nurseries won’t survive there much longer.

Tiredofwhataboutery · 27/06/2025 07:14

OneAmberFinch · 13/03/2025 12:12

You know what I wish they did?

Joint family taxation and a higher tax-free threshold for families with young children.

If mum wants to go back to work then that benefits her, and it benefits her more if she has a higher-paying job (i.e., usually the kind of career that would be severely disrupted by a few years out of the workforce).

If the family wants dad to be sole earner for a while while the kids are young, he benefits from sharing a larger joint tax-free threshold + the extra for having kids.

I just don't see the sense in having mums return to work to go earn minimum wage in a job they could pick up again in 5 years time with no trouble.

(My fantasy world also includes a lot more joint investment, savings and pension accounts that women would share with their husbands instead of having to beg him to fund her pension.)

The French tax system is like that, taxed as a family unit and a child gets an additional 50% of adult tax free allowance. So a 2 adults, 2 kids, single earner would get three lots of tax allowance.

My friend is a dual national and lives out there. Swings and roundabouts though her mother is in a care home and she has to make large, mandatory contributions towards the fees now her Mum’s money has run out.

MoominUnderWater · 27/06/2025 07:21

Tiredofwhataboutery · 27/06/2025 07:14

The French tax system is like that, taxed as a family unit and a child gets an additional 50% of adult tax free allowance. So a 2 adults, 2 kids, single earner would get three lots of tax allowance.

My friend is a dual national and lives out there. Swings and roundabouts though her mother is in a care home and she has to make large, mandatory contributions towards the fees now her Mum’s money has run out.

Show quote history

Blimey. What if you weren’t in contact with your parents? I didn’t speak to my mum for years, I’d have been very annoyed if I’d had to pay her care home fees!

Sadmummy3 · 27/06/2025 08:19

Daisytails · 13/03/2025 13:26

Local authorities paying the same as the hourly rate is extremely rare. The majority of areas, the 3/4 year old funding is woefully inadequate.

Show quote history

This 100%
It's the same with any type of benefit. For example housing benefit never covers the cost of your rent. The "free" hours aren't paid at the same rate that parents would be charged.
Most nurseries (not the big chains) barely make a profit anyway and are now running at a loss because the government doesn't have a clue.

TartanMammy · 27/06/2025 14:31

mrsnjw · 27/06/2025 07:07

@TartanMammywow where is this? Bold move! Do local authorities have the power to implement that? Poor private nurseries won’t survive there much longer.

Central Scotland, I don't want to be more specific about location though.
Private nurseries will be fine, lots of the council nurseries only operate 9am-3pm, so working parents still need childcare! The funded hours are from age 3 here too.

ScrewedByFunding · 27/06/2025 15:57

TartanMammy · 27/06/2025 14:31

Central Scotland, I don't want to be more specific about location though.
Private nurseries will be fine, lots of the council nurseries only operate 9am-3pm, so working parents still need childcare! The funded hours are from age 3 here too.

Show quote history

It's a vastly different system to the funded hours in England, they aren't trying to find places for babies 9 months and up for 30 hours for a start!

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