What woud you think if your nursery asked you to pay a small voluntary fee to subside another child's place?

[milliec]

Message withdrawn

I would probably contribute IF it was purely voluntary and couched in the right terms. And temporary.

I'd think it was a good idea and want to contribute so long as it was properly managed.

I struggle with my own nursery fees so I wouldn't be happy. The nursery should reduce their fees for these people, it's not up to everyone else to pay for them as the nursery are the ones profiteering (sp)

Why can't the nursery take the hit though rather than the parents. They're obviously not feeling very charitable themselves

I smell a rat.

There are other ways in obtaning funding for those who can not afford the fees.

It's akin to another type of business, for example, a clothes shop for school uniforms asking other customers to pay a little extra in order to kit out the child whose parents can't afford the cost of the uniform.

That's why we have services (such as the health visiting service and social services) and grants available, to help people in such circumstances.

You have no guarantee that the extra fee you are willing to pay would really go to fund another child. I would be worried.

Hmmm. How will they get people to prove they can't manage the fees? Might some parents take the p*?

Is it a privately run nursery/part of a chain?

all well and good theoretically but not workable I think.

Is it a private nursery.

I work in a playgroup (charity status) and although only moringsthe Early years grant doesn't cover the full morning only 2.5hrs not 3hrs that we offer.

So we had one parent that was struggling to pay the fees and an aghreement was made ( basically paying half of the fees ) the following week she buggered off on holiday !

She took the piss and goodwill of the nursery but not again !

I personally would not contribute to cover another childs costs, down to the nusery to deal with it themselves .

no way.

so the nursery realizes some can't afford to pay, but instead of them taking the hit for it they're expecting the parents to do it for them? they're taking the piss.

but someone else could have paid for her holiday, or she might have won it?

i wouldn't mind as long as it was voluntary and confidential.

I would be v unhappy - I work hard to afford my fees, and there's not much left over. Nursery should come to their own arrangement regarding reduction, and take a small hit to profit

No I would not either. I'm afraid if you opt for the private sector you pay. If you can't afford it you don't get it. I think it is outrageous for the nursery to ask tbh.

aren't all nurseries private unless they are part of a school?

No, there are other means open to them, ie WTC to help with nursery fees

it wouldn't bother me if i had it to spare.

No way. I would be very annoyed to be asked this.

WTC doesn't help with childcare fees, CTC does. And it doesn't pay but 80% max.

I think a big failing these days is people thinking charity is always someone else's responsibility.

not everyone can get WTC though, or they only get a small percentage off. my friend and her dp both only get minimum wage yet because there of 2 of them even by only earning minimum wage they earn too much to get WTC, but there is no way they could afford nursery. luckily the grandparents share childcare for free but not everyone has this luxury.

Ouch expatinscotland - i think the key point is 'if I had it to spare'. Plus plenty of people give to charity, myself included, but wouldn't necessarily want to give in this way. No-one was against an opt-in, opt-out approach, other than thinking it was a bit cheeky.

that is true, nappy.

the threshhold for WTC is quite low. i don't think people realise it's about £15,000 - was about £14,800 back when i was claiming it.

do people realise how little money that is? because a person or people earning that are still paying NI.

and tax.

i agree, lapin.

i have not got but coppers to spare, but would be happy to share those out with someone who had even less.

i wouldn't do it. i used to get p'd off when ds's private ursery tried to plead hardship and have 'fundraisers' 'for the children'. they are a private business ffs. bottom line is they are there to make profit for the owners. i would not trust them to manage any so called charitable activities, too many conflicts of interest