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Part time state nursery places in Wales? HELP!

8 replies

needtobediscreet · 06/05/2014 17:16

Am I right to think they're virtually useless to most working parents?
Currently DS attends private nursery for a couple of full days a week while I work part time. I'd hoped that when he became eligible for early years funding our nursery bill would reduce but it seems that it won't because in my area the council provides 5 x 2.5hr sessions a week at a nursery linked to a primary school, rather than funding towards a private nursery place.
How does this fit with me working a full day? Who would look after DS after I start work and before school nursery day starts and who would then pick him up when it ends (around 1130am?!!) and take him on to private nursery? I'll be at work...?

Will I have to switch to a childminder at the point he starts school nursery? Our current private nursery doesn't do school drop offs.
Am I right in thinking in England / Scotland / NI it's funding you get i.e. money off the cost of childminder or private nursery, not a place at a school nursery?

It seems that despite this being a less than ideal system, in my area, I'm not even guaranteed to get a place for DS that's close to home due to too much demand. The only funded places close to home with guaranteed spaces available are Welsh medium. We don't speak Welsh and weren't planning on Welsh medium school for DS either.

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frillysockmum · 07/05/2014 11:53

Your nursery should accommodate the15 free hours - normal in England although is wales different?

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needtobediscreet · 08/05/2014 07:54

We have less entitlement in Wales. I think it's 10 hrs a week.

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LIZS · 08/05/2014 07:59

It isn't aimed at reducing childcare costs it is for Early Years education . Ideally your existing daycare would offer it but they may not be permitted to by LA if they do not meet the criteria. Not all settings in England do and even then it may apply to specific sessions only, not simply come off the total bill. A cm may bridge the gap for pick up/drop offs if you opt to take up the school nursery place .

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HaroldLloyd · 08/05/2014 08:01

In wales they won't pay it to a private nursery if you can get a state place within 2 miles. (I think)

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HaroldLloyd · 08/05/2014 08:02

My nursery do pick up and drop off but it costs the same as a full day, so it don't reduce any costs.

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TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 08/05/2014 08:04

A CM is likely to charge for the full time though as she can't otherwise fill the space.

In England, some private nurseries don't offer the funded spots because they are not allowed to charge top ups and the hourly rate for reimbursement is less than their usual hourly rate. Mine offers it at 2.5 hrs per 5 hr session so if you go less than 3 full days or one full and four halves, you can't use it.

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TheDoctrineOfSnatch · 08/05/2014 08:05

So if I were you I'd keep him in his existing nursery (if it's Ofsted registered it should be teaching approximately the same, I think)

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doodledotmum · 08/05/2014 10:10

Sounds like you would be best staying out. It is designed to give all children a better start in terms of preparation for school - but for working parents it's generally a well needed reduction in costs !!! - it certainly was for me and all our friends, but we all used it at different places - some private and some school etc

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