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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

Wait time to increase hours at nursery ?

20 replies

EgSk · 09/02/2022 13:31

I’ve had my son in the same nursery since June 2020. We are happy with the nursery and my son loves it .

When I went on my second maternity leave we decided to keep him in for two half days a week, partially to give me a break but also because my son enjoys it so much . The plan was always to increase his hours when he turned three.

My maternity leave is now done and my son turns three at the end of the month . I reached out to our nursery to discuss increasing our hours/availability. I was surprised to be told there was absolutely no availability to increase hours until September.

Is that normal ? I didn’t return to work but I was hoping to find something part time for my own sanity . Now if I want to do that I’ll be looking at switching nursery or going through a child minder and I was so happy with his current nursery 😕

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FilledSoda · 09/02/2022 13:33

Pretty normal I'd say.
They are aiming to be full after all and they wouldn't have surplus staff over what they need for their ratios.

SephrinaX · 09/02/2022 13:36

Yeah pretty normal. As your son is already in the nursery you're likely to be given first refusal if more hours do come up. Since he likes the place and you're happy with it, I'd avoid switching if you don't have to and hold off until the space does come up.

Onlyrainbows · 09/02/2022 13:37

Yeah, we were on the waiting list for about 9 months!

Redlorryyellowduck · 09/02/2022 13:40

Perfectly normal, there's always a mass exodus is September

CornishGem1975 · 09/02/2022 13:40

Yep normal. I enquired about an extra day and was told it would be 4-5 months before it would become available!

Tibtab · 09/02/2022 13:41

As soon as my second DD was born I requested her days/hours and asked to increase my older DD’s hours for September (which was 9 months notice).

Most nurseries will only create space in the older rooms when the oldest children leave and start schools.

Bundlesofchocforme · 09/02/2022 13:44

I agree with others. The margins are so tight in a nursery that they have to be as full as they can and can’t keep places open in case families want to increase hours.

You might find that they prioritise other paying customers over the free hours as they are paid a pittance for these. It might be worth telling them you are willing to take any spare sessions as off half pms often come up that are difficult to fill.

Christmas21 · 09/02/2022 13:45

DD started nursery at 2. I had to book her place when she was 6 months old and she only does 2 days a week. She'll increase to 4 days a week when she is 4 and I've already arranged it to ensure she'll have a place.

Hugasauras · 09/02/2022 13:47

Our nursery's waiting list is full till September. September 2023!

Travellingraspberry · 09/02/2022 13:48

Yes very normal I'm afraid. September will be when they have lots leave to go to school. You might find they have space from end of July if people are using their free 30 hours term time only and don't want to pay full price over the summer holidays

Hugasauras · 09/02/2022 13:48

And yes I'd say normal. DD is starting an extra day in April and I arranged that a year ago.

Original poster

EgSk · 09/02/2022 13:49

Oh wow! I had no idea . Thanks for the responses. We’ve increased his hours before and it was done within the month. I thought this would be similar. My nursery prides themselves on being quite flexible at short notice too . My own fault for not requesting it earlier.

OP posts:

Floydthebarber · 09/02/2022 13:52

Yes, I had to wait 12 months to change the days of dds nursery days. It will be worth asking which days have the longest waiting lists, some are always more popular

Original poster

EgSk · 09/02/2022 13:54

@Bundlesofchocforme

We get 15 free hours which is going towards his already two half days so the extra days will be paid .

@Christmas21 I should have done that too . we were originally at a different nursery but had to switch. We contacted our current nursery and they had him registered the following week . My area has a lot of nurseries and even at our first nursery there wasn’t a wait to get in. That’s why I was so surprised .

OP posts:

girlmama22 · 09/02/2022 13:59

Yes normal, it's a lot easier for nurseries to increase hours for the younger children as they are constantly moving them up rooms as they get older and making spaces. It sounds like they'll be waiting until they have children leave to go to school etc come September.

Namechange13101 · 10/02/2022 08:14

Yup completely normal. 9 month waiting list in every room at my DD’s nursery. DS is due to start in April 1 day and Is on the list to do two days from Jan 2023. He’s been on the list since he was born to make sure we got the days and times we needed

BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz · 10/02/2022 08:16

They simply cannot be more flexible if they are at capacity though

TulipsGarden · 10/02/2022 08:21

Definitely normal, I know ours is at capacity on a couple of days now until September.

CoverYourselfInChocolateGlory · 10/02/2022 08:29

Yes, normal. They wouldn't be saying it just to be difficult. They have tight budgets and strict adult to child ratios. They can't just squeeze and extra one in.

Aroundtheworldin80moves · 10/02/2022 08:33

When spaces are finite there will sometimes be a wait. My elder DD was 3y3m before moving out of 2yo room. My younger DD was on the waiting list for 8 months fir the baby room as a sibling. But at other times we could change days at a weeks notice.

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