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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To expect pre-school to sort out childcare during holidays

341 replies

Springishere0 · 23/05/2017 13:39

My toddler will be eligible for 30 free hours' childcare from September. We have two options for pre-school: one at the primary school near us and one at the private nursery he goes to now. It's great that they offer this, but the only problem is that both do not have any childcare cover during holidays. My husband and I both work and do not get enough holidays to cover 13 weeks; plus, it would be nice if all of us could be off at the same time!

Holiday clubs etc. do not cater for three-year olds and we do not have any family that could look after our child for a whole day. My sister lives abroad and says their pre-school offers paid childcare all year round. AIBU to think that it's ridiculous that pre-schools are not sorting out cover during school holidays? What are we supposed to do?! Angry

OP posts:
TinselTwins · 23/05/2017 14:44

Well that's the difference between "preschools" and "nurseries"
They both follow the same early years program, but preschools do term time and nurseries do round the year childcare

If you chose the wrong one you can't really blame them!

peukpokicuzo · 23/05/2017 14:44

Talk to local child-minders - it is possible that one of them already has a mindee who only needs term-time care (eg a 2yo with a mum who is a teacher). So they would have a non-termtime space available.

Rinoachicken · 23/05/2017 14:45

My 3yo goes to a children's centre nursery (so not private). He gets the 30hrs free during term time only. Luckily for me they also run a holiday club during all school holidays so he just continues seamlessly but I have to pay the full cost for those weeks. If they didn't then he'd go to the childminder with his older brother. It's not the nursery's responsibility - you have to sort it out.

Original poster
Springishere0 · 23/05/2017 14:45

craicon we are well off in one way, but running behind in others. Why would I have to give up my job? Emancipation and all that. Free childcare is a great step forward, but it has to work in practice.

I don't know why his nursery is not offering all-year care for three-year olds, with or without deducting free hours. They offer term time only. No other option. I prefer nurseries over childminders though, much more social control. I don't want to be dependent on one person who might not provide the care you want.

OP posts:
spottyPJ · 23/05/2017 14:47

you keep him where is is and pay more during school holidays. that is what I did (only we had 15h during term time, not 30).

some nursery average out the cost thought the year. worth asking.

daisypond · 23/05/2017 14:47

The term "preschool" doesn't mean anything to me. How is it different to a nursery? My DC started nursery at age 3 until they started school. Nursery was part time - mornings or afternoon - school terms only. This was a state nursery. The DC had a childminder the rest of the time. If they'd gone to private daycare nursery, they could have stayed all day, every week day, until they started school. There were private (non daycare) nurseries as well, which only operated school terms, but they tended to be used by those who didn't need childcare as such, just education, as they were a SAHP, or had a nanny/childminder as well.

Voice0fReason · 23/05/2017 14:47

What are you going to do when your child goes to school?
Education is term time only.

JassyRadlett · 23/05/2017 14:49

Voice, in most places holiday clubs kick in at Reception age. OP's posts imply that those will be an option then.

TinyTear · 23/05/2017 14:50

I think Camp Beaumont take kids from 3yo for holiday camps... so there might be others

I kept my daughters in a private nursery that didn't offer free hours for this reason to get the cover... now she is in reception, we use after school clubs, and holiday clubs

FlossyMooToo · 23/05/2017 14:50

I cannot believe somebody can really think this way! HmmShock

treaclesoda · 23/05/2017 14:52

Where I live (UK, but not England) there is no free 30 hours and in my area there are no holiday clubs, after school clubs or breakfast clubs. We have to do what parents have had to do since time immemorial, which is make sacrifices in our jobs in order to juggle the two. It sucks, but that's reality.

Northgate · 23/05/2017 14:54

I'm surprised that your current private nursery doesn't have any holiday cover for pre-schoolers.

The private nursery we use takes children from 3 months until starting school. Their above 3yrs room is their "pre-school" room, children can be in there full time or just for the free 15 hours. They're open all year round, but they only offer the 15 free hours places in school term time. Parents wanting childcare for their 3 yr old in holidays can have it at the private nursery but have to pay the full day rate.

