Nursery Fees

[mariasmummy]

Hello, I live in Brent and am trying to find a great nursery to sign up for- a year in advance- although most are already booked! (whole new thread) but the one I am keen on is not giving me a specific answer to how much extra I will need to pay after the NEG grant. Is that normal or should a nurery be specific about the costs i.e the 'top up cost'..
I know the fee before the age of 3 but I want to know the cost after 3......

Do you know the value of the grant in your area? and what the regular nursery cost would be without the grant? It is most likely that the nursery just subtracts the grant from the usual bill/

The grant funding changes annually, historically it's always been an increase but in the current economic climate it may even become a decrease in the next year.
If you are planning to use the nursery for 52 weeks you need to bare in mind that grant funding is only payed for 38 weeks, roughly worked out on current funding levels would equate to about £40 a week.
If however you are planning only to use the 15 hours of care during the 38 weeks then you will not have to pay anything extra at all, Nurseries excepting the NEG funding are not allowed to charge top up fees. If you are charged top up fees you should make enquiries to your county council to confirm the situation in your area.

The nursery will not be able to give you exact costs because they will not know the exact costs yet. The local authority sets the amount of the grant 3 times a year. The nursery will know the amount of the grant for the current term but not for next term and certainly not for next year.

Some nurseries are pulling out of the grant system, because they're not allowed to charge top up fees. The free hours have to be absolutely free, and they don't want to bare those costs. Only 2/3rs of nurseries in Brent provide the grant according to the Council website!