To think this can't be right!?

[tryingtobemarrypoppins2]

DS goes to an Outstanding nursery in a quite tough area of a small city. Its great, can't say anything bad about it other than the fees!!

They have decided from September to split the 15 hours free entilement to either a choice of MONDAY, TUESDAY, WED AM or you can do WED PM, THUSRDAY, FRIDAY.

So far so good, until they then ask you to pay £6.50 per day for the lunch hour on 2 days and also £5.50 to do 8-9am and £5.50 to do until 5.

Now, my friends DD goes to a nursery which is in the next town and they simply charge by the hour and take off 15 hours.

I only need 2 full days childcare, about 17 hours in total. It would be so much cheeper to just pay for 2 hours at friends DD nursery but its not a great nursery in my view, its moving my already settled son and it seems really strange to have such a different system.

Whats even stranger is that our nursery is a children's center and looks after some families who just wouldn't be able to pay these fees.

AIBU to be totally confused why they are doing this and is this the norm??

My head hurts. I was never very good at maths.

I am totally confused too, but I would stick with the better nursery - a lesser one will drive you mad!

Mine REALLY hurts. I have done sums every night all week and it seems to get worse the more I do!
Why can one nursery just deduct the 15 hours flexibly then other insist you do particilar hours and charge for lunch??

from what I know,the other nursery is not allowed to just charge by the hour and take off 15 hours - they have to prove every minute they claim for every child, max no. of hours per child over a max no. of sessions per week.

some nurseries/preschools offer only the time you can get free,so no top up fees.

I do get your point though that they are forcing you to pay for the lunchtime rather than just 5 free morning sessions

you can alwasy move him - to a less outstanding nursery, or not claim your full entitlement eg do just 3 mornings

You are actually quite lucky that they can give you the hours over 2 and a half days, my nursery only allow the free sessions over 5 days and then you get one free session discount off one full day price if you need it.

A full days of child care for £17.50, yes? Mine was £31.50 per day, but I was able to take her in on the other days for the free session and catch up on housework. You may also be able to claim tax credits for some of the rest of it. I would definitely go for the better nursery.

But I guess if you don't do the lunch hour or if you start at 9am you don't have to pay the extra? More like a pre-school than a nursery. My nursery charge extra for lunch and tea, but you can send your child in with packed lunch. My nursery charge per hour, my sil's charge per session, local private school charge extra for early starts and late finishes, other than that it is per session.. I think there is a lot of variation. Bottom line is you pay the extra or go to your friends nursery?

Yes going to stay with the better nursery especially as I have my DS2 there too and one pick up is better than 2! Mad though for 2 children its £450 a month just for 2 days and that extra morning for DS1......which we don't really need as my parents do that day for me and they want the boys to their self! We were told though if you don't use all your given sessions you may well lose the place!