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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

just had a run in with dd's preschool

50 replies

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 10:38

hi ,
my dd started Montessori school in sept 09 , 9am - 12.30pm , i live in Ireland & therefore a new scheme has just started up here last week , this scheme entitles children of dd's age to free 3 hours a day sessions of pre-school , yesterday i asked her teacher if i could send dd in 9.30am -12.30 & therefore avail of the free childcare scheme , her teacher agreed to this yesterday but this morning has said no , she now is demanding 22.50 euro extra a week & told me that if i don't comply with this i can take dd elsewhere , this seems very unfair to me tbh as dd has health issue's to be considered & changing schools at this very late stage will effect her , i have rang my local county councillor who is involved in this new scheme to seek further information as to what i can do , but i am really upset now & am worried if i take action dd will suffer because of it ,
WWYD - pay the extra fees or fight for your child's entitlements ?
oh & her pre-school has signed a contract to say they will give parents an option of the 3 free hours per day ,

OP posts:

pooexplosions · 13/01/2010 10:42

if they've signed up to it they are legally not allowed to charge you extra, its all detailed on welfare.ie.
they have to provide the 3 hours with no extra charges.

snowylass · 13/01/2010 10:42

Personally, I'd pay the extra.

Does the day have some structure - ie circle time etc - if so, your DD coming in at 9.30 could be a little disruptive and also your DD will miss out on the way the day has been structured.

My DS is 3 and I wouldn't drop him "late" to his school nursery for the above reasons and also to avoid singling him out.

Will your DD be going to proper school soon? This issue will only be for a finite time won't it?

purpleturtle · 13/01/2010 10:48

Presumably you've been paying in full up until now? I would pay the top-up and stay put.

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 10:51

pooexplosions yes what they are doing is illegal , but the only reason i enrolled dd there last December is because they told me that dd will be free after christmas , whereas on Monday morning this week her teacher told me i will now have to pay 22.50 euro every week dd loves it there & has really settled in (i thought i would be in for a nightmare time with her )snowylass but they don't seem to do anything with the children , any time i ask dd what did you do today dd , she says " oh we played hide & seek , & hop scotch with her pals .

OP posts:

lou031205 · 13/01/2010 11:00

9 Euros an hour for the extra 30 minutes a day? What did you pay before you got funding?

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 11:05

before this week i was paying 51 euro per week for three days 9am - 12.30pm
i even paid full fee's for the christmas holidays even though her school was closed , (and the scheme had kicked in, so i wasn't meant to pay for those week but i did & never questioned her)
there are no other Montessori schools with in walking distance ,

OP posts:

Rebeccaj · 13/01/2010 11:18

As far as I can see, they are charging you 22.5 euros for the extra 30 mins a day - so 2.5 hours care over the week. They are perfectly entitled to do that, if their sessions are 3.5 hours and the funding only covers 3. It's up to you whether to pay the top up. I expect most places you go will be the same, to be honest. I don't think you can force them to only take her for 3 hours a day.

And the fact your 3/4 year old tells you she only played hide and seek etc doesn't mean for one minute that they don't do lots of other things with them! My son's nursery always have circle time and stories, then provide multiple toys to play with and art & crafts etc but all DS ever says is that he played with trains...!

pooexplosions · 13/01/2010 11:27

No, they aren't entitled to do that, the rules of the scheme are quite clear on that. If they have signed up to the scheme they have to provide the 3 hours without requiring you to take the extra half hour with a fee.
I would go in and ask them if they want to be reported to the Dept of Ed within a week of starting the scheme, and running the risk of being excluded from it. Like most places they prob have falling revenues and will need the payment from the dept.
Don't let them get away with cheating you.

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 13/01/2010 11:30

If you aren't happy with what they do with her, move her. You must know that most small children say they have done nothing at playschool/prechool/nursery/reception when asked.

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 11:35

pooexplosions is spot on , i have been told this morning that dd's pre-school signed into a contract agreeing to make the extra half hour an option for parents , but the scheme officials have just phoned me back to say that there is a loop-hole where her preschool could have me over a barrel , this is because i also might have signed a contract back in sept agreeing to send dd 9am - 12.30pm , tbh i cant remember weather i signed a contract or not , i know i filled in forms ect , so now i am just more confused & upset .
dreading the 12.30 pick up now ,

OP posts:

bronze · 13/01/2010 11:38

YANBU but you are being a bugger, Is it charity run?

