We've been asked to offer free care to a family 'in need' who, INVHO, aren't.

[Bubble99]

Mr Bubble and I own and work in two nurseries.

We set them up with the (genuine) intention of offering fantastic care for a reasonable price, having been crippled by fees for very average nurseries when DS1 and 2 were little.

We have offered free care to three families since we opened three years ago.

Two were families where one mum and one dad were made redundant and, after a few months, couldn't afford to pay but still needed the care to allow the child-free time for interviews etc.

The other was a fee-free 6 week holiday break for a single working mother whose mum died and who wanted to go and stay with her dad with her daughter.

We currently have twins with S/N who are receiving funding for two mornings a week with us plus funding for a portage worker.

We received an email today from Early Years at the LA asking if we could provide extra sessions each week (for free) until the twins receive their nursery grant in September.

What wound me up was..

"As neither parent works, they obviously can't afford to pay for this."

I've met both parents. Both seem physically and mentally fit and the twins' S/N are mild. I can understand one parent not working, but both? If this was a single parent family I would not be posting, BTW

In addition. Since the twins started, a month ago, the parents have been fifteen and twenty minutes late to pick up. Our manager let them off the first time but asked for a late fee the second time. The response was "I'm on the dole. I don't have any money."

OK. That's off my chest....almost.

BTW, we do offer regular free places. To our staff who work hard and deserve the help.

I think the LA is taking the piss. Would the guy who send the email work for free? Is he too thick to realise that you are actually running a business here, and this is how you make your living?

If these children need respite, the LA should fund it. (I know councils are often crap on this, but no reason why you should be obliged to do their dirty work.)

I'd say no too. If the parents were working and struggling with fees for a short period then yes. But expecting a free nursery place when neither of them works is taking the biscuit.

This all sounds very bizarre. Your LA can arrange free nursery places in a LA maintained nursery. They cannot demand a private nursery to provide free childcare, it was a cheeky request from an officer who by the sounds of it does not understand the law or the system that s/he is supposed to facilitate.

If these children have Statements of SEN, the nursery should be named in the Statement, and if this is a private nursery, the LA pays for the nursery fees for the number of hours stated in the Statement.

Having twins with SN is incredibly demanding. I am struggling to cope with one child with SN (who, by the way, many people refer as having 'mild' needs - whether mild or moderate or severe, it's irrelevant as they still require a lot more help and attention than a typical child) and if there were two, my husband probably would not be able to work either.

Bill the LA, Bubble for the £20 & say no!!

The Nursery Grant system is a total farce & private nurseries lose out as they have to do all the number crunching for the civil servants, and then don't (officially) get anything for it. Charities can keep the whole voucher allowance over & above the cost of the session.

The early years worker is taking the piss. And seemingly using you to subsidise stuff the council budget should be paying for.

Say no.

Agree with elkiedee's post.

The LA is taking the mickey expecting you to shell out for the extra hours. Nursery is often regarded as being very important to help the development of children with SN - I imagine the reason for the LA funding the place is not necessarily all down to giving the parents respite.

When my son was in a private nursery he received 1:1 funded by the council. This was paid to the nursery a term in arreas So the nursery had to pay for the worker out of their own budget then wait weeks for the refund.

Blimey how very strange. Defn no reason for you to pick up the tab on this one.

Fwiw, you sound like you already go above and beyond any nursery owners of my acquaintance

Agreed FP- I own a private nursery & I'm sorry we don't do it, although I'd love to for those that needed it.