To ask those that go to independent schools what fee discount has been offered

[whatthefuckishappening]

My child goes to a nursery attached to an independent primary school. Has anyone going to an independent been offered a fee discount? Ours have offered a blanket nominal discount for all years in the school, but obviously in nursery they will only be doing a tiny bit of "work", so it seems more appropriate for a bigger discount the lower down the school you are. AIBU? We will be giving notice shortly too as jobs are likely to go. Nursery for us was there for socialisation and childcare.

Your school will have offered the discount that they think is reasonable/can afford. I think it’s pretty rude to question it.

Nothing!! Lunch costs will be refunded if they don’t go back till September. That’s it.

Tbf our class teacher is on google classroom all day doing live classes, parent catch ups, reading time ect.. I’m impressed with that. Even as I’m writing this notifications are coming up that she’s posted on google classroom.

Our school is tiny. It’s always a whisker from going under so if they cut fees they’d have to close the doors. Also reading between the lines I think they are doing fee deferment for individual cases on financial stability.

Worried I’m not going to see some families when we get back!

25% discount on senior school fees and no boarding fees.

Howaboutanewname I agree. We had a lot of parents saying the teachers should be furloughed and we’d be able to have lower costs but that would mean they would not be allowed to teach our kids.

For nursery, it's just the odd sheet from twinkl to practice writing letters.

It depends of your at work now, will you be going back to work? Wound she have moved up in to reception in September.

I pulled dd3 from nursery when this first kicked off way before lock down as she has a very weak chest. I’m glad I did as I only had to do four weeks notice. I’ll add her back (as she is desperate to see her friends) when it blows over. Realistically we could be off till September though and it’s a lot of money

Sorry for typos!

15% offered (prep) but asked to pay in full if we possibly can for the good of the school etc. I must say the home-ed provision started yesterday and is outstanding - they log on at 8.30 for registration and have a full timetable with live sessions for every subject with mostly their own teachers, I am truly free to work from home and am super impressed. We will pay in full.

7%, and 50% off boarding fees. So crap.

Don't think company will last much longer (for me). It just seems a lot to pay out for what we are getting at moment. I'd rather download a few worksheets myself and skip this term, but obviously can't do that. Nursery is primarily for socialisation and getting school-ready etc.

My friend said their school offered 15% off this terms fees (summer term) across the board initially, but they changed it to 30% off shortly before the start of term. Primary school.

30 per cent seems reasonable. I think they have furloughed some staff. They have also said that they won't charge for lunches or school trips whilst children are not at school (although I'd have taken that as a given, especially as you don't have to say if you want lunches until the day before term starts and trips aren't announced til invoice that comes between terms)! They are including this figure in their discount.
Re: funded hours comment. Nurseries with funded hours around here tend to only have space for a couple of hours here and there or don't have space over lunch periods etc which make it tricky if you don't work close by. The one that does do funded hours just significantly ups their rates for the filler period, so there is only a marginal difference for a day compared to what would normally pay.
I'd suggest taking child out and asking to waive notice period due to current situation, but know of another parent there who gave notice in xmas holidays (so missed deadline of end of term) and they wouldn't give any discount, so she is effectively paying two term's fees in notice. Maybe I just have to suck it up.

10% for senior school.

At dd's school (GDST), up to 30% for junior school recognising that it is a heavier burden on parents to homeschool the younger children.

There are still remote lessons/teaching being provided.

Zero. It's impossible.

Zero. I pay upfront at the beginning of each year (about $50,000 or £25,000) to receive an overall 4% for paying in advance, however no discount is being offered due to school closure. The school have online schooling anyway for year 6 - 12 and partially for R - 5, so they just rolled out full online schooling for R - 5, where they follow the normal lesson timetable, and see teacher via pre recorded videos and video calls, so I am not expecting any discount. I also believe if you expect your child’s place to be available when schools reopen then you need to continue to pay your fees to hold that place. I have a feeling some people will stop paying because they don’t think online schooling cuts it, but they will be the ones with no school spot unpon schools reopening and no chance or ever being offered a place again at this school.

10%

Also in Aus. No discount but the head is clear that they don't want any child to have to leave the school for financial reasons because of the situation so contact the burser if you are struggling. I am totally happy with that, fees are a big deal for us but the school is clearly working very hard to adapt and change and all the time DH's business stays afloat I expect to help the school stay afloat too.

Nothing, except next term a discount to take account of lunches.
Some parents really aren’t happy.
I am seeing how online teaching goes. They are uploading work to a platform and marking it. One zoom session a day (pastoral). Not brilliant compared to some schools but DS is finding it ok.
I have paid for this term anyway already so not sure I CBA to fight for discount.

My child's private school nursery has cancelled fees until re opening, asked for a £200 place holding loyalty payment and is actually still running nursery sessions online so they can hear their teachers and see friends with an afternoon activity set each day

The rest of the school is getting at 15% fee discount, no fee increase next year and a full remote learning timetable.

Nursery fees not being charged (but they are billed termly).

Nothing for rest of school yet. They are reviewing situation in mid-May when they are hoping to know (a) is schools may reopen (and in what capacity) (b) clearer idea of savings. They can almost certainly do this as 3/4 of the school pay by DD a term in advance so have already paid this terms fees. They are a “cheap” school for the independent sector. I am happy with this. I would rather they pass on what savings they can rather then give an arbitrary discount.

Nothing....but totally agree with what @Howaboutanewname says above. We’re receiving a full timetable for our Y4 DD with regular online support from her teacher. We also see it as a bit of an investment so that when this is all over she has somewhere to go back to. A local prep has just informed parents and pupils that it will unfortunately Closing it’s doors permanently as a result of all of this due to the financial impact, if we don’t pay the fees this could be us too.

We’ve been offered 15% for a year 11 child.

25% for nursery, 15% for reception to year 6

I have two boys in two different schools. One school is offering 10% (runs from year 3 to 6th form). The other school is offering 15% off senior school, 20% off junior and 80% off nursery. The latter school has also indicated that fees won’t increase for the coming year.

Nothing