Are Children's centre nurseries the end for private nurseries?

[Katymac]

Do you think this is true?

Will the goverments vision of nursery care be the future?

Will existing nurseries have to become "private" like proivate schools in order to survive?

What does the future hold?

well the two childrens centres I've seen and used have not impressed.

I found it nearly impossible to get DS into a nursery - any nursery this time last year - to the point where I nearlt couldn't go back to work. So a general increase inavailability is welcome, however, poor staff and less than desirable areas would make my local childrens centres my least prefured option.

Hmmm that's interesting

(you might know) I am thinking about opening a nursery but I am struggling with a children's centre opening 4 miles down the road and also with working out how to chage parents (esp those using Nursery Vouchers)

My excellent private nursery - that gave me a place with a weeks notice was brilliant with nursery vouchers.

I got the Busybees ones and just handed them a voucher each month and paid the remainder of the monthly balance by direct debit. I recieved my voucher just before payday each month and my direct debit went out the day after payday so they were never left hanging for money. I believe they just did an electronic transfer from the busybees website to get the voucher turned into cold hard cash!

Re: charging, they had an hourly rate, then a
9-5 day price with was a pound or 2 cheaper than the 8xhourly rate, They also had an extended day rate ie 7:30 - 9am, and 5-6:30pm. Worked really well. I had 8-4;30 as my hours, so I paid the daily rate +£2:50 for the hour from 8-9am.

I'm sure they split the year into 3 terms and avaeraged the weekly payment over the number of weeks each term. They only closed at christmas and bank hols. It kept the monthly charge static which is a real big help. I have a friend whos chidminder charges 3wks one month then 6wks - it really cocks her up having a changing outgoing each month.

God I miss that nursery - they were amasing to let me start DS at short notice and they were so good when me and xp split up.

also check the hours of the childrens centre - my closest only does 9 am till 3pm which is cack for me looking for part time work - it cuts down the hours I can work depending how far away I need to travel each day - It can take a good hour to get across busy Plymouth town!

Its all about supply and demand - I'm sure that if youu offer the right service to parents you cant go wrong

Those vouchers I don't have a problem with

It's the free gov sessions for all ove 3's

The conversation goes 7:30 until 9 I can charge £3.50 per hour 9 until 11:30 the gov only lets me charge £2.50 phr then from 11:30 until 6 pm I charge £3.50 phr - Duh what parent will go for that

The Gov will not allow us to say we will charge £35 per day and take your vouchers off that due to the lack of 'top-ups'

Which is about the same - I get so frustrated (but then I haven't opened my nursery yet...there maybe a way round it I haven't seen yet)

I used to live in Plymouth

so, these vouchers, do they bring you in £x income but you want to charge more per hour?

Surely if someone is using you for all day care but using the over threes vouchers you could have a seperate rate for them as an all day but minus the free hours rate but including the extra £2.50?

Could it work that they book their free hours, but they must also book £x worth of extra hours?

ARRGGGGHHHH - dont get it - don't envy you having to actually sort it out, I'm just at a loose end and can walk away!

• thats what good Tamarside/ kings tamerton education is for you!

It's all too complicated

I lived off Mutley Plain (I think - it was a long time ago whilst at Uni)

Ah ha! a much more fun age to live in Plymouth! - The uni is massive now - you probably wouldn't recognise it!

Good luck with the voucher/ whole nursery debaucle - hope it gets sorted!

Katymac, my dd's old nursery (where ds will go to next year) just publish that they charge x amount pre day or half day, then you just sign and your bill is reduced each month by the vouchers. Actually they pro rata the vouchers over the whole year so it stays the same throughout. I think so long as your paperwork with the voucher people is fine you can word it how you like to the parents.

Same for her school fees, we pay x per term, sign and until the term she is 5 the vouchers get knocked off.

And as for community nurseries, not enough places to go around, not enough of the right sessions for working parents.

Thank Juliet...things are going to change tho' so it won't be worked out like that anymore (as I understand it [dim emoticon])