Withdrawn place

[MyOtherCarIsAPorsche]

My daughter rang a pre school last September and reserved a place for her son because she's entitled to 2 yr funding. She reserved three days saying she would pay for the extra hours (she would get 2.5 days on the voucher system).

She rang again before Christmas to check when he would be starting and was told at Easter, although he is already 2 yrs. They told her that they would ring her after Christmas to confirm and they would send her some forms to fill in.

She rang them yesterday as they had not rung her and she was told they would ring her back. They rang today to tell her that they had two afternoons available at Easter (that's 6 hours - not the days she wanted) and would require the whole voucher (for 15 hours).

Is this bad practice - can this be taken further?

She's frantically looking around now for another place who can take him while she's working. I am currently looking after him whilst she works.

I would find another nursery. Either -

1. Best case scenario - they are really disorganised and if they are that slap dash I wouldn’t want them looking after my child.

2. worst case scenario they don’t really want to accept children who have two year old funding (as it piss poor rate from the LA. I think my LA pays £3:20 p/h) and they would rather fill their places with children who's parents pay for the place (which is normally a much higher rate).
   I’m surprised they didn’t send any paperwork for you daughter to sign. Does she have any paperwork or email confirming the place. If I was only telephone calls it may be difficult to prove she had a place.

Ah - she didn't have it in writing @Slayduggee

She's not found another place - perhaps it's too late in the day.

The nursery rang her back to see if she wanted the afternoon sessions after all and it turns out they are stay and play sessions - on the days she works.

A friend who works in a nursery has told her if a funded child applies, they have to give priority to the funded child - is this correct?

She's since heard that it's not as good as further afield places - it just would have been more convenient because it's literally 50 yards from the primary her daughter attends.

I would check the schools website to see if the pre-school is part of the school and separate from the school. Do they have any documents concerning admission on the webpage or a complaints procedure?

My daughter goes to a Nursery school ran by the local authority so they have to follow the admissions procedure. Whereas a private nursery can set their own rule.

Childcare providers can must have a ratio of 1:4 staff to children for 2 years so it can be challenging to get a place. However, there is a different ratio once they turn three. I would be asking when a place would be available as surely they must have a 2 year old turning 3 soon and then they can put them in the 3/4 room if they have room.

Oh - sounds like some places avoid 2yr olds like the plague 😬

I wonder if she'll be able to secure places then.

Her younger son is 2 in 9 months time.

She was just trying to take the pressure off us (her parents) who look after her three children whilst she works.

It's looking like we're in for another year.

But I genuinely thought that the 2yr funds were there to help single mothers.

A family member gets the two year old funding. His younger child got a place at the nursery next to the older child’s school. However, they were very much told that there child could go X day for the whole day and that was it. I think they were hoping for 3 mornings or afternoons, but they were told since it was funded it was that or nothing.

Does your daughter get any UC? If so she could claim back 85% of her childcare costs.

The problem is that the funding rate for these funded places is too low to cover the nursery costs so some nurseries are very reluctant to take children who are only having funded hours (but they won’t admit it)

She needs to get her youngest name down for a nursery place (and in writing now). Where I live it is very difficult to get a two year old place at nursery. Either the child has gone to nursery from the end of mat leave (I put my daughter down at birth to make sure she had a place) therefore they will already have a place when they turn two. When children get to three the situation is easier as nurseries can have a larger ratio of staff to children.

@Slayduggee

Yes - she works 2.5 days a week and on UC.

She wanted 3 days to cover her work as I look after her three children for three days and the other two days in the week I look after another grandchild.

She just wanted to take some pressure off me.

She has to account for every single penny and we help her out a lot.

Her two older children stay overnight with us once a week.

Maybe there should be penalties for nurseries who take the 3yr funding but avoid the 2 yr funding?

She's drawing a blank on place's at the moment as the nearest ones are saying they're full. They only have stay and play places available. So I'm guessing it is staffing which is the problem.

I would not be able to take them further afield as the times for drop off and pick up wouldn't be met.

It's a common problem then?

It wouldn't happen to a man would it?

I’m afraid it’s a common problem. Many childminders shut down permanently due to covid and some nurseries have closed/gone bust.

Atm the moment I’m living in a childcare desert. When I went back to work I could only get a full time nursery place for my 3 year old daughter or non-consecutive days. I now have a different job and have moved her to a closer nursery who don’t have such convenient hours. I claim funded hours (for 3/4 year olds) for my daughter. I cannot get a space locally for my son but fortunately my inlaws look after him. I have him on the list for the same nursery as his sister and they will take from 2. I was told to apply early as spaces fill up fast and I should find out next month if he has a space. I will pay for my sons nursery space but it’s still been impossible to find anywhere that would take him at one. A nursery can only have 4 two years old for each member of staff. Whereas once they are 3 they can have 8 three year olds per member of staff (or 13 if there is someone with QTS in the room).

I would get your daughter to ask how she applies in writing for a place at her desired nursery. If there are no places then she asks to go on the waiting list. I’ve been told there have been ‘no spaces’ then a week later I have received a phone call. She need to ring up and ask when her child is on the waiting list regularly. Children turn 3 all the time, mums go on mat leave so want to reduce nursery hours, parents lose jobs or change jobs all the time so availability can change rapidly. She needs to be polite and firm and explain that no I applied for a nursery place because I work not a stay and play place.

I do feel for your daughter and you.

Thanks for that @Slayduggee

She's going to put her younger two's names down at the closest two places and wait.

We'll muddle along in the meantime.