15 hours free nursery - over two days rather than three?

[ShakeShakeTheMuffin]

My DD will be 3 in October and currently does 2 days a week at my workplace nursery. I know that the free hours come into effect from Jan (the start of the term after which she turns 3).

The nursery manager told me that the 15 hours free has to be taken over 3 days. However I read (various sources) that this is being changed to allow the full 15 hours to be taken over just 2 days.

What I can't find easily is when this change is coming into effect? I think it's next month (Sept 2012) but can't find that page again. If this is true then what the manager told me is incorrect and I can save pretty much all the cost (except for lunch charges) of my daughter's nursery fees from January?

Can anyone confirm this?

Sorry I can't help but I've heard the same via a friend but have been unable to find anything official too

It would help us enormously if it were the case

I have found this

I saw that too Vodka but it doesn't say explicitly when that change is coming in. Unless I'm reading it wrong.

Oh, just found it again on this page:
www.daycaretrust.org.uk/pages/parent-information.html
it's in the PDF "Childwise" and it states

Starting in September 2012, you may be given the option to spread the full 15 hours over a minimum of 2 days per week rather than the previous minimum of 3 days per week.

I don't like the use of the word may... do the nurseries have a choice?

I emailed them, will post back any reply.

I'm on the committee at a preschool. In our local authority, we just got an email about the changes. The email said that the government has said that the hours should be available over 2 days, but it doesn't say must. So our authority is looking into it at the moment. Which all means that for this next term, the hours must be over 3 days but that might change by January. Other places might be different.

The fact that they have left it until August to even start looking into it means it would be a nightmare for term time only settings if they brought it in for September. We would have people wanting to change hours all over the place. I think most councils will change to going over 2 days but I have no idea when they will make that change.

I would talk to your local authority, they will set the policy for all preschools in your area.

My DDs pg has 2.5 hour sessions then charges £5 for half an hour at lunch.

I am thinking of pulling her to a different pg - because it seems unfair to me once she is 3amd has free 15 hours.

Effectively I would be paying £100 a month for half an hour a day (need it for wrap around.

If this is the case I could put her somewhere for 2 days in April which would suit me much better as I work 2 full days a week.

Got this reply:

Thank you for contacting Daycare Trust.

From September, childcare providers will have the option to allow parents to use their full 15 hours over 2 days, but they will not be required to offer the free hours in that way.

It may take nurseries some time to learn that they can offer the free entitlement in this way, but it is worth speaking to them now and letting them know that you would be interested in using the entitlement over 2 days when your daughter becomes eligible for the free place. This may encourage them to offer the places in that way. If the nursery will not offer the free place over 2 days per week and you would like to know where you can use your free entitlement in this way, contact your local Family Information Service (FIS). For the contact details of your local FIS, visit www.daycaretrust.org.uk/findyourFIS.