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Original poster

Playgroup fees - is this expensive?

42 replies

QueenEagle · 27/06/2005 16:16

This afternoon, ds had a visit to the playgroup which he will be starting in October.

I was shocked at the cost - £4.75 per 2.5hr session.

Just out of interest, what do other mumsnetters pay?

OP posts:
Aero · 27/06/2005 16:20

My ds2 has had a letter ofering him a place in Sept 2006 and the fee is currently £5 per session so eaven knows how much it will be when he starts! Seems outrageous! When ds1 (now 7) was there it was only £3.50 per session!

bootsmonkey · 27/06/2005 16:21

£6.00 per session where I am!

It is a lovely, lovely playgroup though and DD loves going, so definately worth it!

geranium · 27/06/2005 16:22

£9 per 2.5 hr session (starting late Autumn). I thought this was cheap!

compo · 27/06/2005 16:22

My ds isn't at this stage yet but I thought that once they are three they get five free sessions a week

pabla · 27/06/2005 16:22

How old will your ds be when he starts? In my ds's playgroup/nursery the sessions are govt subsidised when they get to three. As the sessions are 3 hours, we pay a top-up of I think £2 per session. Before ds was 3, I think it cost £8 per session, which is the norm around here (I'm in the SE). It's still cheaper than paying a babysitter!

lailag · 27/06/2005 16:23

£4.50, well worth

flashingnose · 27/06/2005 16:23

Going rate round here for under 3's is between £9 and £12 for a 2.5 hour session

geranium · 27/06/2005 16:23

but am i comparing like with like? playgroup is where children learn without parents there?

coppertop · 27/06/2005 16:24

In this area the fees are £2-£2.50 per session. It's fairly cheap because it's classed as a deprived area.

zubb · 27/06/2005 16:26

£6 a session (3 hours) here - but as compo says in the term after their 3rd birthday they get 5 sessions a week free for 11 weeks a term (I think).

coppertop · 27/06/2005 16:27

Should've added that the £2-£2.50 is for under-3s. As soon as they are eligible for the vouchers/grant then it's free.

Original poster
QueenEagle · 27/06/2005 16:28

Once ds is 3 he will qualify for free sessions. However, I am told that free sessions are from the term following their 3rd birthday. His birthday is 3 January so he will not qualify until after the Easter. He misses the cut off point by 3 days!

OP posts:
flashingnose · 27/06/2005 16:31

Those prices are for a playgroup or nursery from 2.5 to 5 years old i.e. with no parent present. Cost drops to between nothing and £4 per session once they're 3.

cupcakes · 27/06/2005 16:41

I will be paying £4.50 for dd's playgroup in September - a 2½ hour session. She'll only be going twice a week till Easter when she gets her free place then she can go for her third session!

rickman · 27/06/2005 16:43

Message withdrawn

Fio2 · 27/06/2005 16:48

11 pound for 5 hours, includes lunch

we have no playschools AT ALL

nailpolish · 27/06/2005 16:49

QE, my dd1 starts playgp in august and its £5 for 2.5 hrs, but only til she is 3 (oct) then its free

Aero · 27/06/2005 16:50

Same as my ds2 QE - he will miss the cut off by 2 weeks - most irritating! But it will be free when he is 3.
I think some of the quotes must be for private nursery 2.5 hour sessions and some for council run playgroups. Both have similar activities for the children though - and both are play/learning experiences without parents present.

charliecat · 27/06/2005 16:53

10 pounds for 3.5 hours.

Original poster
QueenEagle · 27/06/2005 16:53

But surely this is an unfair system? Why is it not free from their 3rd birthday, fullstop? It's discriminatory on grounds of age, I've just decided.

OP posts:
happycat · 27/06/2005 16:57

£7.50 for 3 hours

missycantstop · 27/06/2005 17:05

6 pound for 2 hours 15 minutes

vickiyumyum · 27/06/2005 17:10

i pay 7.50 for a s.5 hour session, one of the main reasons that he will be going to the nursery that is attached to the school he will be going to.

jessicasmummy · 27/06/2005 17:11

the one closest to me is £6 for 2.5 hours.... no jess wont be going!

feelingold · 27/06/2005 18:15

My kids are too old for playgroup now but I am still on committee and its £5.25 for 2.75 hour session (until term after 3rd birthday). We have had to put our charges up because of increase in minimum wage, which is all the staff get (except leader and asst leader) and they are worth so much more, increase in insurance costs, staff need more training which involves costs, heating and lighting costs etc. We really did not want to put charges up but we just had to, but all of our parents agree it is a fantastic playgroup (nad there is always a waiting list) which has been going 35 years this year.