Question
Q – “I claim the two year old funding but I only claim 12 hours a week (2 days), if the nursery claims 15 hours a week from the government but I only use 12 in term time, can I use the remainder hours I should have ‘left over’ in summer holidays / half term hols? How do nurseries do this if they do?”
Answers
A – “The nursery can only claim for the hours your child’s attends in this case 2 full days or 12 hours they are not permitted to claim extra and aren’t automatically paid 15 hours for each child. You can enquire about stretching your 15 hours over 52 weeks rather than taking it term time only but I’m assuming that this would leave you with a slight shortfall to pay each week.”
A – “Nurseries can be audited and must show that children have attended what they have claimed for and that absences have been logged. The nursery can only give you the hours your booked into so you could realistically attend a further 3 hours a week as they are claiming it already although very wrong of them to do so . The hours cannot be Adhok though as they need to be documented”
A – “They should only claim for the hours attended and be keeping records of any missed hours. Unused hours can be used in holidays etc IF the nursery provides Stretched offer places….how I know it in Sheffield. Other areas may be different”
A – “It might depend on the local authority. Cornwall allow parents to claim additional hours and bank them to use at another time. It’s different to the stretched funding option. Their form and guidance can be found here https://www.cornwall.gov.uk/…/ey2c-parent-guardian… ”
A – “If you only wish to claim 12 hours a week rather than 15 you are allowed as long as this is stated on your funding form which you fill in at the settling. You can also do what is called stretched funding were you get less than 15 hours a week but your child will be in a setting throughout the year and not just term time.”
A – “They should only claim for the hours that your child attends. I operate a term time only setting but in a previous setting, all year round, the 2 year funded children we funded all year round.”
A – “When I used to do the funding only the 2 yr funding could you claim the 15 only irrespective of how many u did and we weren’t allowed to hold the unused hours over that wasn’t our decision!”
A – “know my nursery does 12 hours a week over the year or 15 hours in term time but we give the parents the choice of what they would like”
A – “the nursery should only claim 12 hrs, you should sign something each term stating your funded hours, you can claim and spread the hours but this can sometimes get confusing”
A – “My daughter has always done stretched funding she goes 12 hours a week instead of 15 but goes all year round besides a week in summer and over Christmas”
A – “It’s up to the nursery in question. Some will spread it out throughout the whole year whereas others will only allow you to use it term time! Ask your nursery what they can do for u”
A – “You have to sign a form that states your hours which is what they use to claim so they couldn’t be claiming more”
A – “No you can’t use hours outside the dates and as for the setting claiming for 15 if your not using it that’s not allowed”