Nursery top-up fees (Montessori)

[givemecaffeine21]

I visited a montessori last week which I thought was fantastic, however they mentioned subsidised fees - so as part of the 15 hours 'free' funding we would have to contribute.

For anyone in this position or who knows about it, can you give me a rough idea of how much extra you ended up paying? Whilst I'd love to send DD, a friend mentioned the top-up fees worked out around £250 per month which is pretty steep (and not possible for us at this stage!). She didn't know lots about it, just heard she would need to pay extra and left but she did mention the sum of £250.

Anyone?

As fas as I'm aware, if you only take the 15 hrs, and don't require hours outside the sessions, the 15 hours should be compleatly free. They are not allowed to force you to stay for e.g. lunch, and charge you for it.

I can't find the info on www.gov.uk, but leicester say the same as me (I don't live there).

Look around, if the charge is right, I believe it is illegal. You can certainly access the 15 hrs a week, term time only, completely free at a range of setting.

My Montessori was charging top-up fees. They have now been told by the LA that they can't do this and must offer 15 'stand alone' hours free if they accept early years funding.

As a result they have pulled out of the scheme and future parents who choose the setting will not get any funding.

Thanks guys - from what I've read it isn't legal to do this but nurseries get around it by extending their sessions and charging for the 'extra' but not giving parents an option to have a shorter session. I'm seeing the lady again tomorrow and will have a proper conversation with her about it. I just kind of nodded when she talked about top up fees without realising it would be a lot of money. It's hardly 'free' if I'm paying £250 per month is it!

My dd went to lovely private nursery and the top up I had to pay was quite considerable. I think it's quite common.