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Paid childcare

Discuss everything related to paid childcare here, including childminders, nannies, nurseries and au pairs.

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Original poster

Securing a place for second DC

80 replies

Teapleasemilknosugar · 05/04/2023 11:00

So my toddler is in a nursery for 2 days a week. Loves it there, has adored going and been totally happy attending since 11m (now 2.5yrs).

Baby number 2 is arriving imminently. I am taking a year for Mat Leave and the toddler is still going to continue nursery during that time.

I've approached the nursery for a space for baby number 2 from Easter 2024, happy to pay a deposit now to secure the place etc, so both DC would then attend same nursery on the same days when I go back to work. They have said they only guarantee spaces for September this year and can't guarantee a space from Easter 2024 (even if we were to pay the deposit).

How do others handle this situation? Is it the same in other nurseries too? It's a private nursery, year round, not attached to a school or restricted to term times.

Is our only option to find a new nursery setting for both DC?

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MumOf2workOptions · 06/04/2023 15:26

YetMoreNewBeginnings · 06/04/2023 10:03

Nurseries are closing left right and centre because of costs and staffing, so the ones that are staying open can be less flexible as they know they’ll fill spaces.

one near here has closed their waiting list - you basically now have to ring up and if they have a space you can take it, now, or ring back when you want them to start. People are up in arms about it but three others have closed so they can fill the spots.
new starts also have a three month notice period and they’ve started charging an admin fee if you want to change days or hours (even if it’s to ones you and they know they can do!).

One of the nurseries near here has moved to a 3 intake system so children can only start in either January, March/april (after Easter) or September.
They don't take anyone at any other points which hasn't gone down well with people but as a business, they have to do what works for them. You can add your child's name to one of the entry points. This is also the stage where you pay a deposit.

There is so much demand for nursery spaces now that they can do what works for them to a certain extent.

Childminders round here also have huge waiting lists aswell.

Original poster

Teapleasemilknosugar · 06/04/2023 18:24

@YetMoreNewBeginnings
The deposit would secure you a place from September. It would be up to you if you paid for the space without using it or sent your child earlier than planned.

In theory, but actually this nursery only takes babies from 10m old so it wouldn't be possible to send them any earlier as they just wouldn't accept them.

They aren't running waiting lists.

OP posts:

Original poster

Teapleasemilknosugar · 06/04/2023 18:27

SheilaFentiman · 06/04/2023 07:00

I guess your deposit secures a space in sept 2023 or Sep 2024, the “entry points”

They only take babies from 10m old though and mine won't be 10m old in September 2023 (but will be by Feb 2024).

OP posts:

ZebraKid71 · 06/04/2023 18:34

I don't understand how they would work in a baby room on that model - understandable for pre school but babies generally start nursery when parents are returning from mat leave, not just in September. I find it really strange.

SpringBunnies · 06/04/2023 18:40

I had a spring and an autumn baby so have been through this. What happens is that from the start of summer holidays, a lot of the preschoolers leave for reception. They move the toddlers up to preschool and baby into the toddler rooms. There are a lot of new spaces available. It’s very easy to find a space for a baby joining in September. A nursery will give the spaces out on a first come first serve basis. With my spring baby, I ended up putting her on a second choice place until a space from my first choice became available (which was September)!

The advantage you have now compared to the early 2010s is the low birth rate. Google up the predicted school place needs for your local authority and you can see what the trend is. In my area, the primary schools are predicted to have an excess of 25% of places. This will be the same at the nursery level. It should mean there will be empty spaces for you in spring!

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