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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask where all the kids are at nursery?

28 replies

TheLostNights · 12/09/2023 18:17

Maybe just at godchilds nursery but before the summer break, there were lots of kids when I went to collect at 5PM. Now, only a very small number. My neighbour said the same thing is happening at her nursery. So where have all the kids gone? Could understand it throughout the summer holiday but doesn't make sense now ?

OP posts:
Olivia199 · 12/09/2023 18:19

I imagine they'll be a case of lots moving up to school/school nursery and it'll take a while for the intake to build up!

YouveGotAFastCar · 12/09/2023 18:19

Maybe they’ve changed nurseries?

Our nursery is manic at 4-5pm. The waiting list is about to tuck into 2025.

BeeEyeEnGeeOh · 12/09/2023 18:20

Mine has the normal amount of children still.

Maybe if siblings are doing short sessions at school some are being collected early?

Summermeadowflowers · 12/09/2023 18:20

Taking their summer holidays so they don’t pay premium prices?

KenAdams · 12/09/2023 18:21

Parents hybrid working means that they can collect earlier and avoid traffic.

Brbreeze · 12/09/2023 18:21

Summermeadowflowers · 12/09/2023 18:20

Taking their summer holidays so they don’t pay premium prices?

This. I have a 2 yo and have just had a week away.

Heronwatcher · 12/09/2023 18:24

I do think quite a few nurseries are suffering because of the post covid rise of wfh and also people not being able to afford fees, so juggling childcare between them whilst both working for a few more days a week. I think there’s also been a bit of a baby bust since about 2015/16. I know of a couple which have closed down because of low numbers.

Bottlerecycle · 12/09/2023 18:26

Absolutely makes sense

many more working from home so picking up earlier

Original poster
TheLostNights · 12/09/2023 18:27

Would have thought that with the COL, many wouldn't have the option to cut their hours especially if they can't WFH although I can appreciate that sometimes working more means you lose out on certain benefits when it comes to financial support. Will be interesting to see what it's like in the next month or two. Hopefully the nursery won't shut down.

OP posts:
Clefable · 12/09/2023 18:29

Our nursery is full but after 5 there aren't many kids left. Most are picked up between 4-5. On the odd occasion I pick up DDs after 5, there are only a couple of other kids there.

Original poster
TheLostNights · 12/09/2023 18:30

If it was just a WFH thing surely this would have been an ongoing trend rather than a recent one though. If anything WFH has become less popular now. Also, many employers don't allow employees to work with a kid in the home.
The staff say it's down to funded hours but I would have thought that wouldn't be enough to cover most people's working day.

OP posts:
Angryappendix · 12/09/2023 18:30

Peak holiday time for babies and toddlers. Just had a week away with toddler and the place was like a nursery 😂

Wallabyone · 12/09/2023 18:38

Our local pre-school and others locally are under subscribed for the first time in memory. People have said the birth rate dropped in that first covid year.

PeloMom · 12/09/2023 18:40

Where I am people start picking up around 3:15 and by 4:30 there’s barely any kids there. I know a few leave work early when possible to try to avoid traffic and finish off work once kid is in bed.

Snowonthebeachx · 12/09/2023 18:50

Is it a nursery with separate rooms or a preschool? If a preschool probably one conhort have gone to school and the new children on reduced hours to settle in.

Original poster
TheLostNights · 12/09/2023 18:54

It is one with separate rooms.

OP posts:
Moonsoup · 12/09/2023 18:58

Wallabyone · 12/09/2023 18:38

Our local pre-school and others locally are under subscribed for the first time in memory. People have said the birth rate dropped in that first covid year.

Birthrates having been going down since 2018, the current Y1 intake. Lots of primaries have had two years of small intakes. There was another drop in covid due to fewer unplanned pregnancies.

Winterday1991 · 12/09/2023 19:09

I always pick baby up at 5.50, nursery closes at 6pm. Always the last child to be picked up. 😭

Heronwatcher · 12/09/2023 19:11

My understanding is that because of the cost of living crisis lots of people are wfh AND looking after their kids- they’re not cutting their hours, just cutting their childcare (e.g. my old nursery had a 9-3 option which was cheaper than 9-6). And if you can juggle your day (so one of you starts early, works through lunch, does the bare minimum between 2-45 and 7 but then maybe catches up on a few hours in the evening) I think most employers would probably turn a blind eye as long as the job is getting done and no complaints etc.

queenofthewild · 12/09/2023 19:14

A lot of families only use nursery once the funded hours kick in. And funded hours are granted the term after a child turns 3.

queenofthewild · 12/09/2023 19:15

Oops. Posted too soon.

September is always quietest as a whole cohort goes to school.

Duttercup · 12/09/2023 19:16

Angryappendix · 12/09/2023 18:30

Peak holiday time for babies and toddlers. Just had a week away with toddler and the place was like a nursery 😂

Honestly think this is the most reasonable explanation. My small nursery in the middle of nowhere has a huge (relatively) waiting list and has been quiet the last two weeks. Lot of staff holidays over the next 6 weeks so they must be expecting a quiet time too.

fairyfluf · 12/09/2023 19:17

Waiting for the new 15/30 years people to get their spots

RockAndRollerskate · 12/09/2023 19:18

All off sick like my two?

Asparagus1 · 12/09/2023 19:19

I work in a pre-school we are always quiet in September because we’ve just lost a number who have gone to school.