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Original poster

Nursery place comes with free annual farm pass

95 replies

HelloKittyGirl · 27/02/2022 22:04

I’m seeing this more and more. Blah Blah Farm Nursery comes with a free annual family pass to Blah Blah Farm.

Am I the only one who finds this a bit odd?

Are people supposed to want the nursery place or the pass? They’re totally different things. Why link them?

Presumably it’s supposed to be an incentive to choose that nursery? Surely that’s not a good factor to base your decisions on though? Does it really influence people do you think?

What if you want the nursery place but not the pass? Can you have a discount? I imagine not. What if your DC are so sick of Blah Blah Farm after a whole week of wraparound hours at its nursery that they don’t want to be dragged back there at weekends too?

OP posts:
TheKeatingFive · 28/02/2022 09:21

I also can't understand why the OP is incensed by this. It's a nice perk if you want it, but entirely up to you.

Cbtb · 28/02/2022 09:44

Of course nursery’s educate children. Education isn’t just learning academics. It’s learning to talk, the toilet, use cutlery, play with others. Very important fundamental stuff. Picking a nursery that did a lot of outside education was very important to me, so knowing they spent most of their time on the farm was a big factor and one I was prepared to pay more for compared to a nursery with limited outdoor space (all other things being equal)

mumofmunchkin · 28/02/2022 09:55

Even if the cost was passed on, round here an annual farm pass costs £40-50 a year, so less than £1 a week, or less than 20p per weekday. On top of a £50-60 a day nursery fee, 20p is hardly bumping up the price. As others have said though, it's more likely the nursery gets the passes free or heavily discounted.

00100001 · 28/02/2022 12:00

@SamphiretheStickerist

It won't add anything to the coat of nursery. The farm will have offered the passes as a way if drumming up custom. They will rely in secondary spend to make up the coat to themselves - and most people would be more likely to buy a cup of tea and a cake during a free visit, so it works.

Take a deep breath. You've got worked up over nothing.

Quite, in addition, you may even buy additional passes for the other parent/siblings etc
00100001 · 28/02/2022 12:01

@mumofmunchkin

Even if the cost was passed on, round here an annual farm pass costs £40-50 a year, so less than £1 a week, or less than 20p per weekday. On top of a £50-60 a day nursery fee, 20p is hardly bumping up the price. As others have said though, it's more likely the nursery gets the passes free or heavily discounted.
ours is nearer £300 :O
LittleGwyneth · 28/02/2022 12:17

If you're torn between two good nurseries why would it be frivolous to choose the one which offers and additional bonus? Presumably it also speak to an animal friendly / outdoor ethos?

GroggyLegs · 28/02/2022 12:23

Do you own a nursery that's not on a farm OP?

Flowers

We chose our primary based on the fact it had a train track at the back & my DS1 was obsessed by railways. We had the pick of two good ones - the small things make a difference.

Drivingish · 28/02/2022 12:31

It sounds more likely they're paying for passes anyway to take the kids in nursery time, which may save money as they'll get a good deal on then and won't have to pay for stuff to do their own activities in that time. Then, as good marketing by the farm, you get to use the passes outside of nursery time too. You may even be saving money (a tiny amount tho) on them doing this over buying lots of stuff to use in that time at the nursery.

cdba88 · 28/02/2022 12:46

I don't understand your issue.

Are the nursery fee's more than other local nurseries? If so don't pick that nursery if you don't want the farm pass.

There are families out there who can't afford entry costs for activities so a free farm pass would be very beneficial.

Original poster
HelloKittyGirl · 28/02/2022 13:09

@mumofmunchkin

Even if the cost was passed on, round here an annual farm pass costs £40-50 a year, so less than £1 a week, or less than 20p per weekday. On top of a £50-60 a day nursery fee, 20p is hardly bumping up the price. As others have said though, it's more likely the nursery gets the passes free or heavily discounted.
The cost is just under £550 a year for a family of four at one particular local one. So more than 10x that.
OP posts:
Drivingish · 28/02/2022 13:12

It may be £550 if you went to buy one, would bet the nursery buying 50+ of them isn't paying that for them.

TheKeatingFive · 28/02/2022 13:14

The cost is just under £550 a year for a family of four at one particular local one. So more than 10x that.

Wow, that's expensive.

Okay, so it's an awesome perk if you're interested and if you're not, no problem, no ones forcing you to choose that nursery.

I still don't understand your problem.

SpiderinaWingMirror · 28/02/2022 15:01

For heavens sake. What they charge for a farm pass and what it costs are 2 different things!

ReeseWitherfork · 28/02/2022 15:08

£550 for an annual pass for a family of four?! Thats expensive, it's gotta be some amazing farm. Definitely chose that nursery, that's a great incentive.

Agree with PP that you've misunderstood how these setups work. Coco Pops don't cost more just because there is a voucher for Legoland in the box. That would be some pricey cereal.

JustKeepSwimmingJust · 28/02/2022 15:13

Is the farm and nursery one business/run by one family?

SliceOfCakeCupOfTea · 28/02/2022 17:02

I'm assuming OP loves the nursery but knows if her DC go there and get a free pass, she'll need to buy herself a pass and any siblings/husband/wife a pass too and suddenly it's too much. Rather than looking elsewhere, she'd rather complain that she can't have exactly what she wants where she wants it.

lapasion · 28/02/2022 17:38

I’d think it very off indeed if an independent school did something like this.

Unis have given away free laptops for years, but I don’t think people are getting 50k in debt to get a £500 laptop. It’s just a way to get noticed.

pinkpantherpink · 01/03/2022 17:55

So not free then...

Waddlegoose · 01/03/2022 17:59

It would worry me that a nursery need this to attract people. The good nursery’s won’t need this and have a wait list.

Bangolads · 01/03/2022 18:06

It’s marketing, it’s a way to attract parents, it’s something lots of us would love. Why on earth are you doing angry about it?

SleepingStandingUp · 01/03/2022 18:24

It's a farm, not a crack den. If you like your kids having lots of outdoor time at the weekend / holidays, learning about animals etc then it's a great incentive. If you don't and you feel it's over priced, you pick somewhere else. They're hardly damaging kids by encouraging them to access a FARM

Thisgroupneverceasestoamazeme · 01/03/2022 19:07

What a weird thing to be bothered about. I took my son to sing and sign at a local farm AND…shock horror…we sometimes visited at other times (shall I admit we also had an annual pass?!) Not everyone attends full time so if they do say 1 or 2 days a week it’s a nice family day out on the other days where parents don’t have to think about entrance fees.

Christinatherabbit · 01/03/2022 19:45

Wow what a lovely idea. I wish I had of had this option when looking at nurseries for my DC. Sounds great

user1493494961 · 01/03/2022 19:55

If the Nursery you choose hands out a free farm pass, just give it away if you don't want to use it. Some people sound like hard work.

IWentAwayIStayedAway · 01/03/2022 20:03

1st child @HelloKittyGirl?

You are the customer so skip on if you dont like the offer

Would love a link to the farm thats 550 per year to buy a pass, can't wrap my head around that one