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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

to be shocked that I still have to pay for nursery food and drink during my ds 'free' 12.5 hrs at nursery?

111 replies

darentinas · 03/03/2010 15:49

DD is now entitled to the 12.5hrs 'free' childcare at nursery for 3 year olds. However, in her first week I have been presented with an invoice charging me for drinks, snacks and tea. Apparently because she goes from 2-5 for 4 days a week she has to have a light meal in the afternoon.

AIBU to think that surely the government should pay for this? What is the point of offering 'free' places only for parents to then have to find the money to pay for lots of extras? I just don't know how I'm going to afford the extra cash. I did ask if dd could attend the morning session but was told I would still have to pay for drinks, snacks and a lunch. There is no way round it, she cannot go for 'free'.

I was chatting to 2 other women who have said they are not going to be able to send their children to the nursery for their 12.5 hrs either because of these extra costs. It seems like this scheme isn't actually helping the people it is aimed at, people on low incomes who may not ordinarily be able to send their children to nursery so that chldren can enjoy socialising with others, preparing them for school etc.

I naively assumed that dd would go for her 12.5 hrs and I wouldn't have to pay anything. The Government bangs on about providing free childcare for 3 to 5 year olds but it isn't actually free is it? It seems like one big conspiracy to me.

OP posts:
StewieGriffinsMom · 03/03/2010 15:51

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waitingforbedtime · 03/03/2010 15:52

Are you for real?

HOw much are they wanting?

If she wasnt in nursery where would she be? At home? Would you never spend money on a snack / outing for her?

Unless they are asking for an extortionate amount of money imho YADBU

Original poster
darentinas · 03/03/2010 15:53

£10 per week! I know that's not a lot to some people but when it works out at £40 a month, its a lot of money to find.

OP posts:
SazzlesA · 03/03/2010 15:55

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waitingforbedtime · 03/03/2010 15:55

£10 a week? Are you sure they havent done a typo?

Ours is £1.50 a week for a small snack (no meal) and also for topping up craft stuff.

witchwithallthetrimmings · 03/03/2010 15:55

£10 a week is a LOT, are you sure there is not a mistake

Megletwantsittobesummer · 03/03/2010 15:57

My DC's nursery does this, but I assumed it it just because they are a day nursery (3 months to 5yrs) that has to provide hot meals anyway, so I've had to pay it. I never knew that regular 'playschool' groups did it too.

£10 a week does sound like a lot to shell out when money is tight and you weren't expecting it.

Original poster
darentinas · 03/03/2010 15:57

no not a mistake, I checked with the nursery manager.

yes of course I feed her at home, but at least I have the opportunity to make sure the food I buy is value for money, is food she likes and will eat etc

OP posts:
SeaTrek · 03/03/2010 15:58

Just send in your own drinks and snacks then, or won't they let you do that either?

How much is it?

My son went to nursery anyway, as I work, so when he was three it was a great relief to just pay less. I just assumed I would have to pay for his food and drink as normal.

YABU to expect the food/drinks to be free alongside the childcare.

YANBU to expect not to have to pay if you would prefer to provide your own drinks and snacks.

ScreaminEagle · 03/03/2010 15:58

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bigstripeytiger · 03/03/2010 15:58

Is it a private nursery? This is on a par with what my DDs nursery charges for additional meals (£3.00 per day for lunch, £5.00 for dinner).

SeaTrek · 03/03/2010 15:59

I agree, £10 a week is a lot. I would check again.

ScreaminEagle · 03/03/2010 15:59

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Original poster
darentinas · 03/03/2010 16:00

yes it is a private nursery and they wont let dd take in her own drinks or snacks, has to be nursery food.

OP posts:
Morloth · 03/03/2010 16:03

Change nurseries.

thisisnotwhoyouthink · 03/03/2010 16:05

I have never heard of preschool(up till rising 5's) charging for snacks OR craft. None of the ones around here do, anyway. The only thing that is charged for is 'lunch club but that is for staff supervision wages, not the food as it is all take-your-own. I would be shocked too actually!!

The kids get given snacks of fruit (donated by local businesses or bought by the preschool) and a drink of milk or water. I thought the governmen provided free milk to nurseries and preschools?

Sorry, I am not very educated about this topic, but would be interested to know more! It does seem strange that it differs from borough to borough?

hocuspontas · 03/03/2010 16:06

Well if you choose to send her there and those are the rules then so be it.

Send her to a pre-school environment instead.

We paid £3.50 an hour in the 'old days' so £10 a week including a meal sounds fantastic to me.

thisisnotwhoyouthink · 03/03/2010 16:08

Sorry, posted too soon - I certainly wouldnt pay a tenner for the small amount of food dc1 gets either!! He would probably eat more at home anyway!! TBH, when i first enrolled him and saw it was only for 2.5 hours it didnt even occur to me that they would have snack. Surely they can go that long without one at that age? If they eat immediately before and after?

Original poster
darentinas · 03/03/2010 16:12

this is what I don't get either, how much food and drink can one small child be expected to consume in 3 hours?

My main gripe really is that the government raves about this piece of policy and how it is benefitting children, particulary those on lower incomes, and yet expects people on low incomes to find money for these hidden extras. If the amount of money was fixed ie every single nursery offering the 12.5 free hours charged the same it might help, rather than individual nurseries being allowed to charge what they want.

I would change nurseries but I live in a rural location and it is the only nursery in the village. Do not want to have to drive to a nursery further away, by the time I drive to the next nearest, drop dd off, drive home it would be time to pick her up again.

OP posts:
SecretSlattern · 03/03/2010 16:13

It's actually Nursery Education grant so technically wouldn't cover her for food, meals etc so YABU.

StewieGriffinsMom · 03/03/2010 16:14

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compo · 03/03/2010 16:15

We have a money box by the door and we're invited to give donations - on the newsletter it says the more generous we are, the wider variety of snacks they can provide
but the emphasis is on voluntary

cory · 03/03/2010 16:16

Well, perhaps you wouldn't expect government to pay for food- but this particular nursery is taking the piss. £10 is a lot of money for snacks; it's about what my 13yo spends on her hot school dinners. And of course, schools let you bring in a packed lunch so you can get away with less. And you get free lunches if you're on benefits.

LittleMrsHappy · 03/03/2010 16:18

but its not the government who is doing this, its the Nursery.

Im assuming its a private Nursery, and if it is contact ofsted, and ask if this is the case?

If not refuse to pay, and bring in own food, legally they cannot do anything about this!

JollyPirate · 03/03/2010 16:21

I agree that £40 a month ois a lot of extra money to find if you were not expecting it and also think it sounds steep for snacks - f this is what they charge every child then there is a healthy amount in "extras" coming in each week. Am sure this is probably ploughed in to the service but I don't think you are being unreasonable to query the high cost.