bump

TBH, I think they are only fair - otherwise there is a small minority of people who would always be late, meaning that at least two members of staff have to stay on.

If it is possible/probable that I'll be late, then I make arrangements with one of the staff to bring DS home and babysit for us, and that works really well

I think its fair enough as well. Agree that without a proper deterrent there would be parents always rushing through the door 'only' 10 mins late to pick up their child which is unfair on the staff that have to stay to cover. It certainly gives you an incentive to make sure you leave a proper window for travel to do the pick up.

they are a necessary evil to stop the minority of parents who take advantage and don't bother to ensure they collect on time.

A full day in childcare is a long time for the child anway so why on earth can't parents prioritise being there to collect on time.

Fortunately most of the childcare providers I know of will waive fees for exceptional circumstances/people who are usually prompt.

I think there should be a little discretion with these fees. If someone is constantly late then fair enough.
I was charged £5 by my after school club once because I was literally 2 minutes late due to a bus not turning up. I had never been late before and have never been late again, so a little harsh imho.

i agree, if the daycare providers did not enforce this then some people would take advantage, the staff have a life too, and may have their own kids to go and collect and things like that. I also agree that if you are usually prompt then they will be pretty good, I was unavoidably late once and they waved my apologies aside, saying don't worry Mrs Gemmummy, and I was not charged.

Cargirl - I agree, I don't like my DS being the last child to be picked up so make sure my working day is scheduled so I am there well before the official 'close time'. Where I have had unusual problems with the trains I have to rely on I have called ahead to explain that I could be late and why and I doubt whether my nursery would impose the fee in this case (though fortunately not had to test this theory yet!!)

I'm surprised you are writing a story about this as it seems a complete non-issue. I think the charges are fair enough. I don't see it as "being clobbered". I find the nurseries my children have gone to to have been completely reasonable about this and have waived the charge when there have been exceptional circumstances - which really is most occasions when parents are late.

As someone else has said, no one likes their child to be the last one, and nursery staff have lives too.

in my experience, nurseries and after school clubs use this as a deterrent for persistently late parents. On the very rare occasions (talking once or twice here in 9 years) where I have been late, a surcharge has never been mentioned.