30 Hours Free Childcare - Our Nursery Has Bumped up Costs - 5 day week =£351 a month?

Merchandiser2367

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

I know childcare has always been expensive, my 3 children went to nursery whilst I & partner worked full time. It used to take up half of my salary.

But when the government are boasting about FREE childcare (which everybody thought was brilliant) and then lie like this I find it totally unacceptable. Not everybody have teachers work hours, unbelievable that teachers get 14 weeks off per year, Surely not?

Yes agree with you on this, we are paying £1000 a month for our almost 3 year old for 4 days a week - 8-6pm.

That is one and a quarter tines our mortgage! That's why when the 'Free' hours were mentioned, we thought it would be amazing as we don't have much spare momey at all due to childcare costs but it seems it will not be much more at all

alipops1986

Merchandiser2367 wrote: »

Thanks Alipops,

When you say preschool, is this part of a standard school? Our Nursery offers preschool but are subject to the same costs as mentioned above?

Thanks

It's a preschool attached to a primary school.
Fortunately for us it's our local village preschool/primary school so actually logistically better. If they didn't do breakfast club/after school club then it wouldn't be possible for us, so I do feel rather lucky.
It'll still be a race to work, for my husband this time rather than me, as breakfast club doesn't open until 7:45am - but it's worth the race for the saving.
Also, my little boy will be going there for "proper" school next September so will hopefully settle him in early to that kind of routine.

Alipops x

alipops1986

skcollobcat10 wrote: »

An excellent idea sending child to preschool. I hope lots of parents do that too.

The nurseries became greedy when nursery vouchers came out years ago, they kept on upping the hourly rate.

Whatever was wrong with employing ordinary childminders like they did in the past. There used to be lots of mums who preferred to do this type of childminding when their own kids were little.

In our village, which is a fair size, there aren't any childminders - a shame as they would be used if they opened before 8am and existed. A lot of the other childminders in the next village don't open until 8/8:30 which would be too late for us.

I think if more preschools, attached to primary schools, were able to offer wrap around care they'd get much busier. It does benefit the school as they get the pupils earlier, so can start their learning ready for when they enter reception.

parkrunner

Some good info here,

http://www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/30-hours-of-free-childcare---will-my-child-get-it/38143.html

I'd also say that looking at it as a whole you are roughly getting a total of 1330hrs of childcare including food and drink for a total of £3100 (rough figures) so around £2.33 an hour which isn't bad.

teddysmum

This is like the care home situation, where it's claimed that LAs don't pay enough to cover free places for those with few assets, so the self-funders are overcharged to make up the difference.

Merchandiser2367

parkrunner wrote: »

Some good info here,

http://www.madeformums.com/news-and-gossip/30-hours-of-free-childcare---will-my-child-get-it/38143.html

I'd also say that looking at it as a whole you are roughly getting a total of 1330hrs of childcare including food and drink for a total of £3100 (rough figures) so around £2.33 an hour which isn't bad.

I take it you're not one of the people who will be paying £610 a month for 30 'free' hours then?

IAmWales

teddysmum wrote: »

This is like the care home situation, where it's claimed that LAs don't pay enough to cover free places for those with few assets, so the self-funders are overcharged to make up the difference.

Yes, and like care homes some nurseries will close because they can no longer cover their costs. Parents wanting to go to work no longer have childcare as demand outstrips supply.

Everyone loses.

Merchandiser2367

Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated

Any other parents with examples out there? Maybe more people will find similar circumstances the nearer we get to the new term?

parkrunner

Merchandiser2367 wrote: »

I take it you're not one of the people who will be paying £610 a month for 30 'free' hours then?

Correct, and I guess you are one of the people who didn't read the detail when this was announced. You only get a maximum amount of hours per year which you have already used up in the 38 term time weeks, so obviously they are charging you the full amount for the rest of the year. £610 a month for all those hours is still cheap.

Darksparkle

Merchandiser2367 wrote: »

Thanks for everyone's input, much appreciated

Any other parents with examples out there? Maybe more people will find similar circumstances the nearer we get to the new term?

As you say, you might get more responses nearer the time but also keep in mind it's only England it's been rolled out completely. Scotland and Wales are only running trials at present and I don't believe Northern Ireland plans to increase at all.