How many of you really get 12.5 hours FREE nursery time for your 3 1/2 year old?

[mommycat]

How many of you really get 12.5 hours FREE nursery time for your 3 1/2 year old?

I lost my job when my daughter turned 3 1/2. Even though she goes to nursery only 10.5 hours a week, we have to pay £30 for that. I know that is a low price but when a family of 3 is expected to live (and pay a mortgage) on £78 a week it's not that easy.

Also the government claim that ?Every three and four year old in England is entitled to 12.5 hours of free early learning per week, in nurseries, playgroups, pre-schools or at their childminders for 38 weeks of the year.?

Where I live these free places are few and far between. Our nursery does not offer ANY free time at all, and the state nurseries are full - I guess we should have got on the waiting list before she was born rather than when she was 2.

I'm not talked about 'reduced fees'. I'm asking how many of you actually get FREE 12,5 hours a week?

Thanks

snap the fallenmadoona, looks like I may end up being chairperson as all of our commitee bar me and one other person (thankfully my best mate) are leaving, am sending a begging letter to parents next week explaining that there is no preschool without commitee

I do, for both of mine. 15 hours a week. I'm in Scotland.

Only 'fees' are a voluntary toy/fun fund which is usually about £20 a term and covers the cost of nursery trips and such like

Under OFSTED rules if you are registered for vouchers you to offer at LEAST one voucher only place to qualify. (sorry FUNDED)

Now not sure if you can op out of vouchers anymore but it used to be that if you didn't want to as a private nursery you could opt out, charge full fees & only be inspected by OFSTED for the care side not the educational side. But not many nurseries could afford to do that I would have thought, but if you are in an affluent area you might get away with it.

sighs I'd LOVE to opt out of the fecking things, especially if it meant less OFSTED interference, more trouble than they are worth BUT why should our parents not get the same reduction in fees as those who only use the 12.5 hours?

The hours have been extended to cover 14 weeks in the winter term and 12 weeks for spring & summer.

I get 13.75 hours free per week.

mommycat no not islington... ummm the clue is in the name (I don't just have really really bad spelling!)

my favoured nusery offers two "free" voucher only places