are the fees correct?

[andacoupleoftralalas]

Excuse the double posting, I have posted this at the nurseries topic, but I really need more help...

At nursery, my DS was moved from his room to one of older children, which was fine as he is quite mobile. But we still pay the same fees as his real age. I know he is not actually older, but he is in a room with more children that his actual age would get...so why not pay less?

To be more clear, the nursery charges more for under 2 years of age, and he is with the over 2s when still quite a few months younger. His fees remain as under 2. I don't think the children there are potty trained and so require less time, and there's definitely less staff per child as there are more little ones around.

Isn't that a bit cheeky?

If the fees are age related then you discuss it with him and either
a) he goes back in with little ones where more staff per child
b) He goes with older children and you pay less
c) The nursery fee structure is inflexible and they say up to you which room he goes in but no discount for going with older ones as he is still under 2 so this will affect their staff ratios legally
d) if you aren't happy you move nurseries.

discuss with them, not him.

If he is under 2 but in a room with over 2's then they legally should still have him in the same adult:child ratio.
So you would still pay the same.

Fees are more for under 2s as a larger adult staff ratio required. At DD's old nursery they sometimes mixed rooms but they were always careful how many of which age range were in the room so that the ratio overall was satisfied.

e.g. for 2 year olds the ratio is 1:4, for under 2s the ratio is 1:3, so you could have 8 2 year olds and 3 under 2s in the room with 3 staff members.

If you're not happy talk to the nursery. Depending on the makeup of the lower room you may well prefer him to be with older children anyway.

Why do you need more help? I and another poster answered your question with the correct information - did we not respond with sufficient outrage or something?

The main thing is a) is your DS getting the right child/carer ratio and b) is he happy? It is nothing to do with how many nappies need changing

I'm sorry LadyBiscuit, I didn't see any answers in the nurseries section so I posted here too. Thank you for your help. I don't get the outrage comment but you have a good day.

I thought you were annoyed that me and dorothea hadn't thought it cheeky. Sorry - am nil by mouth today and it's making me a bit grumpy!

No, no Lady Biscuit, I genuinely didn't see answers and thought to double post. Sorry, having a but of a sad morning and perhaps replied a bit miserably.
Nil by mouth eh? Here's a mental cheese sandwich -yummy sandwich here-

I haven't seen the other thread but would say that regardless of which room your 2 year old is in, the nursery will still legally need to provide the appropriate (ie lower) adult:child ratio and so the fees should not change.

I'm assuming from the comments above that's essentially what Lady Biscuit (or Lady no-Biscuit today ) and others said.

Thanks everybody, it's good to get your opinions, I understand it more now. I needed some opinions, to see if this happened at other places. Not sure about the ratio as I don't know how many children there are on a full day, but this has helped a lot.

Thank you I have stuffed my face with toast but what I really, really want is a cup of tea

It's probably worth checking that they still do have the correct carer/child ratios but it's probably that your DS pushes the baby room into needing an extra carer for only one additional child whereas they have extra capacity in the toddler room.