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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Compulsory Top-Up Fees at Nurseries are not legal!

59 replies

Undercovermumma · 05/10/2022 13:04

Hi mums,

My daughter's nursery charges compulsory top-up fees for food, activities, consumables and so on, in a single lump sum, so I do not know where my money is really going. What is worse, though, is that these fees should, by law, be voluntary, with nurseries providing alternatives if we are unwilling to pay! I know nurseries are severely underfunded, but the Government should be making up the deficit, not us!

Have any of you experienced a similar problem? I am looking to get information on a range of nurseries and what add-ons they are charging, so i can take this up higher. If you want to be involved, and take the 3-5yr old Universal or Extended Funding, please give me the name of the Nursery/Group, location, and what add-ons you are being charged (price and information). I would be so grateful.

Thank you all!

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BlueRibbonPen · 05/10/2022 13:37

I still pay £30 a day for my DC on top of funded hours.

Thesearmsofmine · 05/10/2022 13:36

The government aren’t going to make up the shortfall, it’s always been the same so you could refuse to pay it t if all parents did this then the nursery would end up closing.

noblegiraffe · 05/10/2022 13:34

So what? You want to stop paying it and for the nursery to close?

My DD’s pre-school ended up closing because they lost so much money providing the government’s ‘free’ hours. I’d have preferred them charging us extra, tbh, as it was then an utter pain in the arse to find new childcare.

CatGrins · 05/10/2022 13:31

This makes me sick.

Original poster

Undercovermumma · 05/10/2022 13:29

QforCucumber · 05/10/2022 13:11

The charges are not illegal, what's not allowed is charging an hourly rate top up for the childcare hours you are receiving free.

We will shortly be paying £5 a day for food and £2 a day for consumables (wipes, creams etc)

Tbf in comparison to the £54.95 a day we have been paying for 2 years I am quite happy to pay £7 a day for my most precious possession to have the best childcare the nursery can provide.

Thank you for the reply! They are illegal if not voluntary, according to the DfE's Statutory guidance for local authorities; "these charges must be voluntary for the parent."

OP posts:

LovingLifesHurdles · 05/10/2022 13:28

In comparison to the £85p/d I was previously paying I am more than happy to pay £2.50 per day for an early drop off and send a packed lunch, and a monthly snack contribution.

I don't know where this endless government pot of money they can keep subsidising things with is supposed to be.

If you don't like the additional charges shop around a bit and find a cheaper option.

Parker231 · 05/10/2022 13:26

This is normal so that nurseries have enough income to stay open - only just . Many have closed and more will do so.
@Undercovermumma - work out what you pay per hour? Is that enough for the nursery to psy their staff, food, building, insurance, running costs ?

hiredandsqueak · 05/10/2022 13:21

Dd pays £5ph for each hour that she uses over the thirty hours he is entitled to. All food included so breakfast, snacks and lunch. She sends a changing bag with nappies, wipes and cream and spare clothes. The only time she has been asked for money is a £1 donation to Christmas Party and Children in Need and £5 for her ticket for the pre school trip in summer dgs's ticket is free.