Changing nursery mid-term, funding, stressing!

[mmmmmmm87]

Hi everyone, Help! I’m in a tricky situation with my child’s nursery and would really appreciate some advice.

Here’s the situation: My son is moving to a new nursery in a different council starting in October because of our relocation. We cannot physically attend the old nursery, and the new setting works better for our family logistics. (We are in London and will be an hour away from the old nursery with no car, and both work in completely different areas from it)

I gave one month’s notice to the old nursery, but they say the required notice was two months. I acknowledge this might have been my mistake, and I’ve asked to pay the old nursery privately to cover the notice period, to avoid any disputes. (I had given them a deposit in cash in 2023, I don’t have a copy of the signed contract. Lol I know!)

It makes sense for me to pay privately for the notice period and then start the 30-hour funding at the new nursery, as the funding is legally tied to where the child will actually be attending.

The issue now:

The old nursery is insisting that the payment is “funded”, implying the private fees would be the 30-hour funding.
• I have confirmed with my current council (current and new) that 30-hour funding cannot be split between two providers. Although the new one, Lewisham, says it can be shared.
• the old nursery say the funding is shared and can be split by two providers mid term (the parental agreement says otherwise, but maybe they mean they will do the transfer privately?)
• The new nursery confirmed that funding can only be claimed once per term, so it will be claimed by them where he will be attending from October.

The Southwark council also confirmed that for funding to be claimed:

The child must be on roll during headcount week.
• The parent must have signed a parent declaration confirming which nursery will claim the funding.
• Headcount week is the first week of October.

My son will not be attending the old nursery during headcount week, and I did not sign a new parent declaration with them.

From my perspective:

I’d like to pay the old nursery privately to cover the notice period, but the insistence on claiming funding and confusing messages from them is causing stress. (Payment is through tax free account and have already set it up WITHOUT the funding)
• I just want to make sure my child’s care continues smoothly and that I handle this correctly.

From the nursery’s perspective:
• I think they see the funding as theirs to claim because it contributes to their income and I get it. However my family without the funding for the rest of the term+one month private fee with the new nursery would not be financially possible or at least harsh (because of the overlapping in October and double paying)
• They seem to be mixing funding with private fees, insisting on “their funding” even though legally it is for the child and the new nursery.

• the nursery manager is being very misleading and keeps changing what we need to do. First she says we will loose the deposit, then she says we can pay privately, she gave a quote for this also. Now she is saying the funding for Autumn 2025 has already been applied to (weird cause I didn’t sign the parental agreement)

Has anyone been in the same or similar situation? The nursery manager is quite old so I’m really struggling to understand if she just doesn’t get it how it work or if she’s trying to intimidate us (failing cause her emails has absurd lol).

I don’t understand if they want to transfer privately the funding themself to the new nursery. Is it even a thing? I mean theoretically it makes sense but the councils disagree.

Thank you!

We had a similar situation last year, I took my son out of nursery for him to start at the pre school of his new primary school. It was just for a few weeks, but I wanted him to meet his new school mates and I was on maternity leave so was happy to have him at home over the summer holidays.

I gave nursery notice, but they refused to split his funded hours with the pre school (different councils) so they made me back pay for weeks we’d used of the summer term. I was so annoyed, because the pre school council told me that could split it, but nursery refused) I would have just not paid it, if we hadn’t had needed a place for my younger child at the nursery.

so we basically ended up losing half a term of funding. I don’t think the nursery manager really understands the funding rules etc, my younger child is there now and there have been lots of conflicting emails around her funding etc. I wish they’d get their ducks in a row, because it cost us £600 all because they wouldn’t share funding with the pre school 🙄

Yes I feel like in the end we will be loosing money.

It’s so absurd that each council has different rules and each nursery does also. Surely the funding entitlement should be for the benefit of the child and their working parents.

Absolutely it should be. Like I said, if it hadn’t have been for fact that we needed the nursery for our younger child, I would have just not paid it. My suspicion is that they could split it, but they just didn’t know how to/ it was too complicated for them

The problem is, due to how restrictive funding is for settings they have to have some rules or it would be chaos. I know you think what's the big deal, it's only us, but if everyone started moving and switching funding it would be a logistical and financial headache.

The government chose to allocate funding termly and I believe that should be the only ponts you should move your entitlement.

The reason your current nursery has already claimed is because LAs ask for 'estimates'. Ours have to be sent in July for the Autumn term which is why they probably have a 2 month notice period. They wanted to know back in July who would be here in September for them to claim.

Yeah no I mean I understand.
We were not asked that tho back in July and they gave us the parental agreement form to sign last week. The council has told me that for the Autumn term they allocate the funding based on which children are present on the 2nd of October and my child will be at the new nursery.

Do you think I’m being unreasonable for asking to pay September and October privately? So I can use the autumn term funding at my new nursery.

So the nursery will probably have to refund the LA for this term and charge you separately.

I don't chase parents every term to see if they will still be with me, I assume that parents will be informing me in good time if their child is moving on. I didn't ask before funding either so that hasn't changed.

I would rather you left now and I could full the space with a new child for the Autumn term and I could be paid a full terms funding still. Even if you pay privately they will still have an empty spot November and December until a new child starts. Most parents want the beginning of term starts when their funding kicks in.

Thanks for this.