This arrangement is typical of the private nurseries where I live.
A private nursery that offers year round care for under-3's but only term time care for over-3's sounds very unusual to me.

upperlimit · 23/05/2017 14:56

That might be your reality treacle but I'm sure the Op could easily find a private nursery that does free hours before she needs to fall on her sword like that Confused.

DeadGood · 23/05/2017 14:58

" 'He is currently not in pre school, but in private nursery where we pay for him to go all year round. But when he turns three, he'll have to change to preschool...' Why?"

Probably because the OP wants to make use of the 30 free hours they are entitled to.

" 'I have no choice but for him to progress to preschool when he is three and therefore losing cover during school holidays.' again, why is this? Why can't he stay where he is?"

Because if he stayed where he is, the OP would not be able to make use of the 30 free hours they are entitled to.

Pretty simple really

spanieleyes · 23/05/2017 15:00

Here you go, lots of options here

www.munchkinskindergarten.com/fees/

Now just find something similar in your area!

WipsGlitter · 23/05/2017 15:00

I had to pay for full time childcare on top of the "free" hours. Plus extra to get DS taken to and collected from the "free" hours.

I know where you're coming from OP.

harderandharder2breathe · 23/05/2017 15:02

I'm shocked that you're shocked that a preschool attached to a primary school would only run in term time. You know, when the school does.

InDubiousBattle · 23/05/2017 15:03

Is it a nursery attached to a primary school op?

Where I live we have:
-Private day care nursery- available from around 3 months of age until school. Some offer 30 hours funded, others don't. Open all year round and 7.30am-6pm
-Pre school- children aged 2- school age. Most here offer 30 hours. Term time and school hours only. Most will let you pick your hours out of a choice of sessions.

  • Nursery school. Attached to a school, 30 hours offered, term time only, school hours. Most offer either morning or afternoon sessions. Only available from aged 3.

It sounds like you need a childminder. Lots of my friends aren't sending their dc to pre school or nursery school because they don't offer suitable hours so they're keeping them in private nursery or getting a childminder. Some cms will do drop off/pick up at pre school for you.

GladAllOver · 23/05/2017 15:05

Why would I have to give up my job? Emancipation and all that. Free childcare is a great step forward, but it has to work in practice.

Do you realise just how selfish that sounds?
Your child is your responsibility. Why should the state have to look after it every day except when you choose to be available?

Cutesbabasmummy · 23/05/2017 15:06

My son's nursery is open every day apart from Bank Holidays, Easter and Christmas, Boxing Day and New Year's Day. It's one reason we chose nursery for him! I'm very surprised a private nursery is term time only,

upperlimit · 23/05/2017 15:12

It????

Is it necessary to dehumanise her child like that Glad?

Original poster
Springishere0 · 23/05/2017 15:18

glad feeding your child is your responsibility. Why would the government provide benefits if you can't feed your child? Maybe you should find a job? Oh wait... but then you can't look after your child it. Hmmm, what to do?

OP posts:
AgentOprah · 23/05/2017 15:23

The options are a private nursery, childminder or nanny/babysitter.

Are you sure that you have understood correctly that you current nursery only offers full time care for under 3s? That sounds extremely unusual. Just because they call their 3+ room "preschool" and offer funded/term time only spaces doesn't necessarily mean they don't have 3 year olds full time for paying parents.

MyBonnieLiesOverTheOcean · 23/05/2017 15:46

There are several council run preschools in our local area which offer a 50 week service.

None of them were our local preschool that my kids went to, but we were able to apply to go to the others during the holidays. It's worth phoning the council to see if there is any setup like that in your area.

Other than that, your only options really are private nursery or childminder.

MissDollyMix · 23/05/2017 15:47

So I looked at the link to your nursery that you posted OP and whilst I concur that there isn't an option for holiday cover in preschool, this has been the case since 2010! When you first sent your child there, you must have been aware of this? If there is no option for family to help out/parental leave/ annual leave then I suggest you start searching for another childcare option tout suite! Most private day nurseries will offer care 51 weeks of the year.