I know this has probably been done 100 times and more! But can anyone give me some advice please :)

My son was born January 08, so hes now 2. Ive tried ringing around but noone seems to know. Does anyone know when his 15hrs free care will start? Am I entitled to it automatically? OH works, im a full time student at college.

Thanks :) x

He will be entitled 1st April following his third birthday

here is the linkhttp://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103

And yes everyone is entitled to it,but best get your name on waiting lists for any preschools /nurseries that you may want him to go to

So, 1st April 2011 he'll be entitled to the free 15hours?

Thats excellent if its correct, he has a place in nursery starting September 2010, and they said they accept the 15hours (college nursery) so will only have to pay the full 35hours/week for 7 months? Then pay for 20/week and get 15 free.

Thank you menz!!!!!xxx

Hi Gina,

I'm fairly sure that the free hours are only in term time so in school holidays I think you would have to pay for the nursery if it is an actual nursery he will be going to and is therefore still open. My son is going to go to a pre-school at the school he will attend so that will be closed anyway.

It's also worth finding out when you can claim the free hours, for instance at the nursery my friend's son goes to you can only claim them in the morning so if he goes 2 full days she can only claim the hours for the morning sessions and has to pay for afternoons. All nurseries have different rules so it's worth checking it all out.

Good luck x

It's the term after their 3rd birthday, which is April. But some nursery attatched to schools will only do intake in September and January. My son is 27th Jan and his nursery don't do a April intake so he had to wait until September though having said that we sent him to a private nursery for a while as they will take kids on.

He only needs to be in nursery during term time anyway, thankfully. Ive got another 3 years of college to plough through yet :(

So, it'll be next easter he gets his free hours. He's 29th Jan, and will already be attending nursery, but the nursery did say, when his free hours come into effect, they accept them. So it'll be easter 2011. Hopefully!x

My son goes to private nursery and he's entitled to the 15 hours per week, it is definately the term after their 3rd birthday, although some schools/nurseries only have 2 start dates, they do have to re-apply at the start of each term for the funding. So it may be worth checking out!

Hi The free places come in the term after their 3rd birthday so for example my daughter was born in October and didn't get a free hours until January.

Some private day care providers still offer free places but only 5 hours per day so if your child is in full days you have to cover the cost.

You get 18 week free which is equivalent to a school holidays I think.

The Nursery Free Entitlement is for 38 weeks or 190 days a year (April-March) so if your child attends more than 38 weeks you will have to pay.

Sheffield Information Link, Sheffield's Family Information Service produces a number of Factsheets and the link below is the one about the Free Early Learning grant.

http://www.sheffinfolink.org.uk/Resources/Sheffield%20Information%20Link/Documents/PDF/Free%20Early%20Learning%20Nov%2009.pdf

If you need any other information telephone 0114 275 6699.

hiya can anybody tell me if there are any nurseries that allow you to use your vouchers when you like? ie 2days x 6hrs and 1 day x 3hrs
thanks

I can't see a problem with using your hours that way at any nursery. Have you made any enquiries?

hiya can anybody tell me if there are any nurseries that allow you to use your vouchers when you like? ie 2days x 6hrs and 1 day x 3hrs
thanks

Pre-schools often operate for mornings only so you may need to choose a general nursery.

At the nursery where my friend's son goes you can only use your free hours for morning sessions so if your child goes for a full day you have to pay for the afternoon. I don't know how common this is. You need to contact the individual nurseries.

Also in some places if your child goes for a full day i.e a morning session and an afternoon session there will be a period of time inbetween the 2 sessions (over lunch time) which you will have to pay for. Again you would need to contact individual places to find out session times etc.

Quoted from the SIL Factsheet...

The extended free early learning is
designed to give parents more flexibility as
to how they use these hours, for instance
taking the hours in 3 blocks of 5 hours, or
any other combination of hours. A child’s
entitlement must be used over a minimum
of 3 days per week. Again, not all
providers will be in a position to offer this
flexibility and parents should discuss their
needs with the individual provider.

Providers can charge you for any extra time
in the day or weeks in the year that you
choose to take up. However, you should not
be required to take up additional services in
order to access a free place.

Providers can charge you for any extra time
in the day or weeks in the year that you
choose to take up. However, you should not
be required to take up additional services in
order to access a free place.

This is true but if you want your child to go for full days and there is chargable period over lunch time, you are realisically going to have to pay for it unless you go and collect your child for that period. It's just worth bearing in mind.

thats what i thought to be honest..

Providers can charge you for any extra time
in the day or weeks in the year that you
choose to take up. However, you should not
be required to take up additional services in
order to access a free place.

This is true but if you want your child to go for full days and there is chargable period over lunch time, you are realisically going to have to pay for it unless you go and collect your child for that period. It's just worth bearing in mind.
Not necessarily, some nurseries let you use your funding to pay for the lunchtime period.

hiya can anybody tell me if there are any nurseries that allow you to use your vouchers when you like? ie 2days x 6hrs and 1 day x 3hrs
thanks


Hi

some childminders can also offer the funding and tend to be a bit more flexibile as to how you want to take it.

I offer the funded places myself and can do 2x6 hrs and 1x3 hrs or 3x5 hours

upto you depending on spaces I have availiable

feel free to pm me

Joy

Hi

some childminders can also offer the funding and tend to be a bit more flexibile as to how you want to take it.

I offer the funded places myself and can do 2x6 hrs and 1x3 hrs or 3x5 hours

upto you depending on spaces I have availiable

feel free to pm me

Joy

hi joy

I never thought about child minders, where are you located and how may kids do you mind what ages

I was wanting my little boy to mix with kids his age 3years..
thanks for reply..

Not necessarily, some nurseries let you use your funding to pay for the lunchtime period.

do you know any specific ones?:)

Hi,

My son was also born in Jan 08 and he is due to start his 15 hours free nursery in April 2011.

Thanks

Some pre schools will take vouchers but my son's didn't. He went to two differnt nurseries in the end, the 1st one you had to use a voucher for lunch and the other one they could have lunch and it was free without the use of a voucher which was great. I guess they all vary...

Unfortunately now that David Cameron is the PM the government funding could either be scrapped or revert back to being eligable from the term following there 4th birthday. I wouldnt rush in to anything yet.

im deputy manager of a nursery , some people dont realise but government vouchers can be split between 2 settings ..we have some children who claim 9 hours (3 sessions) with us and the other 6 hours with another nursery or childminder. You only get vouchers for term time , that is 38 weeks a year and they come into affect the school term after the child's 3rd birthday