Childcare costs in London N16 - please break it to me gently...!

[MissMitford]

Hello everyone

We're expecting baby number 1 at the beginning of February next year. We're trying to get a handle on likely childcare costs, probably for a 4-day or full time place from about 4 months.

Can anyone living in my 'hood give me some figures? DH and I will get childcare vouchers through work, so I hope that will help a bit.

Thanks so much!

childcare vouchers max each is about £235 each so thats £470pm towards nursery, what you get is tax relief, so will help a bit, you still pay for the vouchers but they are tax free as it comes straight from your salary at source so you will not pay tax on that amount which is where the benefit comes in...

in your area, expect to pay £800-£1400 pm full time...

best get your name down on some good nurseries soon, as places are hard to get and you can always cancel if need be!

hope this helps...

thanks - eeek, you mean I need to put our name down even when baby is still just a bump?

The max is £243/month or £55 a week now. You also save NI and how much tax you save depends on what tax band you're in (40% tax payers save more).

I'm in a neighbouring postal district/ borough to you.

Particularly if you're looking at childcare from 4 months, I'd look at childminders as well as nurseries, as even nurseries with baby rooms are often from 6 months. A CM can provide more one to one care, a lot of people think it's better for young babies, and although it can still cost lots of money, rates can be more reasonable.

The council nurseries, which near me are very good but hard to get places, don't take applications until your baby's born, and not all have many baby places, those that do are often 6 months+. And I've heard that most private nurseries in north London take a fee upfront for even letting you know whether they have places.

missmitford, yes if you can, normally the nursery will ask you for £10-£50 non refundable admin charge.. worth it so you don't have to spend valuable baby time researching nurseries when he/she is here!

check out this link for hackney childcare and info... www.learningtrust.co.uk/childcare/information_for_parents/playguide.aspx

most nurseries take babies in from 3 months, ds went in at 11months as at 6 months i just wasn't ready to leave him and go back to work! i prefer nurseries as it's more structured and i would never be comfortable leaving ds with a childminder (stranger) in their own home with no back up and prob other children to look after!!

Full time nursery, you're looking at just shy of £1,000 a month in N16. Some make you pay for 5 days although you use 4 (mine does). Childcare vouchers do make a massive difference - remember both you and your partner can get them. I think we save about £2k a year in tax a year that way. And yes, get your name down on some lists now. Place for my DD came up nearly a year after I'd put her name down. There are a couple who charge to put you on their waiting lists. £10 is fair enough but there is more than one that charge £50 per child which is non-refundable even if you do get a place and even if you don't. Outrageous if you ask me. On the upside there are plenty of good nurseries in N16 - Coconut, Minihome, Rainbow, Independent Place, Bath House (although only takes from 18 months). Less sure of CM costs I'm afraid although beginning to look into this for when No. 2 comes along.

we're in N4, cost us about £950 pcm when we had 2 children at nursery, 3 days a week, but that was a few years back. it's a lot of money, but remember if you pay peanuts, you get monkeys..

Thank you all so much, keep em coming... eeek what a fortune...

Am thinking embittered thoughts about how chauffeurs are tax deductible but childcare isn't, I wish I was living in Sweden, etc.

Yes that chauffeurs one really gets me too

wrote to local MP or childrens minister I think the minister

got no reply!!!

it is a disgrace. why are we only allowed £243 tax relief for childcare per month when that pays for a week!?

Starlight you're a genius

Loo breaks are allowed I presume and with lo the loo breaks can take a while

So, DS is here and is just soooo lovely, I can't quite get my head around the thought of leaving him at the moment but needs must...

Got an offer of a place at Minihome. I really liked the place and have spoken to a friend whose DD loved it there, but would love to know of anyone else's experience? Esp of the baby room there. DS would be FT there by 6.5 months.

Just realised this post should be under Nurseries...

Hi MissMitford.

It's hard, isn't it? DS started nursery at 7 mths and it was a huge wrench for me, but he settled in almost immediately and grew to love nursery (he went to the Firestation nursery off Stokie High St - very slapdash and the building is small and grotty, but lovely and homely and he was extremely happy there for 2 years).

I have heard good things about Minihome, too. I know two people who sent their children there from babyhood and were both very happy with it. They cook fab lunches there, too (I used to go to Yogahome for classes and would see them bringing the children into the lunch room - yum!)

Oooh thanks MrsM. He's not going off just yet, but it's on the cards shortly. I also go to (used to go to??) Yogahome for classes and always thought it felt like a lovely environment.