Nursery deposit

[isntthatapippip]

I have been asked for what I feel is a huge deposit/registration fee for my second child at the same nursery as my first child went to and I wanted to find out what is standard for this.

I paid £50 registration fee for my first and £250 deposit when he started attending.

For my second I have been asked for £1000 to be paid asap. £250 a month will be repaid in the first three months leaving a £250 deposit to be refunded when he leaves.

This deposit/fee is so different to what was charged for my first child and tbh more than I can afford (single mother on maternity leave). I want to try and discuss this with them but wanted find out what terms other nurseries have first.

Does the above sound normal?

[Hoggle246]

Certainly not at my nursery! I think ours was £100.

[insancerre]

We charge £50 registration and no deposit, just a months fees up front
£1000 seems a bit excessive

[MistAndAWeepingRain]

£1000 would certainly be excessive around here (Midlands). DDs nursery asked for a registration fee of £75 I think.

[Kim82]

I need to go and pay our deposit for dd as she starts in feb when I go back to work after may leave. We have to pay a £75 deposit for a part time place. £1000 is bloody ridiculous!

[insancerre]

Is the nursery in financial difficulties, I wonder?
Have they recently had a requires improvement Ofsted and lost the early years funding?
Are they full. Do they gave a waiting list?
I'd be tempted to negotiate with them to reduce the deposit. Threaten to go elsewhere.

[SpaghettiMeatballs]

£1,000. I paid £100 for my first. With my second they didn't charge anything as they said they knew me and knew I would take up the place.

[Andcake]

Varies a lot round our way - £5 to £100 both extremes are for my 2 closest outstanding nurseries. £1000 is hugely over the top - again I would question their finances.
On another note would people worry. If a nursery didn't ask for a deposit - we are moving and a few seem to not have them. Moving from London to the sticks....

[Chaby]

we paid £500 deposit plus £50 registration

[BikeRunSki]

I paid £50 for me first child and nothing for the second - I assumed that this was because DC1 was still there but had moved onto his funded hours.

[SoonToBeSix]

We pay two weeks fees in advance and two weeks as deposit .

[Barbeasty]

We paid £50 registration/ deposit for DC1, which we've just had knocked off DC2's fees because we gave the required 1 months notice.

We should have paid £100 deposit for DC2 at his new nursery which he'll start in January, because we reserved a place more than 2 months in advance, but they forgot to ask us for it! They've said not to bother now. That would normally come off the first month's bill.

Both pay fees 1 month in advance.

[sallysimpson]

I payed £25 deposit! Wow £1000 is more than our rental deposit!

[trilbydoll]

We paid £50 registration and then the fees are due at the beginning of each month. No deposit at all.

[dancingwitch]

Is there anything about your payment history with them (for example, being late paying) or your circumstances (eg they know your elder child goes to school on the other side of town where a new nursery which is more convenient for you) which means that they have hiked up the deposit you have to pay but it is a more normal amount for anyone else? If not, I'd also be very suspicious. You're effectively on three months notice.

[isntthatapippip]

Thanks for your help everyone. I really appreciate it.

[callamia]

We paid £75 deposit when he went on the waiting list, a month in advance when his place was confirmed. The deposit is offset against the fees too (I think).

[TiggyD]

Sounds like they need cash fast. Wonder if they'll go bankrupt soon and be unable to pay it back?

[Alwaysinahurrynow]

Our deposit is £500. I think it's to stop people pulling out before their child starts and the nursery has gaps.

[Pidgy]

Ours is £500.

A lot when you consider I have 2 children there so £1000!!

[Islander79]

No registration fee, no deposit, but month's fees in advance here.

[UsainWho]

I assume your first has left the nursery now (you say he want there?) hence why you're subject to a deposit. Anyway, a month's fees in advance for me plus £30 registration fee. If you're £40 a day, a month's full-time fees would be £833 so £1000 isn't as massive an amount as it sounds.

[superram]

Ours was £50 registration plus one months fees (about £1000). However, we didn't pay a deposit for second child when first one was still there, it covered them both then they have kept until second child leaves.