Ruth_Baldock Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Just a quickie (ooh er...) Do the free 15hrs at nursery start when a child is 2.5 or 3? A friend told me today it was 2.5. Yay! Can anyone shed any light on this?Ta! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/ Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 am sure its 3??http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Parents/Preschooldevelopmentandlearning/NurseriesPlaygroupsReceptionClasses/DG_10016103 Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506766 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lochie Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 your friend might have been confused and meant 3.5 e.g. if your child is April 1 birth then they are not eligible til 1 Sept after they have turned 3 (basically 3.5 years old then grrr) Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506768 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowboarder Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Yep the term AFTER they are three. We have exactly the situation Lochie describes with a 6 April birthday. Tsk. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506770 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Inkmaiden Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Sorry Ruth, I was misinformed! I thought it was going to be for all children but the government plans to increase the funding for the most disadvantaged children and for those on low incomes from 2014.http://www.guardian.co.uk/uk/2011/nov/29/autumn-statement-free-nursery-education Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506791 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Saffron Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 I had also heard from a friend that there was something for children from 2.5 years. When I looked into it, I think she was confusing the 15 free hours with child/working tax credit, which you can take earlier if eligible. If there really IS something for the 2.5 yos, I'd LOVE to know about it!!! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506795 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Renata Hamvas Posted December 9, 2011 Share Posted December 9, 2011 Not free, but St Mary's pre-school, St Mary's Rd, Nunhead takes 2.5 year olds. I can't remember the exact rate but it is very reasonable for a 3 hour drop off (9.15-12.15). Renata Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-506808 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaG3 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Ah-ha. Thanks for this thread Ruth. I must sort out nursery this week, but southwark council website so confusing!! So my daughters birthday is Feb 1, by my reckoning she can start nursery April 1 2012 this is 2 months after her 3rd birthday?! Im right, arent it wise mummies?And, how do I find out who will take her on early years entitlement? FYI Im near Harvester, and I am also willing to volunteer anywhere that will take her (I'm scared for her to be under someone elses care without me, until I can trust them. Makes sense to me) I dont get it, its all really confusing.I could ask a million and one questions about this literally need a step by step guide of what to do! My first parental stumbling block. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507153 Share on other sites More sharing options...
number 2 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 yes, she can start nursery the term after she's free for 15 hours a week which you can top up in private nurseries (and possibly council run ones too). you might struggle to get a place straight away at a good nursery - it took me a year for my son's name to come to the top of the nurseries i put his name down for. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507155 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaG3 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks - I know it may take a while, should of put name down earlier. Does everywhere take the entitlement, or how do I find out who does vs who doesnt? How does it work? Just want her to go for the 15 hours she is entitled to for free, cant afford any top up fees at the moment, and dont want her in full time anyway, 15 hours is enough in my eyes at such a young age. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507156 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickle Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Your best bet, if you want her to just go to nursery for the 15 hours, is to put her name down at school nurseries. You may have a chance of getting into the Goodrich nursery from where you are (I know quite a few kids in there are from the Lordship Lane estate, which must be close to you).The good thing about school nursery is that you get a real feel for the nursery and staff by being there a bit before drop off time, and certainly at Goodrich it's easy to chat to staff after the session. You can also volunteer to help with class trips, help with reading etc etc.The only hurdle will be that due to term times and when the new intakes happen, she probably won't be offered a school nursery place until September 2012, so it depends whether you want to wait that long.P x Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507159 Share on other sites More sharing options...
duchessofdulwich Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Does anyone find that the 15 hours week is too much for their child? The nursery I am looking at stipulates that you have to sign up for the full hours 15 hours Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507178 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaG3 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Thanks Pickle. Im so new to all of this, but I feel more comfortable with a smaller adult to child ratio. I assume (as with everything..) that a school nursery would have more children, and less staff to deal with them. If you know what I mean. I'll definitely go and have a look around different types of nursery and see what my daughter thinks (she will more than likely talk about it a hell of a lot, as she is already), she is desperate to start school and has been asking for the last 6 months or so. I'd love her to go to montessori, but am unsure whether either of the two I can think of take children on free places. Is there a site other than southwark council and directgov that offer advice on nursery etc that isnt quite so confusing? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507199 Share on other sites More sharing options...
