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.

But it’s a private nursery that you are choosing to use?

Depends whether you want nursery to stay open I guess? Have you got a back up option for when this closes?

Mine is a big national chain, not an independent.

Surely it's going to create a weird messy system where half the parents are paying and half aren't? But they'll still need to provide kids with consistent care?

I'm sure they'll just increase the cost of the non funded hours to cover the deficit anyway.

Personally I wouldn't hesitate in paying it, I too view it as a discount versus 'free'. I also don't think £915 for 3 days a week is bad, I paid £720 for 2 days 3 years ago (no 15 hours then). I think quality childcare is well worth paying for and I can't resent paying for nutritious food, good facilities and caring staff

It's pretty clear you have no intention to continue paying and you're happy for anyone to foot the bill as long as it saves you money.

I’m in two minds. My dc are grown up but the mere 15 hours I got were at least fully funded as in no top up (they went mornings only). My friend is a child minder and she doesn’t charge top ups but expects parents to supply nappies, wipes and formula plus any specialist dietary items, she provides breakfast, lunch and tea (meat or vegetarian). Her clients do pay for community classes in addition, but they are optional

Honestly I'll pay if that's what everyone does! Just wanted to ask the question.

But surely it's unfair if half the parents pay and half don't, but everyone is getting the same service?

It's such a stupid system.

I don't know why I'm getting so much hate?! The nursery literally sent us an email today telling us this charge is no longer mandatory.

And yes, I think most people would want to save 4 grand a year if possible??

I don't understand, so will your child still be fed over lunch if you don't pay? You shouldn't base what you do based on what everyone else does - just do what you think is right for your family

I need to clarify this with the nursery. The policy is so unclear. I've read it about 5 times.

You should contact your MP about it as well. We all should. The system is a mess and it's not the nurseries' fault.

For 2 kids a month, yes, absolutely. It’s a very good deal. Back in the day, Dh and I were paying £1100 a month per child. I’d want to make sure they stayed open, they could provide good facilities and their staff were as well paid as possible.

You won’t save 4k a year though, do you think the nursery will just be able to lose 2k per child?
The price will just increase to cover it, you will pay it regardless.

Even more reason not to pay it? If I'm paying a top up plus increased fees, I'm basically paying twice?

I send my child to forest school, I provide his lunch. They ask for £3 extra per hour per child, I wasn't made aware of this when he started. I spoke to them about it and I pay them what i can afford each month extra, they said lots of other parents do the same thing. I'm sure you wouldn't be the only one, why don't you send what you can afford to find a middle ground

DN's nursery sent out a letter today saying the top us is no longer automatic

You now have to opt in to pay for meals, snacks, nappies and other bits for £23 a day starting after Easter.

After the Easter term ends they'll review the situation and send out a letter about September.

Another nursery locally have sent out letters saying that from September they'll be limiting funded places. you can only use funded ours for 3 days a week if you have 2 non-funded days. If you have 1 funded day you must have 1 non funded day.
They've very bluntly said that it is a trial period and they are considering having no funded places as it doesn't afford them to give the care they want to give.

As opposed to those state nurseries? 😂😂

Thanks chick

im so tired I literally can’t work this out

so can you help me

(you’re going to have to explain it like I’m at nursery ok??? Like I’m 5)

so before she’s paid whatever the fee was but with 1.80 per hour taken off and now she’s paying another £171 on top of mo eg she’s already paying out?

please again excuse my stupidity b

Well yeah if OP is entitled to the 30 funded hours currently she could access that at a state funded school nursery. The 30 hours doesn’t apply to babies ineligible for school nursery right now.

No, the free option should be being allowed to take in a packed lunch.

Settings are not allowed to insist on an enforced break (funding morning and afternoon sessions with a paid-for session at lunch time).

Because I have a full time job. Pre schools are 9-3, term time only.

It will be because of the new rules.

I am on some nursery owner groups and some of them are close to closing or already have done. The government funding is so low, that this new rule of non compulsory extras etc in order to access funding, is leading some to just decide not to offer any funded hours at all, limit them to 15 and not offer the 30 or shut down because they are now going bankrupt. Some childminders were now even told by universal credit that their businesses weren’t viable because of the funding rates coming in and they had to get a better job if they wanted to continue getting UC!
So yes you could bring your child’s own lunch in and not pay. But if too many people choose to do it then the setting will probably just shut or say they don’t accept funded hours anymore. It will be unfair if some people don’t pay, but the feedback I’ve seen a lot of nurseries posting is that parents are happy to pay for extras and it’s very rare they get someone who doesn’t.

No before she paid for her usage over the funded hours plus £171 for meals and consumables, now they technically aren’t allowed to charge for consumables but they aren’t going to just be down £171 per child so they will increase the fees elsewhere to make it up.

@Brightyellowflowers no idea what all these posts are about on here! I completely understand where you are coming from. Childcare costs actually adversely affect women and I absolutely think the government should be providing actual free childcare not a false pretence of 30 free hours that aren’t free. And why is it your problem if the nursery closes! Maybe them closing would make the government stop shitting on women all the time.

I am not sure if I would pay. It’s a very strange system. Like you say, they have to provide adequate care regardless.

You don't have to pay it - you never have had to, but the government have updated their guidelines effective 1st April, hence the email you’ve received. It’s now crystal clear that you don’t have to pay it, rather than things being a bit vague… I’d love it if all parents refused to pay and the government had to respond to pressure from the nurseries to actually pay the amount it costs to provide decent childcare. Don’t feel guilty for not paying, none of the top brass at the big nursery chains are short of cash!