Having an 18 month old at nursery full time is'nt cheap.
I signed for a letter last night when collecting the boy. They have increased the fees by over 20% FFS!!!!!!!!!!!! New fee will be £1278 pcm.
The letter gives no detail other than waffle along the lines of 'increased government legislation'.
A quick survey of some other parents on a Whatsapp group and we were paying less than others, but are now firmly the most expensive.
I'm just wondering how this compares and if anyone else has felt a big price increase of late?
How long for, how many days a week?
I think we were paying £37.50 per day I the end that was 7 years ago.
*Googles, how to get in to the kids daycare business*
£1275 a month ?
😯
It'll likely be because the 30 hour free childcare contributions from the government barely cover the staffing costs, let alone all the surrounding costs associated with looking after future generations.
is this a result of the changing legislation surrounding the number of available free hours of child care increasing? There was significant news about that a couple of weeks ago with care costs projected to rise for some providers.
EDIT:beaten too it.
is there a feeling that they are taking the piss? i can t imagine they would be, as the costs must be pretty high for running a well resourced child care centre. where are you in the country out of interest?
our little one is in the nursery attatched to my wife's work- a leading NW private primary school- but the costs are fairly competitive for 4 days a week- its by far our biggest out going around £800 a month. think there's a handsome staff discount for us? nope- not until the child is 2 years old! Number 2 is on the way too.. fml.
Don't put your kids in the nursery full time.
From 8-6pm. On the plus side it is rated outstanding and he is very happy there. It is a few minutes walk from home so we can deliver/collect him and get to and from work ok.
But a 20% hike in fees is crazy
could be worse ours was closed down with 1 weeks notice!
theyd been struggling financially and had already raised prices once but lost some customers so guess they couldnt do any more
also downgraded by ofsted & council threatened to remove funding of free places (increase to 30 hours is a bit cost to local authorities)
Just offer to take some for a drive in the country?esselgruntfuttock - Member
*Googles, how to get in to the kids daycare business*
Our breakfast club/after school club have decided they are no longer taking childcare vouchers, because they haven't a bloody clue what their doing.
Bellends.
Although that amount up there is more than my annual bill... 😯
Having an 18 month old at nursery full time is'nt cheap.
Ain't that the truth, everytime I pay the bill I wonder what I did with the £700 a month before she came along.
I'm not sure there's been any new regs, I know it jumped up a couple of years ago when they changed the max number of Children per Carer, but that was 5-6 years I think.
Ours has just started part-time school nursery so we're finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel.
We never had full-time thankfully, but full time fees at our old Nursery was £900 a month, it was one of, if not the most expensive Nursery in Cardiff - I'd expect to pay more in the South East, but not elsewhere.
Our Childminder is £42 a day including food, £28 a for half-day with drop off or pick up.
It'll likely be because the 30 hour free childcare contributions from the government barely cover the staffing costs, let alone all the surrounding costs associated with looking after future generations.
Ah... I think that's restricted in Wales, Mrs deals with that side of things, but I'm sure the 'free hours' thing is only available if you can't get into a School Nursery and even then it's only 15 hours.
£6 an hour? Thats pretty cheap if you ask me. There are statutory regulations about the numbers of staff per child, facilities they must have etc etc..
Our 18 month old costs us £35 a day for an outstanding nursery. I'm reading this thread feeling very lucky indeed about these costs. My wife and I both work compressed so I have Thursdays off with my little girl. This is beneficial for our finances but also gives us both the chance to bond further for a whole day a week until she goes to school. I did the same with my 6yr old and I absolutely adore that time with her. Also as Baby sleeps for an hour and a half in the pm this is invaluable bike faffing time.
Sounds like you’ve found the most expensive nursery.
*Googles, how to get in to the kids daycare business*
You know that of adage about how to make a small fortune owning a bike shop? Start with a large fortune.
Applies to childcare too. No ones getting rich.
http://champagnenurseries.co.uk
🙄Don't put your kids in the nursery full time.
btw where is the OP? London?
Applies to childcare too. No ones getting rich.
Not everyone.
The owners of the one where my child went to did very well, they sold it in recent years and did extremely well from try sale.
In the past maybe. Not anymore.
Edit: I have a vested interest in a nursery currently for sale. There is no market at the moment as a result of the 30 free hours debacle.
