Does any use the 15 free hours outside of term time?

[PinkMoscatoLover]

DD is 2 and is now eligible for the 15 free hours a week. I understand this is term time only but I wondered if anyones child does less hours each week in order to spread it across the year?

DD has Autism and really struggles when her routine is messed up. I’d like her to do 5 half days at nursery every week and wondered if there was a way to not have the free hours used during the term only? I’d like her to carry on doing 5 days a week during half terms, Christmas and the summer.

Can you reduce the amount of free hours that you use so it’s spread across the year fairly? I hope that makes sense!

So for example, can she use 11 hours (not sure if my maths is right) each week all throughout the year instead of bang on 15 hours each term?

So everyone who doesn’t use a school based pre school will be using those hours in private nursery

Yes you can use 11 hours a week all year if the nursery you are using is open and agrees to that arrangement (they may not as 11 hours over 5 days would be little over 2 hours a day)

Alternatively you can pay for the additional hours if that’s an option for you.

What do you mean?

Sorry I don’t think I explained it properly.

DD already goes to nursery 15 hours a week which I pay for. I’d like her to go to nursery for an extra 10 hours a week using the free hours provided. I wondered if I could use the free hours provided and spread them out over the year so that it can cover the extra 10 hours.

It sounds like it’s doable to use 11 hours over the whole year instead of 15 hours term time only so I’ll speak with the nursery. I didn’t want to mention it to them if it wasn’t a thing already if you see what I mean

We used ours full year, spread evenly. Given that most nurseries make you pay for a minimum number of hours even if you're on holiday, it worked in our favour even once we had one at school and were tied to school holidays.

Posters above did understand and did answer correctly?

Presumably your nursery isn't just open in the term time? I think most nurseries that are open all round the year just spread the funded hours over 12 months. Ours certainly did.

Some private nurseries will do it, but it varies. You probably need to ring round local nurseries and enquire about stretched hours. You might have to pay a top up if you want her in 5 days though. Most won't let you do 5x2 hours, they tend to have set sessions with the shortest being 3 hours. So you'd either have to do fewer days or pay for the remaining 4h every week. Still easier to budget for then having it free term time then a big bill during school holidays.

Oh no I definitely wouldn’t want her to do 2 hours 5 days a week as that doesn’t make much sense!

It seems like it is possible to spread the hours out over the year so hopefully we can do that instead. It’s easier for DD to stick to the same schedule and do 5 half days all year round

Where did I say posters didn’t understand and answer correctly? I wasn’t sure if my OP made sense as I don’t want DD to do 2 hours for 5 days each week hence why I explained it further. Not sure what you’re going on about tbh?

Oh yes it’s open all year round. During the summer holidays they made sure that people who only used the 15 hours couldn’t access the nursery unless they paid for additional hours. I don’t think it’s something the nursery do unless they’re asked or it could be possible that some parents rather have 15 hours in term time.

The owner is very reasonable so I’ll have a chat with her next week. It’s good to know that this is a thing and that I haven’t just made it up haha. Thank you

i am confused, just get the 25 hours per week and out of that claim all the free hours you’re entitled to. Surely it doesn’t matter which actual hours it gets allocated to.

People do it all the time with the 30 hours so I'd guess 15 is the same. It wouldn't be an odd question to ask.

The 15 free hours are term time only. I’ve asked if it’s possible to spread the hours out over the whole year so DD’s schedule doesn’t have to change. I’ve received an answer so that’s all there is to it really

Thank you!:)

If the nursery spreads it out over the year they will lose money because they cant fill an hour between 11 and 12 every day. They often rejig things over the school holidays so they have fewer staff or have wrap around children.

Nursery may run differently in school holidays.

Sounds like you can
a) use 15 free hours term time only
b) pay a top up to pay for additional 13 weeks over the holiday. Nursery pay be willing to be create a payment schedule were you pay the same monthly.

Talk to nursery and agree the nursery days and hours you want.

Tell them your 15 free hours code or whatever and they will average out your monthly bill, less the 15hrs per week for 38 weeks but strung out over 52 weeks, and send you a monthly bill that will be similar amount every month regardless of hols

Thanks for the comments, I’ll speak to the nursery sometime next week. It sounds like it’s possible for DD to do 25 hours each week including the free hours. The owner is really flexible so I’m sure we’ll work something out:)

OP ask the nursery about their Stretched Offer. That’s what’s it’s called when you want to spread your hours across the full year.