I can't tell what the right thing to do it.
We have a nursery whatsap (its muted because otherwise it would drive me crazy). Recently one mum has been complaining about how nursery won't let them not pay the consumables charge for free hours when they're on holiday.
They've started looking up the legal rights and got a few other parenta commenting on her side but generally its a one- woman rant.
She has (rightly said) that it's not a cheap nursery. But seems to think its the nursery is putting profit first.
My view its- the nursery pays a really decent wage. It has a really low turnover of staff. They frequently post congratulating staff on their 10year anniversaries. They receive high levels of training.
But also- My daughters love it there. They are cared for, their individual needs taken care of and they have all kinds of extra enrichment activities (e.g. forest school with fires and other activities; interesting visitors giving talks to pre-school etc) all included. Surely everyone is aware that the 'consumables' charge has very little to do with actual consumables and more to do with topping up the gov subsidies that are being called "free hours"
I really want to say something. I know she will try and raise a stink and legally she is right- she doesn't have to pay for consumables and can opt out.
But if everyone did then either the nursery would have to stop being part of the scheme or raise prices more for the non free hours. Or pay staff less. Or lower levels of care.
I would like to say-
We all know that the consumables charge doesn't really relate to consumables but tops up the pittance
they get from the government under the false name "free hours" which allows staff to be paid a decent wage and higher than usual levels of training, (reflected in the low turnover) children to have extra- enrichment activities and the nursery to not charge more for non-"free" hours. I think we need to look at the bigger picture else fees will need to rise even more, or they will end up opting out of the "free hours" programme.
Should I just keep my mouth shut?