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Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

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Original poster

Are term-time only nurseries for babies a thing?

36 replies

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/04/2018 13:21

Sorry for potentially stupid question - FTM, seven months pregnant and starting to think more seriously about logistics. The plan is that I'll take six months leave, DH takes three and then he goes to nursery at 9 months. But DH is a teacher, so ideally we'd only have (and pay for) childcare for term-time. As far as I can see from looking online at local nurseries this is only an option for older children (3+) who can go to school-based nurseries - is that right? Am I hoping for something that doesn't exist and we just have to accept paying for care we don't need for 13 weeks of the year until he's older?

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MollyDaydream · 28/04/2018 13:24

Depends on the individual nursery. The nursery mine went to offered all sorts of options from babies upwards - full days, mornings, afternoons, school hours, term times, all year round. Part days and term times worked out more per hour than full time though.

MollyDaydream · 28/04/2018 13:25

Childminders might be more flexible where you are though.

Eggzandbacon · 28/04/2018 13:27

Do you have a college near you - there’s are sometimes term time.

Eggzandbacon · 28/04/2018 13:27

Theirs!

Original poster

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/04/2018 13:27

Ok, that's really helpful, thank you. Really frustratingly almost none of the local nurseries have any details of prices or options available on their websites - I guess we should ring/email around? But when? Will they think I'm mad if I call up about a potential place for an unborn child, or is this going to be a repeat of my wedding all over again when it turns out everyone else gets it all sorted astonishingly far in advance?!

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gingerbreadbiscuits · 28/04/2018 13:27

Our nursery does term time only and you can request extra days in the holidays if you want them. DD started there at 11 months.

Bubblysqueak · 28/04/2018 13:27

Yes. My nursery does both term time and full year. They also let you book extra sessions through the holidays so it's not a big shock going back after time off.

BossWitch · 28/04/2018 13:28

Dd has been in two nurseries. Both have let me go down to fewer hours in the holidays because I asked nicely! I'm a teacher as well. Dd does a day and a half in the holidays which is actually really nice, I get a full day to work (usually go into school so I can get loads done without distraction) and then half day for getting household things done, or very occasionally for having a lazy morning of me time!

I would always ask, the worse they can say is no!

gingerbreadbiscuits · 28/04/2018 13:28

People do put their names of waiting lists as soon as baby is born or earlier if they are going back before their baby is 1.

WishUponAStar88 · 28/04/2018 13:28

It depends on your area. In busy areas with sought after nursery some people do get a place reserved when still pregnant.

MollyDaydream · 28/04/2018 13:30

Some nurseries have 12+ months waiting lists some have places available immediately, you won't know til you ask.

AntiHop · 28/04/2018 13:30

My dd's nursery does term time only. I went to look around nurseries when I was in my first trimester.

TrashPanda · 28/04/2018 13:31

Our nursery offers term time only for babies. I've also never come across a nursery that details it's prices on their website. It wouldn't do any harm to ask now, they won't think you are mad.

charityhallet · 28/04/2018 13:31

Yes this is available at nurseries where I am (my DH is a teacher too).

We pay term time only for our childminder, paying an extra £100 one off annual fee as a retainer for the privilege. Fine by me

Madasahattersteaparty1749 · 28/04/2018 13:32

Our local secondary school has a Day nursery on site which a lot of local teachers in both primary and secondary use. They offer reduced rates for teachers and do Term Time and the 2 half terms. So Easter, Summer and Christmas off.

They offer additional child care in the summer but it is done separately to the main nursery for parents that aren’t teachers/need term time only.

Might be worth you DH to ask other teachers if there is something similar locally.

Original poster

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/04/2018 13:34

Thanks so much for the advice - sounds like we should get on it as I have no idea what waiting lists are like around me! It's a bit tough as I've had an anxious pregnancy (multiple previous losses, though far, far earlier) so I still struggle saying 'I'm having a baby', let alone booking nursery places for March 2019... I might get DH to do all the initial enquiries!

OP posts:

BewareOfDragons · 28/04/2018 13:35

Nurseries tied to universities are often term time only. Often, they have space.

glitterballbag · 28/04/2018 13:36

Yes they do exist- I just started back as a cover supervisor after my maternity leave and there is a nursery in the school- it's privately run but it's term time only and it's absolutely perfect for us, my son is 9 months. Maybe check round some of the local secondary schools.

Original poster

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/04/2018 13:37

Nurseries tied to universities are often term time only. Often, they have space

I did think about this - I work for a university, but the problem is I have a long commute and so would really rather not drag the baby with me (and it would make work from home days impossible).

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Original poster

LisaSimpsonsbff · 28/04/2018 13:42

Thanks again - this thread has produced really helpful advice (very quickly!) so I'm very grateful!

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BazingaBaby · 28/04/2018 13:48

Hope you find something OP. I work in a nursery and we offer term time only for babies as well as older ones so it's definitely a thing

Original poster

LisaSimpsonsbff · 30/04/2018 12:16

Argh, just emailed the first promising looking nursery in our area and they don't have spaces until summer 2020! Thanks for the heads-up that I needed to start looking pretty sharpish, panicking a bit now!

OP posts:

GeorgieTheGorgeousGoat · 30/04/2018 12:30

I’m a childminder and I offer term time only.

LupinsNotBluebells · 30/04/2018 12:37

I'd avoid university nurseries unless your DP / DP works on the same campus otherwise it's mum who gets the call every time Dc is ill. DH works 70 miles away but, with dual carriage ways can often get home before me if traffic jams are bad in our city. None the less school see the two phone numbers and call me as I'm nearer so try and get a nursery as equidistant as you can from both jobs.

You may find that you need to pay a retainer for the holidays as the nursery are saving your place for you for next term.

mindutopia · 30/04/2018 13:14

My dd went to a nursery that offered both year round and term time places. We had her in year round because we both work year round but term time only would have been possible if we wanted it. It was a small private nursery and she started from 9 months. I would definitely get on trying to find a place now if you can.

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