These are perfectly valid reasons to choose the private school?

[Fandanglethat]

We've opted to send reception age DS to private school where he has been at nursery (they are a 0-11 school, DD is also in the nursery). We chose the nursery because it was nice, mid priced, hours and location worked for us. We always intended that he'd go to the local state primary, and we applied there and got in. I then started planning for before and after school care, holiday care etc and it is an absolute nightmare! The state school relies on off-site out of school provision or child minders, which are all full. The off-site wrap around care is extortionate (£25 per day) and is block book per term only. So we'd need to block book full weeks, though would only need 3 days provision most weeks (but changes weekly, at short notice). Holiday club doesn't take reception kids. The only local one that does is 10-3 which is pretty useless. And the cost! It's almost the same per week as nursery!

The school attached to DSs nursery has onsite wrap around provision at £3.50 per session, no booking required. Holiday club is £15, 8-6, onsite plus a few trips which cost extra. The fees are £3500 per year but when I've done the maths it works out at about £50 per month more than state school when you include the wrap around and holiday care.

£50 for a lot less faff seems very reasonable!

But my mum and some friends seem to have a real issue with the idea of private school. Is it a bad idea? It's not a posh school, it's not full of really rich kids. Most parents are professionals like us and choose to pay for education over foreign holidays etc.

So we've put his name down and paid his deposit. Are we making a massive mistake?

Educationally both schools seem fine, they have strengths in different areas.

Ds went to private school until yr5 for just this reason - he got to go to a range of afterschool clubs which were included as well as wrap around care (inc swimming lessons), they had holiday club every holiday with full days and outings, and it didn't work out vastly more than nursery had until yr3.

I’d send my children private if it was only £3500 per year

Another here who can't believe the price. However is this early years? Is that subsidised?

£3,500 a years education seems awfully cheap. I've just been quoted more than that for my DD to get dental braces.

Seems very cheap - our local private school charge £2175 per term for YR-2, so £6,525 for the year plus extras & that's pretty cheap compared to others.

That seems like a per term price OP. I've just had a look at our local private and its £2700 per term in reception and then £3110 per term in yrs 1 and 2.

OP, I’m worried you’ve read all this, double checked and found the sentence at the bottom that states,
All prices stated are per term
If this is the case, I hope you’re not upset. Think practically. Have you already given up your state school place? Worst case scenario is you need to suck up £3500 for 1st term’s fees. Maybe a sympathetic bursar will understand. You could always try and say that Covid has resulted in you both losing your jobs so can no longer proceed. Hope you’re ok. Sorry if I’m jumping the gun.

I was about to post again worried but Need’s post has it nailed. I hope you can get it worked out if needed, OP. Better to find out now if so rather than in the hols or September

£3500 per year??? Blimey. I've been looking for a school for my DD and can't find anything less than £3600 per TERM.

Yes do it for that price, it's amazing value!

Your reasoning is totally logical as long as you've got the fees correct - it does sound v v cheap.

There is a "free" school near us that charges £50/week, so the same sort of price, assuming 52weeks per year

Hope all’s OK OP?

Definitely correct costs. £350 per month for 10months.

School holidays inline with the LA.

Trip costs clearly stated in the info I've been given (3 trips per year).

Uniform is unbranded except for coat and book bag (£25 and £3.50).

So clearly I'm not bonkers for m the answers then!

There's a few other privates schools locally, their fees are similar, very lightly more. There is one which is £3500 per term, but that's much further away.

Wow that's incredibly cheap for private school! It's far,far less than I pay for nursery fees in a year for my 2 year old too!

OP could you please come back and confirm that its 3500 for the YEAR? If so, please also tell us where this school is as it sounds amazing!

Three in private school here, two partially subsided and our fees are a lot higher than that.

I agreed about the childcare though. Our after school club is £5 with no need to book just turn up and we get a bill later. You can drop them off an hour early (From 8) no extra cost.

It certainly makes life a lot easier. But for reception we’re paying £4 a term plus school lunches on top.

We probably only paid that in nursery and reception. The school were able to apply for and use the government early years allowance until DS turned 5, so it took around £1000 per term off the bill. He’s summer born so reception was very cheap!
I would check though as year 1 onwards likely to be more. We pay 7k per year and it’s a very cheap private primary.

TinySleepThief both kids will need wrap around provision and holiday club until secondary school. No school is walking distance and there is no easy public transport to them.

it's gone up slightly, now about £3000 per year

Ok, I was worried you were sat at home in a panic.
Oh and, where do you live? Please say you’re on the south coast!

Definitely correct costs. £350 per month for 10months.

Not to be blunt but where the fudge do you live!!! Its madness that those are the fees for a year at one school let alone that you have several near you charging similar

Jeez. Fair enough!

That has to be per term. Our local private school is £9700 per year for reception and goes up to £13,700 for senior school.

And yes, reception is cheaper than years 1-6. But not by much.

I also know the previous years costs (as we get the info in the annual report from nursery) so know how much it's likely to rise by.

It's not right for us to afford it. It's broadly similar to having 2 in full time nursery.

The one in Durham is called the independent grammar school

*tight, not right!