To start refusing to “contribute” to preschool ?

[MrsA2015]

Sick and tired of almost daily texts and “kind requests to contribute” something to DDs preschool, she attends 15hrs and has two lunches plus snacks a week that I pay for which is fine. We’re also required to pay an additional £40 a term for alphabet club and sporty club (glorified hour in the playground with a coach). Only reason I pay for the extras is because for two terms she was the only child not attending and was feeling very left out. This is all fine I’m happy to pay for it.

Now here comes the whinge every sodding day almost there’s a classroom event (think special card making ) or holiday themed session or special trip to park across the road to collect leaves that ALWAYS requires a contribution £1-£3. Im completely at a loss as to why we need to pay for activities that are basic in preschools? I’ve Evaded payment some days as after all it isn’t compulsory but then you get badgered till you have to say I don’t want to pay, then I just feel like a selfish cow. I totaled up how much extra I contributed last two terms that was almost £50! They do a few random class picnic days where staff will buy picnic type food and ask us to contribute £5 instead of food.

Does anybody else have this issue? I’m prepared for a flaming but just getting fed up with the constant asking.

None of my friends in RL have this issue and are very surprised

They are probably not charging for how much the food actually costs but trying to cover other costs.

As others have said, schools are in exactly the same position when it comes to their funding, it’s only going to get worse. For many schools their staff costs probably make up at least 90% of their funding. Doesn’t leave a lot to cover everything else.

I’m not surprised parents are being asked to stump up for the shortfall. Underfunding by this government will continue in earnest as they've now got a mandate to shaft the less well off even more for the next few years.

Stop voting for the fecking Tories would have been a big help. 🤦🏻‍♀️

How much do you pay for the childcare in the first place? That makes a big difference to how I answer. I pay more than £40 per day so I would go mad at paying extra, but if you’re just using the ‘free’ hours - which are very poorly funded by the government - then YABU.

This seems quite different from my DD's nursery. They ask for 'stuff' quite regularly but there is not obligation, pressure or exclusion if parents don't contribute so we've had emails requesting things like wooden pallets, cardboard boxes, plant pots, old tires and other 'junk' for use in their out door building/creativity zone. In the autumn we were given a bag to collect 'autumn' things in to take back for a collage making. They do raffles a couple of times a year and a couple of cake sales again not compulsory to give or buy anything. There's been a couple of dress up days for things like children in need when they ask for a donation (but that goes the the Charity rather than the nursery) We are asked to take in a food donation for harvest festival that the children then go an an outing to deliver to a church food bank. I can think of one time that we had some sort of sponsored event I think it was number of laps around a little obstacle course they set up in the garden that was specifically about raising money for a new mud kitchen. There is also a paid for outing to the local theater around Christmas time - this year was "Dear Zoo" but that was literally the cost of the actual ticket (probably a bit less as they got a group booking discount)

Early Years is massively underfunded by the government. The financial situation of many will only get worse with the increase in minimum wage, pension contributions, rent and so on. Staff are still earning very little for the role they do and the qualifications many have. Parents were misled when told the hours are free, they are not, many settings are subsidising free hours .
I understand it is annoying to be asked frequently for contributions, which they are entitled to do. Perhaps have a word with the manager about this aspect.
If something isn't done about the increasing demands on settings and the unrealistic funding they receive and misleading parents about the true cost of providing high quality childcare, settings will have to close. Have a look at Champagne Nurseries on Lemonade Funding on Facebook.

One of our local schools has just asked for regular donations from parents due to chronic underfunding. They are not alone.

Did you vote? Who did you vote for?
If you either didn't bother or you voted for the current Government, you can't complain: you've been warned about the underfunding for years now.

Any not for profit pre-schools, it's worth seeing if there are any grants you can apply for the pre-school learning alliance was really helpful.

The one I was involved with 13-15 years ago was struggling to break even then. The 2 year old funding was run at a loss! The ground rent they had to pay to the council for the patch off grass our ports cabin sat on was astronomical as they insisted it had to be at commercial rates despite us being an educational setting in the grounds of a school

Tanith I think this will become the norm.

If you can, attend one of the committee meetings. Our preschool kept threatening closure, no money, can't afford this, can't afford that. I attended the meeting and they had £47,000 of parents money sat in the bank, whilst the children were playing with worn out toys from the Managers children who were in their 30's.

I think you'll find that the 'money sat in the bank' - oh yes and negligible interest- is to pay rent and redundancy for already poorly paid EY staff

Regulations state they have to keep sufficient reserves to pay potential redundancies

Our preschool asked for voluntary £1 per day to provide snacks etc. Govenment funding doesnt stretch to cover costs especially in preschool with 8-1 ratio

I would have zero issue with this tbh.

But i’m currently living in a country without free funding for preschool, we have to pay, only free once they start school proper and parents are very generous with their donations to cover costs, supplies etc.

I do appreciate it must feel frustrating when they are continually asking. You could speak up to the managers and ask that it is either a one off monthly contribution, rather than the asking for £ every day, or just explain that you cannot keep paying and they will stop asking you.

Parents need to be complaining to their MPs to get preschools proper funding and actually provide the free childcare they promised. This isn’t the nurseries fault, it’s the government not wanting to invest in their promise to families.

They should just add an extra charge for incidentals or raise their fees then you wouldn’t feel so pissed off paying to collect leaves which sounds bizarre. I’d rather know what I’m paying upfront.

Why not arrange a proper fundraising event for the nursery, it might help them financially and stop the drip drip requests for a while