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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to not want to have to fork out for "extras" at nursery

38 replies

BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 14:05

ds goes to a lovely nursery. they have just told me that one afternoon a week his group will have a "school" afternoon, to help them prepare for school next year (!).

this involves: buying a book bag. buying a gingham smock. sending him with a packed tea for that day.

So I now have to pay for smock and book bag, and I have to make him a meal rather than him have his tea there as usually happens each day (and which is included in the daily rate).

I can't say I don't want him to do it, as then he will have to stay with the younger children and not his group. I can't not buy him the smock as he will notice he is the odd one out. I will however send him with his bookstart book bag rather than buy a new one. Just feel a bit bouncced into this.

OP posts:
BuntyPenfold · 15/09/2010 14:12

Gingham smock?
Golly link to a picture please?

jetgirl · 15/09/2010 14:12

Wtf do they need a gingham smock for?!
Could you suggest to nursery that as you have paid for the tea that the kids could practise making packed teas as part of the school aftetnoon?
I see no problem with using the bookstart bag, I expect other parents will do the same.

Mowiol · 15/09/2010 14:13

Is the gingham (why gingham??) smock for painting etc? Because in my day (admittedly VERY lomg ago) we used to be told just to bring in any old t-shirt/shirt of Dad's.
Same when my two were at school a big old Dad t-shirt was fine.
Not that this helps you but if it's for clothes protection it seems an unnecessary expense.

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 14:22

oh the smock thing is all the rage at private nursery schools round here. but this is not a nursery school, it's a nursery pretending to be a school for one afternoon a week.

Perhaps I should just forget to send his tea, they would have to feed him!

I will investigate further about the smock - I am a firm believer in the powers of Persil and couldn't care less if his clothes come home covered in paint and other mess. I couldn't find a picture. The smock is of course available from the nursery, as is the bookbag...

OP posts:
Mowiol · 15/09/2010 14:27

"The smock is of course available from the nursery, as is the bookbag..."

Surprise, surprise Hmm

BuntyPenfold · 15/09/2010 14:29

It sounds like tea with Christopher Robin, Pooh and Piglet.

Condensedmilkaddict · 15/09/2010 16:10

I'm with you on the gingham smock...

But you don't seriously begrudge having to send your child's tea do you??

Pheebe · 15/09/2010 16:15

I would say no to it all tbh. You are paying for his tea, they should provide it. Send him with his bookstart bag and a white t-shirt - gingham smock my arse, how pretentious.

As the ds's nursery, they too 'practised' school with the older kids as preparation for school. In itself its a good if unnecessary idea. No smock, bags or other pretentious tripe was required.

Bathsheba · 15/09/2010 16:19

Will he not need a smock and bag for school anyway...?

Our school Nursery children wore a smock at all times until this year and my DD1 who is now in P2 still has hers in her bag for painting so it has done her 3 years...

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 16:29

Yes I begrudge sending him with his tea! He goes to nursery 3 full days, where they provide him with 3 meals and snacks. He usually has breakfast at home first anyway. It is so fabulous not having to think about what to give him for his lunch and tea on those days. Plus tea is included in the price. AND it will be a packed lunch type tea, so will have sat in a lunchbox (in the fridge I assume) all day so won't even be that nice for him to eat.

He won't need a smock for school, he will be in uniform, and I suspect he might have grown between now and next Sept! Perhaps useful for painting at school, but doubt he will want to wear a gingham smock at school when the area is full of 2 & 3 yr olds wearing the twee things.

Bookbag, I will use the one he had free - but this whole bookbag thing is just about getting you to buy one from nursery or school - there will be a school one on offer next year.

OP posts:
BuntyPenfold · 15/09/2010 16:39

If he won't wear the smock for school, how is buying one now 'preparing for school'?

DaisySteiner · 15/09/2010 16:43

So he's not starting school for a whole year??? How ridiculous!!

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 17:03

I have no idea - the nursery is a private day nursery, nothing to do with the school he will go to. I am about to go and pick him up so shall investigate further.

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 15/09/2010 17:15

my nursery is all inclusive.paint smock etc free no extra fees

muggglewump · 15/09/2010 17:20

What on earth is a smock, and how, in 32 years, have I never heard of this thing?Confused

werewolf · 15/09/2010 17:24

Ask for a discount, as he won't be having the nursery tea that you pay for.

Rosebud05 · 15/09/2010 17:39

What do other parents think?

A year's preparation to eat your tea out of a plastic tub sounds a wee bit bonkers.

jetgirl · 15/09/2010 17:44

What if he has school dinners? Then he wouldn't be taking in a packed lunch anyway?

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 18:25

Well the manager wasn't around and pick up was a bit hectic so couldn't raise it today.

It's the tea bit that annoys me most tbh, and the cost to them of one meal would be minute so I think asking for a discount would be taking the wrong tack. I will see if I can pin someone down about it tomorrow.

and yes I do think that it is OTT to "prepare" for school by taking his own tea once a week!

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 15/09/2010 19:02

painting smock stops em getting messy

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 21:07

not one of those scottishmummy, that would be useful and practical.

this is a twee little cotton gingham thing. like this but not in red

This school "practice" sessions are for them to sit and do numbers, letters, writing and reading. they already do lots of painting and mess without the need for £20 smocks!

OP posts:
scottishmummy · 15/09/2010 21:38

cor thats twee.oh i assumed vinyl smock

poppymouse · 15/09/2010 21:45

What the heck time does school finish for littlies that they need a packed tea?

Original poster
BellevilleRendezvous · 15/09/2010 21:57

I think it is for them to practice their packed lunch ... it is really odd. They don't need a year of learning how to open their sandwiches and realise they can't open frubes without help anyway.

OP posts:
nannylocal · 15/09/2010 22:04

I would have thought going to nursery is, in itself, preperation for going to school?

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