Nursery Education Grant (NEG)
The answers below may answer your queries, but if you need more information please contact the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames' Family Information Service on 020 8831 6298 (email fis@richmond.gov.uk), or talk to your childcare provider.
What is the Nursery Education Grant?
The Nursery Education Grant funds Early Years Education sessions for three and four year olds from the term after their third birthday.
Every year term dates are:
- 1 September -31 December
- 1 January - 31 March
- 1 April - 31 August
What does the grant pay for?
The early years education entitlement is for up to five sessions per week of two and a half hours per session, for between 33 and 38 weeks per year. Children can attend fewer than five sessions a week (or none at all); it's the parent's/carer's decision.
Do I need to be a resident of the borough of Richmond upon Thames?
No, but your child must go to an eligible "setting" within the borough.
What is an eligible setting?
Your child must attend one of the following
- A maintained nursery school or class
- A private nursery registered with Ofsted
- A private or voluntary playgroup registered with Ofsted
- An independent school registered with the Department for Education and Skills
- An accredited childminder registered with Ofsted
All maintained schools provide 2.5 hours of nursery education per day. Some have a choice of morning or afternoon sessions. Demand for places at maintained nurseries is high. Parents/carers are advised to register their child once the child is two years old.
Private nurseries and playgroups, independent schools and accredited childminders must be on the Council's current Directory of Providers - which means they are able to provide funded nursery education places.
The Family Information Service can also advise you as to which groups are on the Directory of Providers.
How do I get the money?
In the first two weeks of each term the setting will carry out a head count of all children who qualify for Nursery Education Funding. The setting then sends the list to the Early Years and Childcare Team, and the grant is paid directly to the setting on your child's behalf, usually at half-term. Parents need to ensure that when the setting provides the Parent Declaration Form (PDF), it is signed and returned (to the setting) in good time.
Parents cannot be required to pay up front for the (nursery education grant) funded element of their child's day.
Maintained nurseries will not ask parents to complete a PDF.
If your child attends a maintained nursery and another setting, you will not be able to claim the grant for the other setting, as your child will already be receiving free Early Years Education at their maintained nursery.
How much money is the grant worth?
If you would like information about how much the grant is worth this financial year (1 April 2008-31 March 2009), please contact the Family Information Service.
Please note that many of the settings provide additional services as well as nursery education, for example, childcare beyond your child's free entitlement to Early Years Education. In these cases, parents will be charged a fee for those additional services.
I want 38 week provision - where can I find it?
Maintained nursery schools and classes provide 38 weeks per year. Private nurseries, playgroups and independent schools are encouraged to do so, but not all are able to. As a parent/carer you will need to check with the groups that interest you before making your decision as the Council cannot fund top up weeks at a second group or school. Please contact the Family Information Service for information about sessional care, full daycare, childminders and maintained schools.
I want to stay with my current provider but they don't offer 38 weeks.
Many of the providers are planning to move to 38 weeks. Please talk to the person in charge of your group. If they do not have plans to move to 38 weeks and you want to access the extra funding, you will need to consider changing provider. The Family Information Service will have an up to date list.
I want the basic entitlement of 2.5 hours per day only
If you require the basic entitlement of 2.5 hours per day only, you are advised to seek a place at your local maintained nursery school or class, or choose from the groups who offer sessions of only 2.5 hours nursery education per day. The Family Information Service can provide you with advice and guidance on such groups. In all cases, do discuss your request with the manager of the school/group or childminder. In the event that the group or school of your choice is unable to offer you the core nursery education entitlement only, please contact the Family Information Service for further advice.
My child's nursery offers less than 38 weeks per year, can I send them to another setting to make up the difference?
No, once you sign the Parent Declaration Form at the beginning of term to receive the grant through a provider, extra weeks at the end of term/year cannot be claimed elsewhere.
What about the extension to 15 hours per week?
Fifteen hours per week is being piloted nationally in ten local authority areas. RIchmond upon Thames is not a pilot area. However, by 2010, some settings in the borough will be providing fifteen hours per week, after consultation with the Early Years and Childcare Service.
How do I contact the Children's Information Service?
You can contact the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames' Family Information Service on 020 8831 6298 (email fis@richmond.gov.uk).
Phone lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5pm. At all other times, you will be able to leave a message on their voicemail service.
or please visit them (Monday - Friday, 9am - 5pm) at
2nd floor, Regal House
London Road
Twickenham TW1 3QB