Private nursery

[WorthThe]

Those who pay for private nursery, can you explain the benefits to me?

I'm not from the UK so I'm unsure if there's much benefit for a 3 / 4 year old.

Our local public nursery just told us there's no spaces for my DS until he's 4, and we were hoping for him to start when he's 3. This is despite us applying 18 months ago.

I'm considering the local private nursery because otherwise it will be a much longer drive. Not necessarily a huge deal but DS has very severe food allergies (history of Anaphylaxis) and the closer I am to him (I WFH) the better, just in case.

The £7k per year will be very hard financially, but just about doable as I can pick up more freelance jobs to work on while DS is at nursery.

If there's a real benefit, I think I might go for it.

Would love to hear what people think.

In England you have a choice of 3 types of registered childcare for preschool ...school nursery, private nursery or childminder. None give automatic entry to your preferred state school and all are registered and inspected by Ofsted to the same standards....EYFS....all can take the government payments for free childcare so its a matter of personal choice. I'm a childminder none of my mindees go to school nursery they go straight to full time school in the reception year. Feedback from teachers and parents is that they settle very well, are independent in self care, share take turns and make friends. They can all read and write their names ( not a requirement) many are reading simple books and writing words like mummy daddy etc. They recognise their numbers up to 10 and show good understanding of concept of number then in reception have to wait for othersto catch up.

Most 3 year olds are entitled to either 15 or 30 hours per week of free term time childcare. Some private nurseries offer this pattern but some only offer full time spaces so you would need to pay the difference. All nurseries follow Early Years Foundation Years method, so I would imagine the difference is very subjective and varies from nursery to nursery,
Can you ask the nursery if they offer term only spaces which will work out as free but you would likely need to pay towards lunch and milk

Once over 3, I see it more as a case by case in the same way you look at state vs private for schooling. I started DC at nursery after 3 and we looked at our local state and private options. We went for private because we liked the montessori setting, mixed age teaching which is according to ability. They also host a wide range of extra curricular activities (currently does IT, yoga, football, French, music and drama every week - these are all specialist external teachers contracted by nursery to provide the teaching). We do pay extra for all this but I like that it is all incorporated into the nursery day and as a result I don't spend my time running back and forth. I also like that all meals are provided so I don't worry about providing packed lunches or snacks

DC is eligible for 30hrs funding and attends 35 hours a week term time only. We pay less than £7k per year top up for this once all the above is included

The extra curricular activities are part of the government suggestions to recoup lost funding around £130 aa week is quiet a lot extra for 5 hours plus the extra teachers doing 20 min sessions for all the children. It makes a difference to the nursery finance. Most schools also have specialist teachers for these things when needed....but at this level football, IT and yoga are pretty basic anyway.

You will still be entitled to a funded place at a nursery if you were eligible for the nursery school. The gov will fund either 15 or 30 hours depending on your working status in the private nursery. It might not be as expensive as you were expecting.

@jannier I pay quite a bit less than £130/week

When I compare the nursery to the 3 local school nurseries, I can see where my money is going; they did not offer similar activities. Whilst they are basic, I can't get my child to engage with me the way a teacher can and I don't want to spend the time running around after nursery and on weekends taking them.

In addition to the extra curricular, the ratios are smaller, resources are better and they get hot breakfast and lunch plus snacks (all of which are cooked on site). It is a price I am willing to pay as allows me to focus on work

It probably depends on the local providers as to what's offered and the costs for over the free hours. We used a private nursery for the free hours during terms time because they had cover available at and extra fee for the holidays, which the school nurseries near us didn't offer. We could also have longer days when we needed them.

Where we are the spilt is nothing like private and state education. The private nurseries are much the same as school but because they are businesses they are more flexible and offer more hours etc for a price. We would not have that option at a school nursery, but that might not be true everywhere. Also some private nurseries are more like a private school with loads of and ons.

£130 is based on the £7000 a year over 52 weeks.....all settings childminders and schools as well as nurseries provide IT, team sports training by kicking balls and running in groups following instructions, many do yoga or dance the lessons you describe are just how the government lists ways of getting voluntary payments for parents to make the shortfall up..but many provide without charging which was my point. For example a 3 year old dosent need the expert football coach they are learning to kick not fall over hit a target and run around safely avoiding others but parent won't pay extra for that wrap it up as a football coach and they will. (As quoted by my LA financial advisor).

Don't forget you can also choose to use 15 or 30 hours funding with a childminder who may offer the actual hours you need anytime between the LA approved times....in my borough from 7amto 7pm.
Many are trained to the level of a nursery manager offering exactly the same provision as a nursery inspected by exactly the same inspectors to exactly the same standards.

I used one for convenience and length of day. I could drop them off at 8 and collect at 6.30pm if needed. I had them in there two days a week. It was near the station so my husband could drop them if needed. Not sure if the actual quality of care was much different- it was a well regarded place. My kids stayed until reception and because they were there all day it made the transition relatively easy.