Confused about nursery start dates and funded childcare

[kibit219]

Hi everyone, I'm hoping to hear from other parents about funded childcare and nursery start dates.

Our daughter became 9 months old in July 2026, so as I understand it, she should be eligible for funded 30 hours childcare from the September 2026 funding term.

We were hoping to start nursery in January 2027 when she's 15 months old, but our preferred nursery told us they had no places available in January, even though they had availability in November, December, February and March.

They emailed us saying:
"Please note that if you are planning to claim funded childcare hours, the funding will not begin until April 2027, as the deadline for the January funding period has passed.
However, if (daughter's name) joins us during November 2026 and attends non-funded sessions, her funded childcare hours can commence from January 2027."

I replied to explain that my daughter was already eligible from the September 2026 funding term, so I didn't understand why the January 2027 funding deadline would have been missed. However, I received the same response. When I asked whether this was a government/Hillingdon Council rule or the nursery's own policy, they couldn't clarify and instead advised me to contact the council myself.

The only options they offered were:

1. Start in November 2026, pay full fees for November and December (around £2,500 for 3 days a week), then use the funded hours from January 2027.
2. Delay starting until February 2027, pay full fees for February and March, then use the funded hours from April 2027.

I'm just confused because this is our first child, and I can't find anything on the government or Hillingdon Council websites that says a child who is already eligible can't start using their funded hours in January.

Has anyone experienced something similar? Why would we need to pay for two months in full before our daughter can use her funded hours when she's already eligible? Is this a normal nursery policy, or is there a funding rule that I'm missing?

I'd really appreciate hearing from other parents, especially if you're in the Ruislip, Pinner or wider Hillingdon area.

Thanks in advance!

Somebody more knowledgeable will correct me if I'm wrong but I assume its to do with the headcount dates for each term. If your child starts midway through a term in November, she won't have been present for the headcount week, which for the September 2026 term is 28th Sept to 2nd Oct. So if she isn't enrolled over that period the nursery can't claim the funding for that term:

https://pre.hillingdon.gov.uk/downloads/file/1067/headcount-and-payments-timetable

Thank you, this is helpful. I understand that funding depends on headcount dates and that nurseries need to submit claims at specific points. However, I am still confused about the situation. As we wanted to start in January, but the nursery told us January was unavailable, while they had availability in November, December, February and March. If January was unavailable, I’m struggling to understand how a child could start in November or December and continue into January.

Yes that is odd...I suppose from their POV if they have a place filled from January but it was available from November, they've lost two months of it being filled. They may have children due to move up a room in November creating a space in the baby room (e.g.) so want the space filled from November rather than keeping it empty until January?

I think it’s interesting that the nursery can’t take you in January, a cynical person might say it’s a deliberate ploy. What I also find odd about the headcount date is that if someone leaves before the end of term, the funding is supposed to be returned to the council. If they can deal with part terms that way round, then they should be able to deal with them the other way round too. The three month/four month/five month terms are ridiculous, as are their associated 1 Jan/April/Sept cut offs. The whole lot should be annualized and funding awarded for 52 weeks, not 38. But I’m sure in the dim
and distant past, someone with FA idea about childcare designed a system that was deemed to be suitable.

Yeah that does sound confusing.
Could she not start in the Feb? Get your childcare code prior to Jan so she’s covered for that term

That does sound a bit strange. The deadline here would be to have your funding code and PAF form completed by end of December for Spring term start. Headcount week is usually a couple weeks into the new term. There is a new system in place that meant we had to send off for September funding for current children before end of July.

The whole childcare system is built around the original term time preschool system and does need reviewing.