At your setting, how do you handle children leaving midterm due to situations like moving? My old nursery say that they would share the hours, but the new one said it’s not possible.

I am in London (but not either of your councils) but as I understand it, when they say the funding can be split I think they mean across each funded week. So like 30 hours per week could be 10 at nursery A and 20 at nursery B, not 5 weeks of 30 hours at nursery A then 7 weeks of 30 hours at nursery B.

The headcount thing is right I think, the child should claim the funding at the place where they attend in headcount week. Old
nursery may well have applied for funding (or indicated how many funded children they expect to have) but that doesn’t matter, they can update the council in headcount week and will presumably have to pay the council back any excess they receive. They won’t be able to keep that child’s funding as that child isn’t there on headcount week.

I have heard of nurseries transferring funding privately but this would be totally up to each nursery and nothing to do with the council which is why they may say it’s not possible. However I don’t know if in your case that would work as your child is moving before headcount week, so weirdly I think it would be new nursery paying back old nursery?

I think old nursery should be able to give you a copy of their contract (I guess current one) and then if it doesn’t follow the rules I think you can take it up with the council?

good luck as I know it’s really confusing!!

I'm a childminder so it hasn't happened yet. My parents luckily have been very upfront about their plans so I haven't have any last minute notice periods. I would have hoped that if someone was moving house, they would have told me and I wouldn't have claimed for the term and lined up a new child instead.

Thanks, yes, exactly my thoughts!

I think you are correct as well that the new nursery would have to pay back the old one. But I don’t think they would do that.

At my old provider, I’ve offered to pay privately for my hours for both months (September for attendance, October because I was late with my notice. Which really was a last minute situation with hour housing so not much I could do). However they weirdly keep changing the process via email. I’ll give them a call on Monday. I’ve already set up my tax free with the full private month which is going out tomorrow (I’ve given notice on the 22nd, and the nursery manager hasn’t sent me a clear explanation at all).

I understand the previous comments about loosing a funded place but I don’t think the old nursery can claim funding if he won’t be physically there on headcount/not having a signed parental agreement.

Funding follows the child

Old nursery cannot claim the hours if he is attending elsewhere

They didn’t need to ask you in July, they have a 2 month notice period to cover exactly this. Because you hadn’t given notice in July the clear expectation is that you’ll be there so they can apply for the funding.

They don’t need you to sign a new declaration every term, if you haven’t given noticed then you would still be there and that’s fine for them to claim. If they have already applied for the funding then whether they allow it to be transferred or not is up to them & the new nursery rather than anything to do with the council, it would be a private agreement so you’d be relying on both to cooperate.

It really isn't up to the nursery

OP i would pay the two months privately. I would send them an email stating this is what you are doing and not to claim your hours as you are using them elsewhere.

I would also contact the LA and state that you child is not using funding hours in those months.

Funding is only paid for children who attend - to the point I have seen cases where children have a high rate of absence and LAs ask for funding back.

Thank you, yes!

This is exactly what I’ve done.

They agreed and told me I could pay privately. Set up my tax free and all good.

Yesterday I got an email from the nursery manager stating this:
“The Funding organisation will pay xxx Nursery for September and October
and you have to give us the name and address of the new Nursery that
xxx will be attending and they will pay you for November and December (it is shared)”
”Legally xxx is attending our Nursery September and October 2025
The Autumn Funding has already been applied for”

This completely contradicts what they’ve told me the week before about the private fees. And also contradicts what the council told me about headcount day and attendance. Also I’ve not signed the parental agreement for the new funding.

I’m baffled by their approach. I’m just trying to be fair and pay privately for what I owe them.

It sounds like you’re doing everything fairly and correctly!!

September yes, but October no by the sounds of it, (and you’re paying them the fees for then anyway!!) either way I’m pretty sure they are wrong and it depends entirely on where your child is on the day/week of headcount!

the autumn funding has already been applied for part does not matter and they will need to rectify that with the council, headcount supersedes everything as far as I know!

Yeah I’m pretty chill, I don’t want to upset anyone, just do the right thing. I believe is my right to leave a provider.

Do you think they can claim that my child is there on headcount day just because I have to pay for October? (I will inform the council direct that he won’t be there anyways)

No they can't. Make sure provide clear written communication that his last day is X

I mean, you can see why settings dont like funding 😂

It's annoying for the old nursery but they can't make you claim the funding with them.

I'd email the funding team at the old nursery's LA yourself and say your child isn't attending, you haven't signed a parental declaration and you don't want to claim funding with them.

I'd also request a copy of your contract with the old nursery so you can check the deposit and notice period.

This is her current nursery and the child is attending for now.

Frankly if a parent reported me to the LA, that would be the end of our professional relationship. In addition, if you pulled funding like that, and have also not paid the private fees, it's a bit cheeky to do! I'd not be accepting the child tomorrow morning if September is unpaid for.

OK but they still can't force the parent to claim funding if she doesn't want to.
They're privately paying for September and October.

Op already said her private payment is going on tomorrow. She has no intention of not paying.

No worries y’all, I’ve paid privately September and October this morning. This was agreed with the nursery and works for them.

Of course I would have paid in any case. And just to clarify I didn’t report anyone to the council, I’ve just contacted them to have clarification on how the funding works. Ultimately the funding is for the child not the provider.