33 replies to this topic

[Sue J]

Did you know that settings are no longer required to have an hour lunch break in between nursery education grant (NEG) sessions? Meals and snacks are considered to be part of a child's educational experience and therefore can be counted as part of their NEG session.
This means that if a child is attending a setting from 8am until 1pm their parent is allowed to claim for two sessions.
This practice fits well with the governments aim to provide flexible, affordable childcare.
(as quoted in Sure Start Training leaflet)

Sue J

[Mimi]

Sue - can you explain as I don't have to deal with funding - how can a parent claim for two seaaions???????????

[Sue J]

Mimi
As far as I know the funding was for 2.5 hours per session - I can only assume that they have decided that from 8am to 1pm is 5 hours so can count as 2 sessions.

Sue J

[Mimi]

I thought you could only claim for one session per day.

[Steve]

Ditto what Mimi said!

[Rea]

We have some children who come for one session in the morning and one in the afternoon and we claim for both.

[bubblejack]

I have just registered to provide day care on some days and it was pointed out to me that each child can claim no more than 2 sessions per day and I can't provide overnight care.!!!!!!
I was also told that children have to have at least 30mins between sessions. Now that has changed I may let them eat their lunch during the funded session and close 30 minutes earlier. Sue can you tell me where you got this information from, please.

[hali]

we claim two sessions per day too!!!

[Carol]

Hi

In my NEG folder it says that children can use 2 NEGs in one day but it must be separated with an hours break from the educational programe.

Carol

[bubblejack]

I had a big debate over this with early years and Ofsted. It is a very grey area. I was told it used to be an hour but now is a reasonable break from curriculum. could be 5 minutes. I opted for 30 minutes.

[leo]

hi,
i know of many settings that equate a whole day as 2 sessions of the funding and any more than the 2 1/2 days is chared at the nursery reregular rate.

[Gezabel]

We have children who use the funding
for three mornings and one whole day or any combination that makes 5! Fine by Ofsted (feb this year)

[Sue J]

Bubblejack
The information I posted was a direct quote from West Sussex Early Years Development and Childcare Partnership. They sent out out a booklet to us - Termly Training Update - Spring 2005 and there was the information under the heading Did You Know?
It means, I suppose, that if a child only attends 3 sessions but stays for lunch on two days, then if they claim for 5 sessions they don't have to pay for lunch. I think that's right! I will have to check.

Sue J

[starlight]

I am from the West sussex area and i read the article too about parents being able to claim for two sessions if they do 8-1 which ours do but we are open from 8-6 and we don't shut in between morning and afternoon sessions. So does this also apply to our nursery?

[ruthie]

hi,

like carol, my NEG folder states their has to be an hour break between sessions. i was always told we have to offer 2 1/2 hours morning session, one hour break and 2 1/2 hour session in the afternoon to claim for two sessions in one day, as lunch was NOT educational.

maybe its differnt in differnt areas, im in norfolk, and have never heard of being able to fund lunches, i have to be open from 9.30 - 3.30 for the children to claim for two sessions, which is an hour more than others.

if anyone hears anymore, please let us know