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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To withdraw child from nursery?

14 replies

allotmentgardener · 09/12/2021 08:07

We got a letter about price increases at nursery. In brief it's going up £3.50 per session plus a £3 surcharge. Then on top of that there's a 15% (of the entire bill) surcharge for term time only. This adds approximately 180 (per month) to our bill and takes it to £600 a month. This is all with a month's notice.

Yes I understand that prices go up (my wages don't!) and appreciate that there will be an increase. But my bill will increase by about 33%. I simply cannot find another £180 per month.

I've been getting lots of begging phone calls. I feel awful as the staff are lovely and my child is really settled there. This decision is from head office and not from nursery. I am sad and cross at the same time!

I've found an alternative setting that can accommodate from January that will cost similar to what I am paying now.

OP posts:
EishetChayil · 09/12/2021 08:09

It's a shame, but if you can't afford it, you have to swap. Your DC will settle into the new place.

ReeseWitherfork · 09/12/2021 08:10

I'd move her. You can't afford it and that's the bottom line really. It's a crap situation but your hands are pretty much tied! What the hell are all these changes for anyway?! Why two surcharges?!

Itsalmostanaccessory · 09/12/2021 08:12

Move her. You cant afford it and shouldn't have to if there are alternatives that don't charge all the extra fees.

thanksamillion · 09/12/2021 08:14

It does seem big increase but I would be wary that the new nursery will increase fees in April when the minimum wage goes up. It might be worth asking if they're intending to. Staff wages typically account for over 70% of nursery costs and most staff will be on or near to the minimum wage so there will be a big jump in costs.

Tillsforthrills · 09/12/2021 08:21

@thanksamillion

It does seem big increase but I would be wary that the new nursery will increase fees in April when the minimum wage goes up. It might be worth asking if they're intending to. Staff wages typically account for over 70% of nursery costs and most staff will be on or near to the minimum wage so there will be a big jump in costs.
Excellent post, we always see how it will affect us but there’s a valid reason why there’s increases.
ChangeChingyChange · 09/12/2021 14:43

Could you cut hours or days to make up for the £180 (or reduce bill down to what you can afford monthly) seems a shame if she's really happy and settled there.

NumberTheory · 09/12/2021 15:11

@thanksamillion

It does seem big increase but I would be wary that the new nursery will increase fees in April when the minimum wage goes up. It might be worth asking if they're intending to. Staff wages typically account for over 70% of nursery costs and most staff will be on or near to the minimum wage so there will be a big jump in costs.
That’s good reason for a rise, and advice to check on new nursery’s intention come April is well worth following. But minimum wage is going up by about 7%, not 33%. This rise is most likely driven by something different.
Thegreencup · 09/12/2021 15:15

It's a shame but you're not made of money. I'd definitely go to the cheaper of the two.

I also think it's ridiculous that an increase in the minimum wage would increase costs. Care staff should be paid much more than minimum wage in the first place.

GertrudePerkinsPaperyThing · 09/12/2021 15:18

I would hate making this decision, but if you can’t afford it, you’ll have to move her.

girlmom21 · 09/12/2021 15:21

OP do you currently use tax free childcare? If you don't it might make a big difference and mean you don't have to move.

Stompythedinosaur · 09/12/2021 15:23

YANBU. Obviously it is a shame if they are settled, but if you can't afford it there is nothing you can do.

lanthanum · 09/12/2021 15:23

As thanksamillion says, nurseries are probably all going to have to review their fees, although 33% is a lot more than the minimum wage increase should require.

Is the surcharge for termtime only a new thing? I think I would be making the point to them that this is a sudden increase, and that (I expect) one of the reasons you chose the nursery was that you wanted termtime only and they offered that option without extra charges. To introduce it suddenly has put you in the unsatisfactory position of having to uproot your daughter from somewhere she was happy. Sometimes, when a change is made to the structure of charges, it is only applied to new starters, so that this doesn't happen.

Whether they would reconsider that charge for continuing clients, I don't know - it probably comes down to how the figures add up.

Tillsforthrills · 10/12/2021 08:23

It’s not only because of the increase in minimum wage though is it.

It’s the increase in the cost of living, bills, food, supplies that are driving the increases in businesses so to think it’s purely because of the rise of MW isn’t the whole story.

ReeseWitherfork · 10/12/2021 08:29

The trouble OP will have is if existing nursery aren't updating prices because of MW increase so they'll end up increasing again in April. My nursery increase prices every January as standard.

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