Out of hours school club charges

Bmwm3gt2

Hi, my 2 youngest use the out of hours school club and they have never provided an itemised invoice, just a total. I thought it was high last month so requested a breakdown. They say that they bill £5.50 per child per hour, or part of. I don't have a problem if I only take them for 45 minutes and get billed for the hour but what I have found they are doing is if they are in all morning, which they open 7.15 until 8.45 when school opens is charging for 2 hours. Now are they able to do that as they are not even open for 2 hours? Also they say they are not making a profit and just covering costs yet every other school in the area are around the £1.50-2.50 per hour range and I don't see how they can be so much more than the other schools, especially as they are always at or near capacity for the members of staff! Can anyone advise me please if they can do this? Thanks

TBagpuss

If they say that they bill per hour or part hour, then yes, they can charge £11 for an hour and a half.

Your can, of course, suggest to them that it would be appropriate to consider a lower charge for the morning if they are only open for 90 minutes, but if they are only covering costs, they may not be able to afford to do that.

lika_86

Yes, if they say they are doing that and you agree to it then they can. Also, I bet their staff don't turn up at 7.15 and leave at 8.45, I bet they are there 7-9 and that's what you're paying for.

Bmwm3gt2

Thanks, I guess I will just have to put up with it then as I don't think they will stop charging if they can but charging an extra 30 minutes that you can't possibly have in both morning and afternoon sessions 5 days a week for 2 kids is an extra £55 for nothing, yet if they were in for an hour you wouldn't pay extra, stinks if you ask me! Think it's time to look for a childminder lol

Pollycat

Why not ask them why they are billing you for 2 hours in the morning when the 'out of hours' club is only open for 90 minutes?


The worst answer they can give you is 'we bill per hour or part of'.
If I got that response I'd say 'well, I can understand that but if the club is only open for 90 minutes, it sounds a bit unfair to bill for 2 hours when it's not a parent's choice to use a part hour'.

Fireflyaway

I'm assuming as others say that the staff are there for 15 mins before and after the session and that's part of the cost.
It does seem expensive for a school club. My daughter's school is £3 a day for breakfast care ( includes cooked breakfast) and if you use after school which is up to 6p.m. It's £65 per term.

Pollycat

Fireflyaway wrote: »

I'm assuming as others say that the staff are there for 15 mins before and after the session and that's part of the cost.
It does seem expensive for a school club. My daughter's school is £3 a day for breakfast care ( includes cooked breakfast) and if you use after school which is up to 6p.m. It's £65 per term.

I'd not noticed that.


If that is the case, charging for the full 2 hours seems reasonable.

Bmwm3gt2

I can't comment about when they shut in the evening but they open the doors at bang on 7.15, 7.14 if they are early lol and they are gone at 8.45 as the room is used for playgroup who get in at 8.45 to open at 9.00

Tabbytabitha

cbrookes wrote: »

Hi, my 2 youngest use the out of hours school club and they have never provided an itemised invoice, just a total. I thought it was high last month so requested a breakdown. They say that they bill £5.50 per child per hour, or part of. I don't have a problem if I only take them for 45 minutes and get billed for the hour but what I have found they are doing is if they are in all morning, which they open 7.15 until 8.45 when school opens is charging for 2 hours. Now are they able to do that as they are not even open for 2 hours? Also they say they are not making a profit and just covering costs yet every other school in the area are around the £1.50-2.50 per hour range and I don't see how they can be so much more than the other schools, especially as they are always at or near capacity for the members of staff! Can anyone advise me please if they can do this? Thanks

Perhaps they are paying staff a wage that represents the responsibility of the job rather than the pittance that many childcare providers pay?

Bmwm3gt2

That would explain it however I doubt it very much, to make matters worse my partner was a manager at a nursery for many years and can't believe how poor the staff are, frequently going in to effectively see the kids running riot and the staff looking shocked when she gets some kind of order from them while she gets our kids! She has said on many occasions that place must be a gold mine, and she would like to take over it and run it properly.

kingfisherblue

cbrookes wrote: »

That would explain it however I doubt it very much, to make matters worse my partner was a manager at a nursery for many years and can't believe how poor the staff are, frequently going in to effectively see the kids running riot and the staff looking shocked when she gets some kind of order from them while she gets our kids! She has said on many occasions that place must be a gold mine, and she would like to take over it and run it properly.

I'm surprised that you let your children attend. I wouldn't if it was that bad!