Costs for private primary?

[soootiredddd]

Hi all

I will post another version of this on the SN board but I wanted to ask for information specifically about the cost of private primary. This is not a route we ever thought we would go down, partly because my DH and I were both state education all the way through, none of our family have been to private schools, but also in general I like to think the state education system is a good one. However my DD is in preschool and we are awaiting and ASD diagnosis for her and she is struggling. The primary we are in catchment for is very big (2 class intake, 32 kids per class) and I have heard mixed things. We are thinking of looking into smaller private schools around us and luckily we have quite a good choice.

However we are trying to work out if we can actually afford it. Most of the schools near us seem to cost about £3k-£3.5k per term but then this is only for term time, 9-3 each day. In order to afford it we would both need to work full time and so at a minimum we would need after school care, whether that be an after school club or childminder. Then we also need to take into account the cost of uniforms, trips etc. And even things like lunches.

Please would anyone mind sharing how much they spend on education/childcare/related expenses per month? In our house we work from a monthly budget so I'm finding it difficult to work out just based on termly costs.

Thanks for any help!

I'm sorry you had that experience, MrsHaversham, that sounds rubbish. Our DD's school is full, with 20+ per class and two classes in a year, so while each year is smaller than most local state schools, the school itself is large and there's plenty of choice of friends. We've just been lucky though. Although it's very academic there, it's also accepting of difference and that comes from the Head, who is fab.

However, OP, with your job flexibility, what you've outlined does sound sensible. With savings, you've got options, whether that be a move to a private later on, extra help outside school or whatever. Our DD has greatly benefited from music and music theatre, for instance, and that doesn't come cheap (we cautiously mentioned the SEN to the music theatre director and he laughed and said that nearly all of the class had SEN. It was her tribe!!).