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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think new parents are complaining more these days about nursery costs

151 replies

NameChangedOct24 · 03/12/2024 23:32

….even though they get the funding much earlier?

previously it was 15 or 30 hours from 3 years old. Parents would be grateful of the discount, with sometimes confusion about why the hours were not ‘free’ in private nurseries, top up fees and term time only stretched etc. I remember my monthly fee dropping from £1900 to £1400 from the 30hr funding and being happy with the saving.

recently though, working parents get some funding much earlier, which is great but they think it’s shocking that they still have to pay for childcare, on here and in real life. Eg colleague complains about it being only 15 hours, can’t afford to put them in 3+ days a week so need to wfh with toddler at feet. Aibu my colleagues don’t appreciate the better deal they have compared to a few years ago!?

OP posts:
BarbaraHoward · 03/12/2024 23:39

Not everyone gets the funding, it doesn't exist in NI. And from what I understand, the funded hours are funded at such a low level that the saving for parents is next to nothing.

Meanwhile increased energy and wage costs mean fees have gone through the roof (I think we had two increases over 10% in less than a year), and parents' other expenses have gone up too so there's less spare cash to pay the increases.

We were better off three years ago with two in nursery FT than earlier this year with one in nursery FT and the other in out of school club three days a week.

We don't get the funded hours but I get the impression that even for those that do they're a tiny part of the picture.