Do you pay your nursery's essentials and extras fee?

[Brightyellowflowers]

My DCs go to a private nursery and receive the 30 hours funding. We've just had notification that the fee they charge for extras is now "non-mandatory" (as per new government guidance). They charge £1.80 per funded hour, which doesn't sound much, but for two kids it's an extra £171 a month each... which is 4k a year!

I appreciate that government funding doesn't always cover their costs, but I can't afford to pay 4k if I don't have to. What is everyone doing? Do you pay this charge? I feel like the nursery is guilt tripping parents into paying it and just wanted to check what the norm is.

What does it cover? Will you be providing food and consumables instead then?

This is what I don't understand. Apparently we can't provide food due to allergies. But they still aren't legally allowed to charge for lunch without giving you the option to not pay it.

I'd pay it as presumably the nursery will close otherwise?

With tax free childcare it's £3 a year for both so not extortionate really.

I'm paying mine, haven't questioned it and also don't want the hassle of providing lunches etc.

It’s why people can’t afford kids anymore.

I also look at it as 'wow, 30 hours of childcare a week for just £171 a month' which is loads less than before the free hours, rather than bemoaning that it's not completely free. I think that mindset helps. It's like not focusing on how much tax you're paying but how much money you get to take home!

Well obviously you can afford it as you've been paying it.

Wait

is it £171 extra a mo th on top of a fee you already pay?

or is it £171 on top of free hours?

I don't know the ins and outs of the nursery's finances. We're already paying over £100 a day for non funded hours, so I resent paying a top up fee too when the government says this clearly isn't allowed.

I don't want to cause any trouble though... no idea what other parents are going to do.

It's £171 for the 30 'free' hours for OP. Again, I'd just mentally class them as 30 discounted hours.

If you don’t pay it, who do you propose picks up the shortfall in the cost of caring for your children.

Well i think you're leaving them in a difficult position. Don't be surprised if they close or you lose your places.

As you can tell by my username, I'm no lover of the funding and all its rules. You're getting 30 hours of childcare and won't even pay a little to cover your children's food because 'They can't make me.'

Honestly when settings close or stop accepting funding, parents will have no one to blame but themselves.

The free option would presumably be taking them home for lunch and then bringing them back.

Yes, I pay the extra fee.

They've never really been totally free, more discounted. So you're paying £18 a day instead of over £100 for three days a week? I would definitely take that as a big win. Especially if you're actually paying a lot less than that with tax free childcare.

You should see the government funding as a subsidy rather than providing free childcare. The money they give to nurseries isn’t enough. Do you like the nursery enough to want it to stay open

Honestly I hate this part of the 30 hours. All it does is add an obscene additional cost to those that pay for more than 22 hours a week. It’s so stupid and unfair.

I haven't decided what to do yet, that's why I'm asking what everyone else does.

Who do you think should pay for your children to eat?
If not you, who?
Why would you expect your children to eat for free. Someone has to pay for the food and the cooking of it.

My fees for one child, three days a week, with 15 hours funding, is £915 a month. So it's a very expensive nursery!

I don't make the rules?? The government have said this charge is no longer allowed to be compulsory?

Then choose a cheaper one.

You can't shop in Waitrose and expect Aldi prices.

They're all similar prices around here

Honestly not trying to be difficult... if everyone else happily pays this voluntary fee then I'm sure I will too.

Just caught me off guard I think, because they just sent a notification today saying it's now optional.

Well then move area. Honestly you're trying to justify using a service that you can't afford and trying to work out how to get out of paying on a technicality.

I guess you don't have to pay, jut don't expect much in the way of quality.
1 slice of white bread and lidl spaghetti hoops.
The funding doesn't cover the cost of proving childcare, let alone the food.

Yes I pay it. I have 2 kids in nursery, one has 30 hours and one has 15. They do 3 days a week and the discounted bill is £1000.
If parents didn't pay the top up, the nursery would close. Mine is a v small independent and they're obviously not rolling in it. The funding per child per hour doesn't cover the basic staffing costs on minimum ratios, let alone everything else. All their training, resources, insurance, building running costs etc etc.
I see it as a discount. It's absolutely crushing us right now (after 3 years of £1000+ a month) but it's not for much longer.