ds now turned 3. How do I claim govt. money for part-time nursery schooling?

[fairyglo]

Title says it all really. Ds has just turned 3 and simultaneously we have just had the bill for this half-term's schooling. He attends pre-school for 3 afternoons a week (2.5 hours a session). Will the government contribute to the cost of this schooling and, if so, how do we claim their contribution?

Thanks

They get it in the term following their third birthday, so that will be from September for you. The playschool my DD was at claimed it then billed us as there was a slight shortfall for each session.

You don't claim it the setting does. There is a form to sign where you state the number of sessions attended. Then you just pay any difference to the setting. But you won't get it until next term.

As others have said. The pre-school will give you a funding form to sign. You get funding for 5 x 2.5 hour sessions per week, for 11 weeks per term. Any more than that you have to pay for. The form asks for info on all places that the child attends, and I used to have to fill in one form per pre-school (ds attended two, but only 5 sessions a week in total).

Thanks for letting me know. I guess I was just being a bit optimistic. I'd better pay that bill now and hang on until September for the extra funding. Shame - could do with it now!

yeah but don't the govt tell you which preschool he has to go to? I'm assuming its not a nursery attatched to a school but a playgroup or similar, since he was there before he was 3?

Thats the way of it round here.

No filly, you can use the funding at any pre-school, nursery or childminder that takes part in the scheme.

They have to be Ofsted approved and meet set criteria (operating a minimum number of weeks a year for example) to qualify. Your LEA should be able to confirm whether yours would.

Yes, just check that your preschool is part of the scheme. DD went to a preschool (that was excelent) but they werent part of the scheme.