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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To not want to pay playschool £5 because I have to work?

126 replies

mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 09:41

My employer has changed my work hours, I used to work 6am til 9am. I now have to work 7am til 11am when ds is at playschool or basically lose my job.
Now I am unable to be a parent helper at playschool and have to pay them £5 when I am on the rota. Am i being unreasonable to not want to pay it?

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 10:26

You would lose your place at this one for not paying for 2 weeks.

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 10:27

I am now officially a villian!

OP posts:
Ripeberry · 24/04/2008 10:34

Mumfor1, i'm not picking on you, unless you don't even pay for the xtra hour. If you don't even have that they you are lucky.
Our playschool can't even do the £5 thing as we can't do a rota.
They do have a "lady" in once a week and they pay her £20 each week but she is not even a parent and not a registered childminder but looks after other peoples children in her own home....BUT that's a whole other can of worms..
Truce Mumfor1?

Ripeberry · 24/04/2008 10:37

I'm just so sad the playschool might end up closing as the Playleader set it up herself all those years ago. Anyway, got to get on with sorting out the Grants.

Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 10:39

Ripeberry - not sure what you mean about paying for the extra hour? The place ds has is funded and I have to pay if I can't help at the session.

I can see from mumsnet that my childcare is very cheap, even if I paid for the sessions. I couldn't possibly afford a private nursery, I am not earning enough. I will pay the fiver, I just wanted other's views!

OP posts:
Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 10:46

Oh well, I am off now to count my money. See if I can afford to pay a fiver.....

OP posts:
allgonebellyup · 24/04/2008 10:51

All this fuss over a FIVER??!!!

i am broke but will post you a fiver myself!

windygalestoday · 24/04/2008 10:52

They do have a "lady" in once a week and they pay her £20 each week but she is not even a parent and not a registered childminder but looks after other peoples children in her own home....BUT that's a whole other can of worms..

ripeberry that is deffo a dodgy can of worms - how is that allowed?

CatWithKittens · 24/04/2008 10:53

Is it not time we all started saying that we decided to have children and so we are responsible for them; not the State, not our neighbours? Nobody but us brought them into the world so why should I expect other people subsidise me for one of the great pleasures of my life?

LazyLinePainterJane · 24/04/2008 11:01

OP, someone further up clearly stated that OFSTED rules state that your playgroup is breaking the rules! Maybe you should read the post.

throckenholt · 24/04/2008 11:03

the thing is - playgroup is not childcare in the sense of a child minder or a private nursery.

It is a playgroup usually run by volunteers in committee, with paid staff to run the sessions. Children over a certain age are funded by the local authority - BUT it does not usually fully cover the costs.

Ofsted regulate what playgroups are and are not allowed to do - so there are things like minimun staffing levels. You have to balance the budget. Many playgroups use a rota parent to help doing things like cutting up fruit at snack time, and tidying up etc. If a parent does not do it then someone else has to be paid to do it. If that happens then all charges will have to go up. So many playgroups charge a fee for those occasional parents who can't or won't take a turn on the rota. It is usually a small fee and usually only once or twice per term.

Bottom line is - if they playgroup does not have enough money to pay for staff and everything else it will close.

If you can't be that flexible then you should use a private nursery rather than a playgroup - I think your local authority funding can normally contribute to nursery fees.

throckenholt · 24/04/2008 11:04

by the eay - when did OFSTED change the rules ?

windygalestoday · 24/04/2008 11:06

catwithkittens thats a very good way of looking at it unfortunately as i am continually telling my fil and my nanna gone are the days when you could live a fairly reasonable life with just 1 wage and bit of overtime.....the government in their new proposals will be foriong many single mums to work (whatever your thoughts on that childcare will be needed.

And even years ago children thrived in playgroups and mums and toddler groups that have now had to have officildom forced upon them to be registered to be ofsteded so life isnt simple any more- children have always benefited from playgroups they lern skills that arent catered for in the home and it does help prepare them for school.

