Son will be 4 on Sept 16. Does full time state nursery exist?

[pinkypig]

Hello,

I have 2 boys and another due May but this is my first going through the UK system (am from UK but lived abroad for 5 years).

So he will be 4 on Sept 16 so I know he is still of 'nursery' age. What I want to know is do full time places exist. He needs more than 5 x 2.5 hour sessions per week (and so do I!!) and will cope as he has been in nursery here in France for a year 2 full and 3 half days per week.

I am just not sure of the system?

If full time (ie 9-3pm) places do exist, how does the free 15 hours per week tie into this? ie would we have to pay for time over 15 hours in a state school.

Thanks

yes afaik you can send him 5 days a week, you just pay the difference
Is it 15 hours everywhere now? Used to be 12.5

I don't think you would get a free full time place but you would get your 15 hours - and some places you can top up yourself to make up five full days

The free entitlement is for 15 hours. That means that if you want your DS to have more hours than that - and the nursery setting offers more hours - then you will have to pay for the extra hours.

State school nurseries/preschools tend to only do school hours and the time used above 15 hours would be chargeable assuming it is available. Most state-funded nurseries would now come under Surestart/Children's Centres, some of which would do longer hours than school and operate an after school club for those of school age. Private nurseries/preschools may also offer what you are looking for adn qaulify for Early Years funding.

DD does 9-3 5 days a week, we get 12.5 hours free and pay for th rest including a hot lunch but have the option to take in a packed lunch.

FiveGoMad can you tell me how much ballpark you pay for the 'extra'? Just trying to do my sums.
The nurseries I am looking at are attached to (state) Junior Schools.

Thanks

what happened to the requirement for the provision of 8-6 care? Is that still happening?

We pay £65 a week, but included in that is £4 daily breakfast club so that brings it down to £45 and that includes a hot lunch and pudding.

This is at a Surestart centre where they are open 8-6, theuy run a nursery side which is open 48 weeks of the year and a preschool which is just done 9-3 and then they do before and after school clubs.

Our Surestart is £6 phr including lunch period

DD goes to a school nursery for school hours - we get our 2.5 hours free and pay for the rest. It's £13 a day (we're in the SE) and we have to provide a packed lunch (or pay for school dinner).

Thanks that's all very helpful

just to add you won't get the free 15hrs until the "term after they are four" - so for your ds, this will be january 2011.

also our local surestart is offering funded sessions for individuals from multi-cultural backgrounds, so you may be entitled to these.

they aren't openly advertising it though, my friend (half english jamaican) applied and got 3 x 3hr sessions.

Disagree about the fifteen hours being until the term after they are four because as from Sept 2010 it is going to be for everyone following the term after their third birthday and it is also supposed to be a fexible offer e.g. not just 5 x 3 hrs sessions but possibly 3 x 5 hr sessions, however I don't think all settings will be able to offer this.
I am an accredited childminder & can offer the free entitlement in amongst the children's core hours I will be able to offer the flexible aspect of the free entitlement more easily than playgroups or pre-schools.

Hello pinkypig,
12.5 hrs till sept 2010 as badgerhead said!

My ds is 4 on 16th sept too!!
He attends private day nursery which has a preschool he currently does 2.5 days but will be doing 3.5 from sept. I don't know where you are from but I had to book ds in for his extra day last august and sept is only time they had space.

Good luck x

well, we are in Scotland so might be different, but mine go to a private nursery (you have to make sure they are in "the Partnership" which means that you get part funding from the government once they are over 3, and the rest you pay yourself. Different nurseries in different parts of the country will obviously have different rates. I get 2.5 hours x5. In reality because I use all 5 sessions (over 2 days) I get full funding, then I pay the excess.

my cousins ds had a free full time place 9-3 every weekday

my dd only got mornings, different nurseries and mine was more desirable so had a lot more familys on the lists

i have friends dc's at my dd nursury that get it free fulltime due to 'circumstances' i.e not coping well or problems at home

DD2 is 4 on sept 16th

16th sept 2006 was a good day for a few of us

Sorry no advice on nursery...i've still got to enquire about it myself.

dgs will be 4 on sept 17th and currently does 2 mornings in state preschool [attached to primary he will attend]and 2 mornings in private preschool.In sept he will do 4 mornings at state preschool and after Christmas that will become 1 full day and 3 mornings[all funded].One day at home with Mum and baby brother.