early years fund/grant - do you have to pay extra?

[LAURACOLLEY]

for those who recieve the early years fund / grant for their children - how hard was it to find a nursery / center / school nursery (foundation) place with vacancy's?

also are you having to pay still for extra nursery hours?

I only want the 12.5 hours a week for 38 weeks a year, as I will be studying (postgrad) and can not get any funding for this, including any childcare funding.

The nursery we are looking at has 8 - 12 and 1 - 6 sessions and all day monday to friday, but I only want 2.5 hours a day.

This I can not find in any of our local nurseries and I am being asked to make up the remaining cost of the session.

I only want 8 - 10:30 free. After that my partner and my mum will be taking care of my child.

Can I demand that I have a session for my child for 12.5 hours a week free only without having to pay for childcare I don't want or need

• or -

should I accept that I will have to get a loan out (commercial loan as will not be entitled to student funding as will be at postgrad level) to cover the cost of the childcare for the remaining 1.5 hours 10:30 - 12 per day for childcare I do not want or need?

I will not be classed as working from tax credits so can not get any help from them.

has anyone else had similar problems?

the free funding usually covers the hours of pre schools, are there any of them near you ?
The hours though are usually 9-11.30 , 9.15 - 11.45 etc to fi around school hours.
I think if you want an early start it would have to be a nursery/childmnder and you would have to top up the money to pay for a full am session.

The hours are usually fixed as the grant is to cover early learning and not childcare as such.

You cannot demand anything, if you need different hours for your childcare you will have to pay for them.

You can't demand specific times. The funding covers the 5 sessions (usually a core period of 9/9.30 to 11.30/12 and similar pm if a full time nursery setting or childminder) for term time only, which I think are due to increase to 3 hours each soon and you would normally pay for anything outside this. Working family tax credits may apply if your dp works 15 hours plus per week.

Yes, I'd look at school nurseries, pre-schools etc as these often just open for 2 1/2 hours anyway.