pre-school state i have to take my dd because they have applied for funding!? wwyd?

[velveteenmummy]

Hi, my dd went to a pre-school for a term or two b4 her 3rd birthday, however the whole time she was there she never settled and after a while I decided that it's really pointless going to a nursery and sitting wiht her the whole time (in which time my eyes where opened and decided I wouldn't like to leave her alone there anyway) So I decided I would not take her anymore and phoned them to let them know things wheren't working out. To soften the blow I said I would see how things where and 'think' about bringing her back in January.
The leader has just rang and when I said dd wouldn't be going back, she informed me I have signed a legal document and she has applied for funding and that I will have to write to the local county council detailing why I won't be sending her to pre-school! I haven't signed the funding document or said she would definately go, was she wrong to apply for the funding on these grounds, I'm going to meet with her to discuss either this week or after 1/2 term. I don't work so I don't need to send her (she only went 1 morning anyway, and would fret constantly about it)I didn't commit apart from saying i'd review situation. Help, what would you do? I also had to pay up until xmas even though she didn't attend, which I expected to do but I get a bad feeling that it's all about the money regardless of childs wellbeing.

You don't have to send her if you don't want to, neither do you have to explain your decision to anyone.

The leader is telling lies.

The preschool should have had a 'notice' period that you tell them your child will leave in x number of weeks. If that is what you paid up until xmas then you have no obligation to pay for sessions missed.

I would simply say that you will inform the county council if need be. You could write saying 'I velveteenmummy will not be sending my dd to XYZ preschool and am not entitled to claim early years finding for her place as she has not attended since date'

Sorry you could email, then you know the leader isnt claiming in your dds name

"she informed me I have signed a legal document"

Do you have a copy of exactly what you signed? Might she mean a contract from your initial enrolment? If so, it would contain notice periods for departure.

There might also be something in it about applications for funding: if your daughter was still on the roll at the start of term, then the paperwork may have begun automatically but IIRC your signature would have been needed for the January headcount, so there must be a muddle somewhere.

Thanks everyone for your help so far. I signed the initial forms with regards to enrolment and something to do with child protection, allergies etc (all the initial info), I know I didn't sign form to apply for funding coz leader asked me to sign it back in Oct and I said they won't need it till Jan so it was put away. I really wanted to see how it was going with dd b4 signing for funding. After stopping going in early Dec and saying i'd rethink going back in Jan I didn't think this was committing my dd to a place or permission for them to get funding.

It doesn't matter what you signed to commit your daughter to a place, or if you promised them her soul on a stick, they cannot make you send her. You are her mother, for all intents and purposes, unless you are proven unfit, you own her. Nobody else gets a say.

Even if you did sign something you can still remove your child. It is non of the business of the leader. However, it sounds like she might be anxious to cover up a mistake she has made, that might get her into trouble.

I removed ds from nursery with funding and moved him to a new nursery. However, did it towards the end of a term so the new nursery claimed from that point.

You could speak to parent partnership if you are worried they give really good advice about this sort of stuff.

The only reason that you have to notify the council is that the funding will already have been allocated to the preschool, so you wouldn't be able to just move somewhere else (iyswim), but you can notify the council to say why, and it should be cut etc. IIRC our council does the "you can only move if we say so, and only if your reason is so tight even ants can't get in". Having said that, kids have moved around, so there must be some flexibility. And this comes from the council, so it isn't the preschools being difficult..

Sounds like they've claimed the funding for her even though you haven't signed the paperwork.

Do you want the funding to transfer with your DD to another setting?

If so (here in Hants anyway) if the pre-school has claimed funding for a child, the new pre-school would invoice the old one who would pay the money over directly. From the next term the new pre-school would apply for the funding on your behalf.

She sounds like a cluless prat and what is she doing in education if she doesent even know the law about it. what would she say if you were to move 300miles away, tell you to commut? even in full time education i child can be removed the same day as a deregistrtion letter is handed in to the head. Just write a letter to the head saying you have made other arrengments and dont give it another thought. good luck.

As others have said, she is lying. I'd contact the LEA to let them know what this woman is telling people.

Leader is panicking as it sounds like she included your child on the headcount form without you signing the grant decleration form. She shouldn't have done this and will need to explain why to the council but its not down to you.

As others have said it might be worth your while contacting the funding people at the council as you will find it difficult to claim elsewhere (though not your fault), however a good pre-school/nursery will help solve the mess!