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Original poster

Discrepancy in attitude towards school fees and nursery fees

177 replies

Happysallie · 20/06/2024 21:33

I find it very curious in the various debates around school fees that:

  1. School fees at an avg of £1,250-1,500 pcm is the preserve of the rich due to the sums involved; but

  2. Nursery fees at an avg. of £1,250-1,500 pcm is… just an ordinary expense that parents should plan for

Every parent of a child under four is effectively paying the equivalent to a private education, probably at a far earlier stage in their careers / earning power.

No observation on private education right or wrong, just bizarre to see people spending £1,500 a month on private school as impossibly wealthy while most parents I know are scraping by, begging and borrowing, fund £2-3k a month in nursery fees.

This more an observation at the acceptance of insane nursery fees, than the cost of private education!

OP posts:
DontCallMeKidDontCallMeBaby · 20/06/2024 21:39

I assume it’s largely that for many people, it’s nursery fees or leave their job. It’s a ‘necessary evil’ if they want to work. A bit like rent, most people would agree it’s extortionate, however it’s pay it or live in a field. It doesn’t have the same ‘choice’ as private education. Every child is entitled to a state funded school place once they’re 4, that ‘free’ option doesn’t exist when they’re 1.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 20/06/2024 21:37

Aside from nursery fees, preschoolers are very cheap. Clothes are cheaper, they don’t eat much, happy with a trip to a free park, no extra curricular and holidays can be taken in term time. People don’t often have more than one child in full time nursery for the expense reason- plus they get funded hours.
not comparable