Relocating from US - please help with day nurseries

[miakim89]

Hello parents,
We are relocating from US and I am starting my research for day cares. My kids are 8 months and another is 3 years.

What are typical prices for daycares in London? I have called several and they were 2K pounds and above. Is that what you all pay? It's quite expensive.

For five days a week? And is that per child or in total? Per child that sounds a little high but it depends on the area. Have a look at the Bright Horizons nurseries they have a fairly standard price and are decent I think.

We're in London and pay £2k a month for 4 days/week. It wasn't the cheapest option we looked at but it offered the most flexibility in terms of the days/hours that we needed.

It depends where in London, but a fulltime baby place (under 2 years) is about £2000 per month at my sons nursery in South London. There are some government schemes that can reduce the costs a little if you qualify for them - the costs generally reduce at 2 years and 3 years old. There are more cost effective options such as pre schools (shorter days) for older children, or childminders may be cheaper but in London you are still looking at £100 - £150 per day.

Do you know where you will be living?

Some nurseries offer 30 free hours a week.
www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare

And yes, it’s expensive!

Could be cheaper to get a day nanny.

Thank you all.

I'm researching kids friendly neighborhoods in london with daycares near a tube station.

Where is you work based?

It is expensive but also varies a lot depending on the area. We pay £850 for three days a week, but that is very cheap.

Are you also looking at housing etc? If so your budget for that will determine where to look.

the work will be in kings cross.

Do look into childminders as an option. They are also Ofsted registered, offer a more home-like setting and are generally more affordable. We used to have a fabulous one in SW London (Zone 3) who charged about £5 per hour per child. She was winding down for retirement and took on fewer children, meaning our DD had some 1-2-1 time with her as well as some after school playtime with two older girls. She was extremely dependable and never ill. We moved to Kent unfortunately but still write her Christmas cards.

In Hillingdon...tube on Central, piccadilly or Metropolitan line or main line to Paddington childminders (registered by the same body as nursery working to the same standards but smaller and from their home) will cost you between £5 and £7 and hour depending on which end of the Borough you look.

based on my experience of two settings in the last 2.5 years I would say absolutely avoid Bright Horizons.

If you’re working in kings cross have you thought about living somewhere in commutable distance. Hitchin, Welwyn garden city, letchworth are all nice on the train line in. Cheaper housing and childcare. I’d get a childminder or nanny for two that age.