The nursery we were using in Bristol was about £70/ day. Micro Ransos is now at pre-school so gets the full 15 hours for free. I suspect they can only make it work because its within an existing school building so a lot of costs are shared.
Don't put your kids in the nursery full time.
🙄
Ok, might not have been too helpful a comment, but it costs a bloody fortune.
My wife and I both dropped a day at work each meaning we only had to put kids in nursery 3 days a week, also meant we got to spend more time with kids.
You may say the OP might not be able to afford to drop days at work, but if it's gonna cost that much they might save enough to make it worth while.
We didn't mind losing a bit of money for the extra time off work work and extra time with the kids. 4 days a week at work is better for the head IMO.
My wife and I both dropped a day at work each meaning we only had to put kids in nursery 3 days a week, also meant we got to spend more time with kids.
Which is great if you can afford it and your employers agree to it.
Which is great if you can afford it and your employers agree to it.
Well yes as I said, but at £1278 a month they'd be saving over £500 by dropping a couple of days a week.
If they are putting kids in nursery that charges that much full time they are hardly on the bread line are they.
Employers yes I'll give you that but you never know until you ask, it's not as bad as it used to be.
Well yes as I said, but at £1278 a month they'd be saving over £500 by dropping a couple of days a week.
Maybe, maybe not. I know our nursery has a 'full time rate' for 5 days a week and if you want less than that you have to pay a 'day rate' which is a lot more (on a per day basis)
Employers yes I'll give you that but you never know until you ask, it's not as bad as it used to be.
This is true to an extent- it is of course highly variable. I work as one of 6 empolyees in my role and losing one person is a not inconsiderable deficit for my boss to contemplate regardless of his duty of care to my child care needs. Its probably not helpful to speculate on the OP's finances either with statements like "hardly on the breadline" a 20% increase of around £250 - per month- is a significant alteration.
You’ll never regret spending more time with your kids. I’d rather change jobs to spend more time with them. Seems crazy to work and spend all the earnings on outgoings to enable you to attend that workplace.
I have half my team work hours to suit childcare needs, they love it. One person on 4 days a week, one on 3, one does term time working only, another compressed hours. Works really well.
A good friend setup a nursery business run from a relatively cheap council facility which was unused weekdays (i.e. a sports clubhouse). She closed it down after 5 years as it was impossible to make money, i.e. pay herself a salary. So she just "got a normal job". Government regulations, health and safety, employee costs and taxes etc.
Op the way to look at nursery costs (IMO) is that it keeps you and the wife in fairly normal full time employment so that when the kids go to school full time you are still earning the same sort of money. If one of you stops whilst kids are little you will go back to much less well paid work or none at all. So even if income is less than costs now it's about the future.
You’ll never regret spending more time with your kids. I’d rather change jobs to spend more time with them. Seems crazy to work and spend all the earnings on outgoings to enable you to attend that workplace.
if only life was that simple. I might very well have to look at this solution in the coming years based on our income but its not a decision most would take lightly or on a whim. Severing a career path at 34 in my case to spend time as a FT stay at home dad- i would assume would affect my earning potential significantly when the time came to return to work. My heart says yes, but I don't want to live in a frikkng yurt and be all righteous. Frankly, I want to remain with a house over my head and a good education for my children.
Op the way to look at nursery costs (IMO) is that it keeps you and the wife in fairly normal full time employment so that when the kids go to school full time you are still earning the same sort of money. If one of you stops whilst kids are little you will go back to much less well paid work or none at all. So even if income is less than costs now it's about the future.
yes this!
So the Nursery are charging £60 per day?
That's about the going rate in my area (in fact, slightly less than we pay for TP Jr.)
Are you using Childcare Vouchers or Tax-Free Childcare? Depending on whether you or your partner are a higher rate tax payer, you may be able to reduce your costs by switching to Tax-Free Childcare.
Just to put this in context - its a first world rich folk issue. What you are paying is more than a full time salary for a staff nurse ie most workers could not afford it
That is blooming pricey!
We've been looking at the nursery vs child minders costs and the difference is massive. In York from what the other half has been told, we're late to the party looking for nursery spaces around May next year when she goes back to work, we'd be looking at 3 days @ £46-48 per day with a Nursery. Child minder on the other hand would be £30 for a full day and is on the way to work for me, the nurserys are all well out of the way for us both.