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 11:38

fab yes i know what you mean , but i suppose i am a little suspicious because i used to be a Montessori teacher myself (many years ago, I'm very out of touch now) & have witnessed some nasty things in some preschools . which is why i got out of that line of work.

OP posts:

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 11:42

no bronze its a private school , suppose i do sound like I'm being a bit mean but we are a one income family & dh's job has already taking a pay cut & there is another pay cut expected in feb . so i was really hoping the new scheme would take some pressure off tbh .

OP posts:

bronze · 13/01/2010 11:45

s'alright just odd hours make the accounting side a nightmare (I'm playgroup treasurer) you are within your rights though

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 11:51

i am worried if i tell her teacher that i am within my rights blah blah that dd will suffer for it , so guess i will just have to pay up .

OP posts:

MaryMungo · 13/01/2010 11:52

You were being charged about 2.50 per .5hour block. To be honest I'd be unwilling to top up beyond that.

helpYOUiWILL · 13/01/2010 11:54

i am in england so may work different but my ds aged 2 (3 beginning of april) goes to a private nursery whilst i work. Once his vouchers start in september (a long time after he is 3yrs which i dont think is fair), his entitlement will reduce the amount i have to pay at nursery each month BUT i will still have to pay the extra. They work it out that he attends two full days (7-6.30pm) which is 2 sessions per day, which is 5hrs aday or 10 hours a week off of his fees. He then attends a pre-school one session a week which will become free once september gets here. He has then used up his 12.5hr entitlement.

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 13/01/2010 11:55

It seems to me you only have to pay for half an hour a day. What is the issue? You were previously paying for more so it should be easier?

FabIsGoingToBeFabIn2010 · 13/01/2010 11:57

The free time always come in the term after the child is 3. It is just the way it is. Saying it isn't fair is a bit childish imho.

diddl · 13/01/2010 11:59

So you used to pay 51Euro for three days & now they are asking you to pay 22.50 for five?

RatherBeOnThePiste · 13/01/2010 11:59

They probably cannot afford to run if their only income is the government funding. Staffing is getting more expensive as more requirements are made of this age group provision.( Ie graduate leaders etc ) They probably need to charge a top up to function. That is how it seems to work round here

MNingatmidnight · 13/01/2010 12:05

But Fab - it seems as though OP only enrolled her dd there in December, as it would be free bafter Xmas. So it seems as though she hasn't been paying full rate, at least not for long.

OP it is hard to juggle childcare costs on a low income, one reason why I love the tax credits sytem we have, it's such a shame they do not have it in Ireland!

How about just sending her there 3 days a week. My dd went to a private nursery and never actually went to preschool and she was just fine, I don't think 5days a week pre school is necessary for all children. Perhaps you could put it back to 5days a week if your financial situation changes over the next year?

As for what they do, dd often says they just did drawing at school when I know that's not true. Kids always forget the things they did. I think generally pre school doesn't focus on the reading/writing/maths bits, more learning through play - which is great. They are too young to be learning the "hard" stuff! You could teach her things at home, such as writing her name etc.

pooexplosions · 13/01/2010 12:07

The issue is they are breaking the rules. Its a brand new scheme brought in to replace a payment we used to get, and as usual, these places are trying to take advantage of parents. It doesn't matter how much it is, or whether its reasonable, or anything, the rules are clear and they are in the wrong.
According to the guideslines any contract you signed is over-rided by the rules of the scheme. Tell them that the dept will cut the funding for ALL of their scheme places if they are found to be breaking the rules.

FFS, parents get little enough help or support in this country, this scheme is the first of its kind and is supposed to benefit children and parents, not yet another money making opportunity for private nurseries, who have been profiteering for years (can't afford it my arse)

OP, stand your ground and don't let them cheat you.

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 12:08

yes i know i am only going to pay half of what i previously paid but the point is i shouldn't have to pay any thing extra at all , it should be free .
i suppose I'm just annoyed that her teacher has signed up to this government scheme ( she didn't have to) and has now decided to charge extra fee's . which is illegal so i am being told .

OP posts:

Original poster

biggirlsdontcry · 13/01/2010 12:11

MNingatmidnight no dd started Montessori school on 1st September 09 , the free school scheme only started this week . so up until this week i have been paying full fee's .

OP posts:

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