If you can afford to be with your children (i too am a sahm) then you are lucky but dont knock others for their childcare choices.

im a trained nursery nurse in my employment i can stimulate a child of any age in all aspects of his development in a home environment you cant do that even with your own children so some children from disadvantaged backgrounds gain most of their 'skills'in a nursery environment and these might be the very children your own child socialises with.

A good pre school will build solid foundations and for some parents they have no choice.

windygalestoday · 24/04/2008 11:09

my a and k key arent working so please dont think im sub intellectual lol

TheHedgeWitch · 24/04/2008 11:21

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn

Youcannotbeserious · 24/04/2008 11:35

I couldn't get my dog looked after twice a week for a £5!

SmugColditz · 24/04/2008 11:51

Well why doesn't the government pay PROPERLY if they are going to offer free childcare.

It's all very well them offering free childcare, but if the only way the preschools can afford to do it is by ladling steaming piles of guilt onto the heads of mothers who need a break, then they should cut the bullshit and make it for over fours only!

They shouldn't call it a 'free' place when it is in fact a 'subsidised' place!

allytjd · 24/04/2008 13:03

At our playgroup you have to pay fifteen pounds to cover a relief playworker if you don't turn up to do parent duty!

CatWithKittens · 24/04/2008 13:31

Windygalestoday
I was not trying to knock other peoples decision or need to work. I was just making the point that they should not expect other people to subsidise their children all the time as though children are a burden imposed on us rather than one of the greatest pleasures in life.

throckenholt · 24/04/2008 14:13

colditz - the government should either pay for all pre-school care or butt out - but at the moment the regulate playgroups to the hilt but really pay hardly anything for them.

Which is why the staff are paid little more than minimum wage and it is really difficult to get staff. Especially for the smaller playgroups where you need staff for a few hours each day - which very few qualified people want to do.

windygalestoday · 24/04/2008 15:23

catwithkittens the point is that the government is encouraging people to use these facilities under the premise of them being free for all- parents some on very low incomes but not on the benefit line are using them and being charged.

And whist i agree children are a great pleasure its the burden of finding affordable childcare that parent are objecting to- years ago children were left with n 'aunty' neighbour with children of her own who would watch the children before and after school for a few pound all the regulations have put paid to this informal arrangement at great cost to the parents who HAVE to work .

Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 16:03

It seems so far that SmugColditz is the only one who can see both sides of the argument!

Why is my Child's place paid by the Government (whether partly or fully I have no idea on this - how would I know?) and I then have to pay for not being able to help out due to the fact that my employer has changed my working hours? I didn't choose these working hours, when I went back to work after m/l I chose different hours as to not interfere with things like this, so I could be there!
I can't put my Son in a private Nursery as they are so bloody expensive. I know how they are run as my Mum used to help run one, I know how much they cost.
A fiver might not be much to some people but it is to those on very low incomes and those who may feel that they have to help or they will be out of pocket - pure bribery imo.

OP posts:
nervousal · 24/04/2008 16:10

for what its worth I think YANBU - this is a funded place at a Gov playschool - why on earth should you be expected to pay if you can't help out - absolutely ridiculous! I wouldn't pay it.

Original poster
mumfor1standmaybe2ndtime · 24/04/2008 16:17

Thankyou! My first yanbu

OP posts:
bozza · 24/04/2008 16:18

I don't get this at all TBH. Surely a funded childcare place is 2.5 hours per session (increasing to 3 hours in September)not 4 hours or more? So getting away with £10 per term seems very light.

So TBH I really do think YABU. And in what way is it bribery? What are they bribing you to do by charging you £5/hour?

DD went over the handlebars of a bike at nursery on Tuesday and I had to keep her off yesterday as she was tired from late night at A&E plus she had not eaten or drunk because of the state of her mouth. But I still have to pay nursery for her care and not work - either by taking unpaid leave or my holiday.