Nursery 'educational supplement' payments

[Deleted User]

Our eldest (3) begins 'free' nursery next September, and we just had a fun letter through the door. They would like £420 a term to 'uphold their high educational standards'. This is a state nursery school (although it is a faith school) which is linked to a primary school. The details of what this pays for are rather vague in the letter.

Has anyone had experience of this?

shellsuit

£420 a term?? For what?!

I hope I don't get the same from the faith state nursery/pre school, my little one is starting this year!

[Deleted User]

For 'maintaining the educational standards of the school' ... it's not just for the nursery - it looks like this is throughout the primary school also. We were expecting to have to pay a supplement for religious studies, and for lunches (you aren't allowed to send you own). It's come as a bit of a shock

If all parents paid in the nursery, it would be like the parents giving the school an extra £72k on top of what the government pays them

shellsuit

I know when my older 2 were younger, we'd get a letter each year from the Bishop of Shewsbury to ask for contributions (there was a bog standard amount of around £50, but you could give more or less, or nothing even) towards the funding of the school, but £420 a TERM?!

If it's a free school, how can they charge £420 a term?!

You don't have to pay it you know. A free school can't make it compulsory to pay that, otherwise it would be a fee paying school wouldn't it.

My flabber is well and truly ghasted!

koalamummy

Ringo are you able to check with the nursery that this is the actual amount that the letter is supposed to state rather than a more realistic £42.00 per term?

[Deleted User]

koalamummy wrote: »

Ringo are you able to check with the nursery that this is the actual amount that the letter is supposed to state rather than a more realistic £42.00 per term?

Well, it's stated on 3 different pages, along with a form for an annual £1260 direct debit! It's no mistake

This is a Jewish school, not that I believe it should make any difference. I knew we would need to pay towards Hebrew studies and possibly the extra security the school uses. We'd also need to pay towards lunches.

This works out about £40 a week in payments

shellsuit

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Well, it's stated on 3 different pages, along with a form for an annual £1260 direct debit! It's no mistake

This is a Jewish school, not that I believe it should make any difference. I knew we would need to pay towards Hebrew studies and possibly the extra security the school uses. We'd also need to pay towards lunches.

This works out about £40 a week in payments

Are there any other parents in the same boat as you who might be able to shed some light on it?

Or have you tried googling the school or faith for these payments?

I can fully understand if this is a private school, but it isn't so have no idea why they are asking for such a large amount of money.

Could you possibly ring the council and see if they can shed any light on it, seeing as the school would be closed now?

jackyann

I would get on to the Advisory Centre for Education who have up to date information. However, I suspect that the bulk of this is a "voluntary" contribution and your child will not be penalised if you don't pay it.
If attending this school is that important to you, then contact them and say that you will voluntarily donate what you can afford. Their reaction may affect your decision to stay or leave the parallel religious education system.

[Deleted User]

Our main choice for the school is that it is an excellent school; forgetting the religious element. We're quite surprised we got in as it works on a 'distance per postcode' admissions policy.

Oh yes, it's 'voluntary'. We're currently writing our 'sorry we can't afford it' letter. The areas surround the school are rather affluent (and I mean a 4 bed house will set you back at least £500k) so there are probably plenty of parents who would pay it

pinkclouds

ringo_24601 wrote: »

Our eldest (3) begins 'free' nursery next September, and we just had a fun letter through the door. They would like £420 a term to 'uphold their high educational standards'. This is a state nursery school (although it is a faith school) which is linked to a primary school. The details of what this pays for are rather vague in the letter.

Has anyone had experience of this?

I gather that you are asking whether the Early Years Nursery Grant (or whatever it's called these days) really covers 15 "free" hours of nursery school?

The short answer is: no.

The nursery grant allows the nursery school to claim a fixed amount of money from the government. If your child attends for 3 hours a week then they only get 1/5 of the money. If your child attends for 15 hours a week then they get all of the money. However, the government grant does not necessarily cover the entire school fees. The school place would only be "free" if the school fees were less than the government grant.

My kids' nursery school participates in the grant scheme. I pay extra on top of that.

Actually... just noticed it is a state school. I'm a bit surprised. I would query this with the school directly.

[Deleted User]

Yep.. state school all the way. Frankly, this is a bit similar to synagogue fees. They'll state a high fee (e.g. £50 a month) and not expect everyone to pay it

No one has mentioned it on the nursery's facebook group yet - i suspect no one wants to admit they can't/won't pay for it.

It's expensive being Jewish...