Denied 15 Hours Free Entitlement

[retrohsnevets]

Hello everyone. First post.

Without beating about the bush, has anyone found it difficult to get the full 15 hours entitlement out of their nursery?

We have a child in a Kingston Nursery and they refuse to honour the full 15 hours, despite attendance in excess of 9 sessions a week, i.e. 3 mornings and 3 afternoons.

Are they allowed to do this?

Depending on the size of the nursery, we only need to offer 1, 2 or 3 totally free spaces. If these are already allocated, then you would have to go on the waiting list for one.

Any 3 year old would still get the 15 hour entitlement, but the child would have to attend for the nursery's mimimum attendance at least and you would pay the difference.

It is a business, not a charity after all! ;-)

Hello,

Dumb question - why would a nursery not offer the free early years entitlement? We were recently offered a place at our local private nursery, however they do not participate in the scheme. Why would they choose to do that. Is it to keep a certain demographic from joining the nursery?

Thanks!

Cai1 - it's because offering the free hours costs the nursery money. The government does not pay the full hourly rate for the hours and there is a pile of accompanying admin.

My sons old nursery would only offer either the morning or the afternoon sessions, not both. This meant your child needed to be ever day to get the full allowance. If they were full days, the hours from the second session had to be paid for, regardless of how many days per week. Do you think this is what is happening at your dc nursery?