Should I add an extra day?

[Mrsmch123]

My child currently attends two days per week. Tues and thur. When his 3 year old funding kicks in I have the opportunity to increase his days. My bill will go from £508 to £146 per month. We can afford it no problem but I'm unsure if 3 days is too much🤷🏻‍♀️or does it better prepare him for school?
i won't be taking any extra shifts at work so will be in the house which is making it harder as atm I know he needs to go the two days to let me go to work.....
thoughts 😬😬

Only you can know this as you know your child. Some children attend full time from a
young age, so no 3 days is objectively not too much, mine attends 3 days a week and she enjoys it.

I think the fact that I'm going to be in the house is making it harder. He's been at nursery since he was 15 months so is used to it.
I've got until tomorrow to decide.

I would do it - you can always revert if it doesn’t work. Use the time back as a mixture of keeping the household running and some you time!

Def not too long, many kids are in for 4/5 days a week with no negative impact.

Why would you? You don't need childcare. He doesn't need preparing for school. That's what reception is for.

As pp.
It depends on the child, on your circumstances, how much you enjoy doing things with them like art, craft, forest school, imaginative play, construction, etc etc.
Mine all really loved Nursery and went on my day off. It meant that
a) they had a great time doing all sorts of things with their friends that I probably wouldn't have done with them
b) it gave me chance to get 'stuff' done at home so that left the weekend and any other days they were with me free to do things with them
c) it gave a window where I could book in my dentist appt, or smear, or haircut, or whatever else it is much easier to do without a toddler 'helping'.

So I would, but I know there are others who LOVE the time with their pre-schooler to take them swimming and cook with them and do craft with them and can't understand why anyone's child might enjoy some more time at Nursery.

I would. You can use that time to get stuff done around the house so you then have more qualify time together.

I was going to say the same as this poster.
Use your day without your DC to clean / admin / shop and then the time you spend together can be more kid friendly.

Definitely! If it doesn't work out then you can just drop the day.

Did the nursery give you the new amount of 146? Or did you work it out ?

I had this option - I didn't but the extra funding was not wasted. Nursery stretched the funding over holidays too so my two days were pretty much funded across the year and not just term time. The nursery were happy with this too as it meant they could take another child on the day I didn't need.

It really depends how much you like days with your toddler. I loved them and was able to get stuff done. I totally understand those that would use the extra day too. It's a really individual thing and probs also depends on the child too.

Your child does not need more time at nursery to get ready for school by the way. I say this as someone working with early years children in nursery and other settings. 2 days a week is fine.

@Isthisexpected because I can🤷🏻‍♀️

@DairyMilkChunks that was the number the nursery gave me with tax free childcare taken of.

think we will book the extra day and if it doesn't work out then we can drop it.

@WhatILoved this is for non term time. I really enjoy spending time with him but it would be handy to have one day to get stuff done. Atm his dad takes on the lions share of housework ect at the weekend so would be nice for him to have a break.

Wanted to check as it seems so low and I see loads of threads with surprises fee post the funded hours.

I'd add a day for sure :)

@DairyMilkChunks tbh I was expecting more from what I had seen too. £146 for 3 days all meals and snacks included seems really good to me. Especially when I have been used to paying £510 for 2 days.

From what you’ve said I’d take the extra day, use it to do more of the house stuff (as well as a bit of a break for yourself) and all be able to have more fun time together as a family at the weekend.

Go for it. Do the big shop and the big clean and free up the weekends for family time.

How many hours does he do on your working days? If it's a really long day such as 7-6 then I wouldn't add an extra day, they get tired on the longer days and it would be nice to get out and about with them. If it's something shorter like 8-4 then I might add an extra morning to catch up in the house.

He would be going 8-4ish on the Friday. I could pick him up before his nap on a Friday tho if it's too much for him.
He currently does 8-4 on tues and thurs.

Why wouldn't you pick up extra shifts?

@Coffeespill because being a nurse is hard😅 2 days is enough and we don't "need" the extra money.

My 3.5 year old goes 3 days a week (nursery is open from 7am-6:30pm but I put him in roughly 9-3) and I don't even work; I just use the 30 hours and pay the top up. He absolutely loves nursery and misses it when he's not there!