snowboarder Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Gina my little boy (3 in april) goes to Buds - a preschool in the cricket club opposite the harvester. WOrth a look as so close to you? We really like it and on some days (mon/fri esp I think) it is much quieter than others. I don't know how they work out the 15hrs thing though - but morning sessions are 9-1 and they take a packed lunch.We currently do 2 mornigs a week - with the odd extra morning occasionally. He loves it and would like to go more - just can't really afford it until the grant kicks in. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507243 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuschia Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Not free but lots of adults to children and you could do one or two sessions Pw - magic moments cr?che inThe lordship lane estate 10-12 every day but weds?10 per dayThey don't take the nursery grant But take children from18mIs very loving and nurturing Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507246 Share on other sites More sharing options...
buggie Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 GinaG3 = there are regulations stipulating (very strictly) the ratio's needed of staff to children, so it wouldn't matter if it was a school nursery or private nursery that Mini-Gina was attending - there would still be the same ratio of staff to children and think it would be unlikely for either to offer a higher than recommended ratio (think it's something like 1:4 children 2-3yrs and 1:8 for 3-7yr olds). Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507247 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pickle Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 True Buggie. The school nursery that my daughter attends has 25 children in it, and four staff members (mixture of teachers and TA's), and I think this is standard.I'm also a fan of Magic Moments creche, like Fuschia says it's a lovely nurturing environment. The only downside is that the grant doesn't apply, although most children leave to go on to school nurseries at around 3.5ish. My son went there until he was nearly 4 (started at 2.5), and daughter from 20 months until 3 years. They still talk about it all the time. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507250 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaG3 Posted December 11, 2011 Share Posted December 11, 2011 Would probably be looking at BUDS or Dulwich Village preschool as both are within walking distance to us. Where exactly is BUDS, I have actually never seen it, do you have to walk through the car park bit where the Christmas trees go up for sale. I assume both have long waiting lists?! And how many waiting list can you sit on? Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507253 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuschia Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 When a qualified teacher is in charge the ratio is actually 1:13 for 3/4yos rather than 1:8 So many schoolNurseries willOperate with fewer staff than private and voluntary settings In a school there is back up to Hand from others with regard to management support etc, mind you Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507264 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuschia Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Gina, as many waiting lists as you like .. You may need toPay a small deposit Admittance is usuallyVia age and in some cases distance Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507265 Share on other sites More sharing options...
GinaG3 Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Going to email two nurseries today about there admission processes and expected waiting times, also about early years entitlement. Thanks for all your help ladies. Much appreciated!!! Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507334 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 duchessofdulwich Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> Does anyone find that the 15 hours week is too> much for their child? The nursery I am looking at> stipulates that you have to sign up for the full> hours 15 hoursWell if it's paid for anyway, then surely you can just pick them up early, or keep them out. As long as the nursery are getting their money, I doubt they really care if the kids are physically there to be honest. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507342 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bellenden Belle Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Otta Wrote:-------------------------------------------------------> duchessofdulwich Wrote:> --------------------------------------------------> -----> > Does anyone find that the 15 hours week is too> > much for their child? The nursery I am looking> at> > stipulates that you have to sign up for the> full> > hours 15 hours> > > Well if it's paid for anyway, then surely you can> just pick them up early, or keep them out. As long> as the nursery are getting their money, I doubt> they really care if the kids are physically there> to be honest.I have friends who have tried this and nurseries don't encourage it. After all, they have to keep registers which are then presented to local authorities in order for them to get their funding - so absences are likely to have an impact on the money they receive. And besides it is taking up a free place of another child who might benefit. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507352 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Otta Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Fair points. Guess it depends on the nursery. The one we had out daughter at for a while said you had to do at least 3 sessions a week, but they were actually quite flexible when we spoke to them. Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507356 Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fuschia Posted December 12, 2011 Share Posted December 12, 2011 Private nurseries may allow the 15h x 38 weeks to be stretched out, fewer hours but all year round Link to comment https://www.eastdulwichforum.co.uk/topic/20897-free-15hrs-at-nursery-25yrs-or-3yrs/#findComment-507401 Share on other sites More sharing options...
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