I know you mentioned the nursery you use was super useful as its only a couple of mins away but are there any child minders in the area which would reduce the monthly costs greatly?
I have half my team work hours to suit childcare needs, they love it. One person on 4 days a week, one on 3, one does term time working only, another compressed hours. Works really well.
Yep! Missus and I both work part time for much the same reason. Nursery fees were such that the money lost from going P/T was offset by the money saved on childcare.
These days the kids are at school, but I still work compressed hours (36 in 4 days, instead of the standard 39 in 5) so that I can have Fridays off.
Remember that the money "lost" is less than you;d think after you consider tax and NI (so dropping 1 day in 5 [i]doesn't[/i] actually mean dropping 20% of your take home pay)
Employers yes I'll give you that but you never know until you ask, it's not as bad as it used to be.
They are obliged to at least consider an application for flexible working and deal with it in a reasonable manner:
https://www.gov.uk/flexible-working
I recommend it!
Just to put this in context - its a first world rich folk issue. What you are paying is more than a full time salary for a staff nurse ie most workers could not afford it
If valuable members of society such as staff nurses can't afford childcare then it's very much not a "rich folk issue".
Ours is around £50 a day for 3 days a week.
Friends who have twins have a full time nanny as it works out significantly cheaper than putting both kids in nursery - which seems ridiculous.
They do need to make it affordable as we are seriously talking about dropping hours / one of us leaving paid work as we have a second at 6 months. It means people are dropping out of work at most likely their prime productive time, not because they want to, but because the costs are prohibitive.
ransos - Member
Just to put this in context - its a first world rich folk issue. What you are paying is more than a full time salary for a staff nurse ie most workers could not afford it
If valuable members of society such as staff nurses can't afford childcare then it's very much not a "rich folk issue".
The point is that most folk in the UK would not have the option of using a nursery. They alter their working hours, they use family and friends etc. I know a couple who work opposite shifts so they can look after their child. Nurseries are not an option for most folk
We are really lucky. We found a good childminder who is flexible and helps us out. Costs £3.50 an hour. My wife and I both work full time. The little guy goes to the child minders all day on Mondays and Tuesdays and goes to pre-school Wednesday through to Friday (which the childminder drops of and picks up for us). With the 30 hours free care for term time I pay between £80 and £130 a month for childcare (depending on holidays etc). It has only just got to this situation though for this term and the wife only started working full time this term.
If that £1278 a month covers 200hrs of care then it seems like a bargain. How much would you charge?
Maybe, maybe not. I know our nursery has a 'full time rate' for 5 days a week and if you want less than that you have to pay a 'day rate' which is a lot more (on a per day basis)
Yep, plenty of people want 3 or 4 days a week so there's not a big saving in many nurseries to drop a day - nowhere near 1/5th of your fees.
As well as the 30 hours stuff, there's also a higher rate of minimum wage now for over-25s, which is where a lot of the more experienced nursery staff are. Very difficult for the smaller nurseries who aren't able to spread fixed costs around so much.
£1278 😆 would be nice to pay that little. Only a few more years until the youngest goes to school...
The point is that most folk in the UK would not have the option of using a nursery.
So your point is that the OP shouldn't complain about nursery fees because "most folk" can't afford nurseries??
[b]The point is that most folk in the UK would not have the option of using a nursery.[/b] They alter their working hours, they use family and friends etc. I know a couple who work opposite shifts so they can look after their child. Nurseries are not an option for most folk
Precisely! So it's not a "rich folk issue", is it?
FFS TJ what total bollocks. Both of us are busy parents, working hard to make ends meet in the south east and live in a small terraced house. Neither of us are higher rate tax payers (or nurses). No car, no big holidays (26" wheels 🙂 etc just feeling the pinch.
I need to look into Tax Free Childcare/Vouchers thanks, but too busy working my nuts off currently, reduced hours not really an option sorry!
Its not bolloxs. You are paying the equivalent of the national average take home pay for childcare - an option not available to the majority of people in this country because they don't earn enough. How much less is the nursery fees than the lowest wage of the two of you?
All I was trying to do is put it in perspective
Just to put this in context - its a first world rich folk issue.
what an asshat.
care to share your child care experiences TJ?
