free nursery care from three years - what do you have to do?

[Racheldigger]

Rowan will be three in March, and I'm desperately looking forward to being able to claim her free nursery hours, because I'm getting further and further into debt paying her fees at the moment. Can anyone tell me what I have to do in order to claim them, because presumably they don't just magically happen?

 

[isil]

You claim them from the term after they turn 3. So for Rowan, that will be after Easter. If she is already at a nursery (that I presume you want her to continue at) you will need to check that they offer the funded hours sessions. They will get you to fill in some paperwork. I'm fairly sure you can only take 6 1/4 hours per day, but not completely sure on that.

 

[RJsMum]

DS turns 3 in Dec this year, so although it's a long way out, I've started ringing round to find him a spot near where he goes to the childminder so he can spend the remaining hours of those days with her.

I was advised to start early in looking, but the first school I rang said they would get back to me in October!! Isn't that leaving it a bit late if I'm trying to make sure it's sorted now?

 

[aimee-lou]

I've been quite lucky.

You need to speak to the pre-schools/nurseries in your area (and your own as they may offer the free hours), and see what availability they have. You should get a form from them to apply when the time comes and when they do an intake.

I managed to get Earl into a pre-school and they said that when they turn 3 we'll get a form, and the funding will start the next term.

 

[smelly07]

Whatever setting your LO is in, they should give you a form to fill out when your LO is entitled to the 15 hours free (a term after their 3rd birthday) and then they sort it all out for you x

 

[keepontrying]

it sounds as though you are already attending a nursery - if this is the case speak to the manager and get her to explain their 'model of delivery' to you. This will include how they provide the funded hours, the number you can claim per day and how this will be managed in terms of fee payments. Some settings will invoice you per term or maybe provide a 'stretched offer' whereby the 38 weeks that are funded each year are deducted from your 52 week fees to ensure that payments are regulated.

If you are looking to switch from a day care provider to some one that offers just teh funded hours each week and therefore only looks after your child term time call yoru local authority and ask to speak to their family information service and ask for a list of providers whom provide the EEE (Early education entitlement) and their models of delivery so you can see who suits you more.
Nurseries are not allowed to charge you for hours and then reimburse you - the funded time must be free at the point of delivery.

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