To think quality of childcare isn't where we should cut back?

[herringrose]

My son went to an admittedly expensive nursery, but they were brilliant. They only ever called us to collect when he was genuinely ill, they are very fair with fees in regards to bank hols and closure periods, they went above and beyond for the kids and seemed to genuinely really care about them. The other 2 local nurseries we've heard multiple things about and neither sound ideal, both readily have spaces whereas our nursery has a big wait list and often has to turn people away. My son has just finished and is in school now, but I have another baby due soon who we put on their list as soon as I found out I was pregnant.

My husband is saying with the cost of living crisis, why don't we just put our son in with someone who lives near us who's just opened as a childminder and is a lot cheaper, we can afford the good nursery but means cutting elsewhere or just generally having less disposable again for a couple of years. I just think having such a good nursery where we know the staff, get on with everyone and genuinely trust them is worth its weight in gold and isn't where we should be making cuts? He thinks I'm being a little bit snobby, and says childcare is childcare but I disagree and am not budging at the moment.

AIBU? Would the baby adjust anywhere or am I right to send him somewhere admittedly more expensive but where we have existing trust/relationships with the staff?

I agree with you. There are regular threads on here from people panicking about finding new childcare because their current childcare has let them down or they have grave concerns about the quality of care. A 1 year old needs consistent, high level, affectionate care. Nurseries and childminders have a range of scores from unacceptable to outstanding so they are clearly not all the same.

Childcare is childcare, until you're about to lose your job because they've called you 10x in a couple of months to pick up your baby because 'they don't look right'. Or until your baby screams all day when you drop them off because the staff turnover is so high they haven't formed any attachment to anyone. Or until you fall out with them because your child has been hurt or injured in their care.

I’d much rather use a childminder over a nursery

The relationship you can build is on a more personal level and is more bespoke due to the nature of the role

YANBU. This is the last thing I would cut. Nurseries vary TREMENDOUSLY.

It sounds as if, in this case, they already have a good relationship with the nursery staff, and are very happy with their care.

The childminder might be even better, or she might be worse. There's a bit of a gamble whichever you choose, because it's impossible to be completely sure how it will be on the basis of the odd visit and their Ofsted. There's a lot to be said for going for the one you're sure of.

This is a fairly old thread, anyway.

I agree that I would rather cutback elsewhere than change childcare from a place that I thought was very good and I was very confident with.

HOWEVER- I don’t think more expensive child care always = better childcare.

My first child went to an all singing all dancing countryside nursery from 1-4. With organic meals, mainly outdoor classrooms and a large forest school and they always had a waiting list. However he went to the preschool attaches to his school from 4. 1 portacabin with a small outside space and dated interior. He settled there and made friends there better than he ever did at the first nursery. The 2 women that ran it loved the kids and it was small enough that they knew all the children and none were ever overshadowed.

Just saying - the childcare that looks best, isnt always best.

I would not scrimp on childcare, but it might be worth you visiting the childminder to see if they actually provide something that could be better.

However if you really feel the nursery is better, then it is worth the expense given you can afford it.

I agree that I would rather cutback elsewhere than change childcare from a place that I thought was very good and I was very confident with.

HOWEVER- I don’t think more expensive child care always = better childcare.

This 100%
I visit a LOT of Nurseries.

My dc went to Childminders.
The fact the childminder might be more affordable does NOT mean that the quality is lacking.

There is a huge variety in the quality of Nurseries - sadly, (which is what I thought this thread was about) every decision the Government makes about funding - and now about ratios - makes the quality of provision be reduced, and there is only so much you can wear away. Nurseries are folding, frequently. Others are hanging on by the skin of their teeth. Virtually every Nursery I know is struggling to find quality staff to employ.
I fully accept that CMers must vary in quality too, but I would think long and hard before using many Nurseries at the moment - and I'm not blaming the Nurseries for the financial position and staffing position the Government has put them in.

If you can possibly find the money to buy childcare that you're happy with, then do so.

Having said that, there is no harm at all in meeting the new childminder to see whether you like them.

I have four kids. Two went solely to nursery, one did part nursery and part childminder, and one did spoken childminder. My nursery was good, but my childminder has become an extension of my family. It has just worked. There are some awful childminders out there though, so you just have to get to know them and see!