Childcare

When my Daughter turned two, i could tell she could do with got to school because she needed contact with other children.

I’d starting taking her to my local library on a Monday and Tuesday, this was free but i had o be there and it was only for a hour.

I had got my Daughters name down at Pennyhill primary school since she was a month old ( i know this is early but i had been told this was a hard school to get into.)

But of Course they don’t start school until she 3 if she’s lucky if not she may have to wait till she’s 5.

Anyway i had been taking her to the library for a while when one of the nursery nurses asked me how old she was at the time she was 2  and a half. they told me our local council is doing a Free for Two scheme where we can get children aged two into nursery for 12.5 hours free. well i thought this would be great, but this was harder than it seemed .

i got onto the council and asked for the application form , which when it came through it asked if you were a immigrant or claiming benefits etc, and to be honest it didn’t look good , i had basically not got to be working and not be born in this country but i thought i would apply anyway.

I got my sure start lady to sign this for me as well, she also wrote we needed child care for my daughter to Help out my mom and mother in law ( who look after her while I’m at work partime , plus looking after my son and another children under 3 ) i was grateful for any help.

i sent the form off this took a few months to come back. and when it did they told me because she was only valid for one term she wouldn’t be able to go on this scheme.

Well that was great if i had known about this service before i may have got her in early and she be in nursery for free.

Well I left it and thought i will try Pennyhill again when she turns 3.

Her Birthday is on the 6th of September and i was told she would miss the cut off time and would be able to start till the September she turns 4 . i was just having no luck i could only get her nursery if I’m willing to pay £150pounds a week.

No way can i afford that.

Well i asked the school if any places came up early to let me know .

in the meantime the council then got on to us and told us she could have a free place January witha private nursery which i was pleased with only got to wait a few months and she can start.

Then within a few days Pennyhill got in touch and advised She could start at their nursery on the 2nd of Nov.

I couldn’t believe it, only 2 weeks wait of course i took the place at Pennyhill.

And now two week later she has started her first week and loves it and i have seen a change in her already.

i just wanted to let people out there know its a hard process for people to get their children into school if they can’t afford to pay ,but if you stick with it you will get there .

Just got to go through the same thing again with my son .