Funded Nursey Places

[BlueThursday]

DD is only 18 months so a bit ahead of myself but curious!

She goes to a private nursery in a neighbouring council - when the time for her funded hours comes I take it we can't have those at her existing nursery?

If they offer funded hours then you should be able to.

Ah great, even though it's not "our" council?

You won't necessarily get them in local council either. My son goes to a private nursery in Falkirk where we live but don't get funded hours as the catchment area where his nursery is has enough school nursery places - the catchment area we live in doesnt so if he went to a private nursery near our house rather than work he would get funded hours. SOOO angry, working parents getting punished as usual!

I've a friend who was in that situation, her DS didn't get a place until almost 4, she was really anxious as he'd only even been with a childminder and no proper nursery setting

nc that is unfair. My children attend a private nursery in Falkirk too, but they have a partnership with the local authority and we receive funding (doesn't cover the private fees by a long way, but helps).

For further clarification, I meant it's unfair you don't get funding.

My DS goes to a private nursery in a neighbouring council, he gets his funded hours there and has been a reduction in fees to pay because of this

So mibbies aye mibbies naw

As I said, a wee bit far off. Our actual nearest council nursery is closing too (it's practically on our doorstep) so I'm torn by staying at the lovely private one until school but without DD likely to be going to school with any of the others and having the logistical problems the council nursery that will be nearest

It never occurred to me he wouldn't tbh. Our nursery manager gave us forms and helped us fill them out without a raised eyebrow anywhere. I did the form when he was about 2 and a half. One of his friends at nursery actually lives in a different council area again

I wonder whether it works the same way in Scotland and other parts of the U.K. I haven't heard of that kind of restriction in my area. But I have heard (on MN) all sorts of workarounds that nurseries use to enable them to effectively top up fees, rather than subsidising free hours using the paid hours of other children. Some of those workarounds don't follow the rules of the scheme, others aren't really in the spirit of the scheme - but do fall within the rules and a few are straightforward and well within the rules.