Free childcare places- how to claim?

[Minkus]

DS has just turned three and so I gather he is entitled to a certain number of nursery hours paid for by the local council/central government.

Can anyone tell me please how I go about claiming these? I've had a look on the surestart website and although I now know that he was entitled to them as of 1st Jan (he was 3 at the start of Dec) I couldn't find any advice on how to actually claim them!

Any advice gratefully received.

Your nursery or playgroup will do it for you don't worry. They might ask to see his birth certificate as proof of DOB

Is he attending anywhere yet ? The preschool/nursery give you the paperwork at the start of term and liaise with LEA who find it. It is up to 5 2 1/2 hours sessions per week , termtime only. If the actual sessions are longer you may have to pay the difference.

Thanks for responses. DS already at nursery but they haven't mentioned this yet, wondering if the fact that we live in one county but he goes to a nursery in the neighbouring one, we're just on the border- maybe it's a bit complicated for them for this reason.

I'll ask them about it on Monday, thanks.

They may not have received this term's forms yet.