We have operated the system he suggests since we opened seven years ago. It is simple to administer and everyone understands it.
During term time, when a child attends their 'free sessions' be it five or one per week, they are only charged for the daycare they receive outside these free session hours. During school holidays, as there are no free sessions, they are charged the full childcare rate. All this is highlighted on their invoice each month.
Our funded 50-place pre-school class (25 morning and afternoon places) operates from a separate room to our childcare room, but funded children can access childcare within that room should parents require it. However, it does mean that our daycare room has to keep those places open and can't accept what would otherwise be full paying children. We have addressed this by limiting the number of places we offer for funded children to access our daycare room. There are certain conditions attached, such as that they sign an agreement that they will pay a half-price retainer during school holidays if they attend term-time-only and they sign up for at least two part-time equivalent daycare sessions and pay for them whether used or not.
Our separate room helps us enormously in being able to operate this system. I am aware that many childcare settings have not got this option.
It is for these providers who, I believe, have the biggest hurdle to climb to work in larger numbers. If you can fill the place with a full 20 per session child, then that's who you are going to market your provision at.
Judith Baxter, manager, St Mary's Nursery, Hexham, Northumberland
