I am on my high horse but have recently discovered that for this year the cut off point for nursery funded free places is 31st March, however, the cut off point for school starting (for September not January) is 30th April. In reality this means that if you have a child born between 1st September 2004 and 30th April 2005 They will start school in September 2009 and if you have a child born between 1st May 2005 and 31st August 2005 they will start school in January 2010. SO September starters born Sept-March get a year and a term funded place with their extra term this summer, January starters get a year and a term funded place with their extra term in the Autumn. But only APRIL children get a year funded. The government are Aprilists - how can this be fair? It amounts to about £600 pounds in this type of benefit (i.e. Funded place) less than everyone else per child. My daughter was born in April 2002 and this did not happen then as the school starting cut off date and funded places cut off date was the same then and it doesn't take a genius to work out that the 2 government departments should get together and make it the same again. I phoned the dept for ed and they said "oh we've got to have a cut off date" but this argument holds no weight because my answer is yes the same date so everyone gets a year and a term funded. In no other situation, I hope, would you get less benefits than others because of the month you were born in. I for one have worked and paid taxes since my eldest was born and as a teacher (average wage) have been hanging out for this money to help with expensive child care but what about other April people on a lower wage than me, or people who don't work outside the home but do a sterling job bringing up their children but would fancy the same amount of restbite as everyone else gets for their April darling or a single mum who needs a break - it is unfair and ill thought out - JUST MAKE THE TWO DATES THE SAME! then we all get a year and a term. Nurseries lose out too because my community nursery has 5 April children that they will lose after sept 2009 but cannot get the £10 funding but intead have to charge the parents the under 3s rate for an extra term losing out on £4 per child per session for a term and they are suposed to be improving education for 3 year olds - how can they do this without the fair budget? The goverment say they are helping us but like child tax credits it is a disorganised, flawed and unfair system. Lastly, whether you believe in education for 3 year olds or not (personally I think the education that preschool offers through play is marvellous and school would do well to follow their lead) April children are being denied this extra term. In a climate where the government are asking teachers to 'shop' pertentual criminals in junior schools and talking about anti social behaviour surely they should be offering all children the same services, even if some parents choose not to use the. What about that child who comes from a disfunctional family and could do with the free social training that preschool would give them at 3, if they are born in April will they only get a year? YES. Will missing out on that term make them future delinquents as the government would have us believe? Probably not - but they can't spout retoric on one hand but not deliver for everyone - look forward to a future or antisocial Aprilites or maybe creative Aprilites if you belong to the anti preschool camp. I think we should all lobby the government for our funded places that we deserve. Thinking of starting an online pertition. If we get 10,000 names they have to raise it in the house of commons. Email [email protected] or write to Ed Balls,Dept. for child, schools and families, Sanctuary Buildings, Great Smith Street, London SW1P 3BT 08700002288 to complain - don't take it lying down!!!!!!!
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Do you have an April 2005 Child? You are losing £600 because your child was born in this month!
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Leonorap · 02/04/2008 17:18
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