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I know it varies, but average nursery costs? Spec. Montessori.

15 replies

BertieBotts · 20/07/2009 22:13

Can anyone let me know a rough idea of nursery costs? I am vaguely considering part time work when DS is 1 (though as he is 9.5mo I may have to wait longer due to waiting lists etc) and I like the look of the local Montessori nursery, how much do they usually cost? I would prefer to do half days.

Also would be interested to know how much for a 3 year old with the nursery grant (though I realise this may change by 2012 if government changes etc)

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completelyabsolutely · 21/07/2009 10:32

Dd goes to a Montessori nursery and it is £19 per session- 7.30 - 12.30/8.00 - 1.00 then 12.30 - 5.30/1.00 - 6.00. She does 3 full days at £38 a day.

It will be worth finding out if your employers have a childcare voucher scheme where you pay the fees straight from your salary - this way you can get £243 tax free - between dp and I we can just about cover the fees from our tax free allowance and it makes a big difference.

Also find out if you are entitled to help from child tax credits - there is a childcare element although I'm not sure what the cut offs are.

This website is really helpful for working out your hypothetical situation

www.entitledto.com/

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completelyabsolutely · 21/07/2009 10:35

Also with the nursery grant I'm sure it is 12.5 hours a week you are entitled to, I don't know if any private nurseries do not accept this funding, I know ours does so as I understand it we will get 1.25 days funded, but dd is only 18 months and I haven't looked into it too much so I may be wrong.

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BertieBotts · 21/07/2009 16:00

It says on the website that the grant applies the term after they turn 3

I have no idea whether my employers offer anything like that but I doubt it as they are a very small company. Thanks for the info Will definitely contact them, just wanted to see what region we were thinking in!

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Pinkjenny · 21/07/2009 16:04

Dd hoes to a Montessori Nursery. We paid £37 a day until she was 1yo and moved out of the baby room, and now we pay £34 a day.

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hf128219 · 21/07/2009 16:09

Mine goes to a Montessori nursery - £56 per day in Surrey.

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limonchik · 21/07/2009 16:11

Around £45 a day when I was working in nurseries in the South West.

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stealthsquiggle · 21/07/2009 16:16

We pay abour £37/day - not montessori, though, for 8am - 6pm.

If your employers don't have a childcare voucher scheme then ask them to look into it - even if they are small, it is supposed to be self-funding as they also save (on employers NI contributions). There are instructions for employers on the Accor site and on Care-4.

The grant definitely kicks in at the beginning of the term after they turn 3 - and goes through to the end of the term in which they turn 5. It is term-time only, so it can be hard to measure the impact, but from (fuzzy) memory for DS (it won't kick in for DD until January - I can't wait!) it reduced our nursery bill by about a third. Also check with any potential nursery that they do claim the grants as it involves a lot of admin for them and not all do.

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anniemac · 22/07/2009 15:04

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WriggleJiggle · 22/07/2009 15:08

We used to pay just under £1000 per month for full time care at 1 year old (8am-6pm). I think we are in an expensive area, south, but not London.

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hayley2u · 22/07/2009 15:23

i pay 150 a week for a fultime place at nursery.

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Sunshinemummy · 22/07/2009 15:30

I paid £1200 per month for a full-time place for my DS (in London).

Now he's 3 we get approx. Now DS is 3 it's complicated by the fact that DD goes to the same nursery so we get the reduction for his gae, plus 12.5% discount for a second child, plus the government grant which works out at about £550 per term. We currently pay £1760 for both children f-t, but it goes up in September by about £10 a week I think.

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Sunshinemummy · 22/07/2009 15:31

Friend's DS goes to a Montessori and before the age of 3 she paid around £800 per month. Not sure what it is now.

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SilverSixpence · 23/07/2009 11:35

My son is going to a montessori full time 4 days for £880 a month

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SilverSixpence · 23/07/2009 11:35

forgot to say, that is the baby room fee, its cheaper for older children

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imoscarsmum · 23/07/2009 11:47

Definitely seems to vary on location (blanches at sunshinemummy's costs). DD goes to an excellent nursery that always has a waiting list. It's on-site, though run privately, at the local college and we pay £350 a month for DD (10m) to go 3 full days a week, 8am to 5.45pm if needed. It's about £550 a month for 5 days.

In our area (N Wales) once she turns 3 she becomes entitled to (I think) 5 half days a week of free nursery. Her nursery, though private, will reduce her fees accordingly if she stays with them.

Sounds like the South, especially London, charges a premium (what's new?).

My employer provides childcare vouchers, so the savings there plus child tax credit and child benefit almost pays for the fees.

I believe you can only get help with childcare costs if you qualify for working tax credit. To qualify for WTC you need to be in receipt of certain benefits and/or on income of under £16,000 (or may be £20k) pa. Only know this cos a friend does qualify and I helped her with app.

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