Hi, I had a parent on pick-up tonite announce that from next wk her child has been offered 15 hrs free childcare at a nursery school. The little one only turns 3 on the 11th june. I thought the 15 hrs free funding started the term after the 3rd birthday, does anyone know if this right as this half way through a term too?

No the funding starts at the beginning of the term after they turn 3. So this child will get free hours from September.

Yes it's the term after their 3rd birthday.

1st Jan - 31 Mar eligible 1st Apr.
1st Apr-31st Aug eligible 1st Sept.
1st Sep - 31 Dec eligible 1st Jan.

If our school nursery has spaces they will take children before they qualify for the funded sessions.

I'm not sure how it works money-wise, but a lot seem to start just after their third birthday rather than waiting till the following term.

Hi, I had a parent on pick-up tonite announce that from next wk her child has been offered 15 hrs free childcare at a nursery school. The little one only turns 3 on the 11th june. I thought the 15 hrs free funding started the term after the 3rd birthday, does anyone know if this right as this half way through a term too?

Strange! Normally its the term after they have turn 3. Between Easter and summer star September, Sep- Dec start January , Jan-march/April start after Easter, depending on the nursery intake. My child was 3 in October and she has to wait until the following September unless she went private, then she could start after Christmas and still get her 15 hours free.

If our school nursery has spaces they will take children before they qualify for the funded sessions.

I'm not sure how it works money-wise, but a lot seem to start just after their third birthday rather than waiting till the following term.

One of the newer nurseries near us does exactly this. According to one of the staff, they effectively have the child for a few weeks with nobody paying them. They seem to have made a business decision to take the financial hit temporarily so as to get the lo in their setting before anyone else does.

So they get free funding, if it comes in a day when you have them full time they still pay you as you are holding the place for them. Or cant you offer the funding for them as i assume that part of More Great Childcare still stands :)