What do you think is a reasonable charge.

[bubble99]

DH and I own a nursery which is across the road from a primary school. We have been approached by the manager of the school nursery as she has a lot of parents asking for breakfast club and after school provision.

If you were to use such a service, what time would you want to drop your child at our nursey and what do you think is a reasonable charge. Breakfast during the summer would be fruit, cereal, toast and milk/orange juice and in the winter the same but with the option of porridge, scrambled egg and a hot drink. Included in the price is care both in the nursery and during the walking bus to school.

After school care would be pickup from school, help with reading etc. and a hot organic two course meal.

I need to price both services and need ideas. Age range would be four to eight

Sorry. A distinct lack of ???? in my previous post.

Hmmm, tbh I can't remember as I don't ever see the new owners, only the staff!

I've seen some nice looking staff (as in friendly, not necessarily good looking, though they may be that as well) leaving your nursery and that's what it's all about. They are the ones your child spends the day with after all.

Wotcha bub. Ref: deposit for single mum...I might have handled it differently... as when / if things go pear shaped (either for her financially or there is some row etc.) than you will be down a place probably rather immediately... (I also appreciate the need to bend rules and give people a break occasionally)... but how about collecting the deposit in installments... that way no other parent can hear about this exceptional 'deal' and get shirty, she doesn't feel treated any differently / caught in a one month's notice thing... maybe she could pay £x over y weeks ???

I think if you separate the breakfast cost and the 'care' cost, you have increased transparency... and it psychologically sounds a lot cheaper. If a parent wants to feed their child breakfast at home they can do, and save the cash... but maybe this would make things much more complicated in the nursery / with sitting down / eating / play time all jumbled for different kids ??? (maybe a free breakfast trial, and kiddo runs home to tell parents about how delish it all was would help swing it !!!)

BTW - I had one query at the back of my mind... does your chef(s) work full time, in EACH nursery, or do they flit between the two working wonders... just wondered how full / empty their day was and if you could rationalise anything there...

(tell me to shove off if too nosey)

Our nursery opens at 8 and they don't provide breakfast for the over 2's - just toast and milk. And they are welcome to sit down and have some or go and play not like a formal mealtime. DS has a weetabix and yoghurt before he goes so is not always hungry for toast.

I charge £10 minimum before school, that does not include breakfast.I simply turn up at their house, because it easier for me, load them into the car after 15 minutes, lock up the house and take them to school. The boys are brothers so that is £20 a morning.

I pick them up from school and drop them off at their parents school and I charge the same for that, ( £20) I do give them a snack of fruit and water while waiting for parents in the car park.

I do three morning and three afternoons a week. Another child I pick up and take to afterschool club, I pick him up at 3.30 and drop him off at 3.45 - charge £7.50

Ther parents can't do it, and it enables them to work a full day, earning a lot more than they are paying out. If it wasn't for the service I aprovide they wouldn't be able to manage, so they tell me, and are more than happy to pay. I have been doing it for 3 years for the same family. They both get the new childcare voucher so make a saving of about £1800 a year now.

Most childminders round here charge a minimum fee in the morning and a minimum of 2 hours after school, (£10)

Wotcha hub

We're in a difficult position with the nursery in Hampton. The previous owners did the real dirty on local users and shut it down with a week's notice. This has, understandably, left a whole lot of local parents reluctant to send their children to the same place again. We have advertised extensively as new owners but things are slow and children are drifting in at a very slow pace. The manager of the local school's nursery came to our nursery recently to ask if we could provide wrap-around care and our manager did nothing to follow it up. We are in the process of sacking her BTW. Mr Bubble asked her twice to contact her and arrange something. He 'phoned the manager on Monday who said vaguely that she was sure the woman would come back at some point to discuss. Two 'phone calls later and DH had a meeting today with said woman who will now advertise our wrap-around care service at school open days as there is a high demand for such a service.

Staggered post-dated cheques we discussed but TBH this parent is our best customer and the Hampton nursery is in such a crap state bookings wise that we're prepared to cut her some slack and probably (though hopefully not) get our fingers burnt.

I don't think I'd pay that for before and after school care. I currently pay £28 per day for dd to attend the nursery of a prep school. The food is not organic, but it is fresh, not processed home cooked etc and she gets mid morning and mid afternoon snacks as well as a hot lunch.

If I needed before and after school care (it is included in the price of fees at dd's school) I would want it from about 8am. She eats breakfast at home at 7am. I would probably be prepared to pay about £5 at the most.

Hi bubb, didn't realise there was previous 'history' at the Hampton nursery. A swift 'close down' such as you describe would have had a massive impact on the clients, with everyone phoning around other nurseries and these other places probably quickly filling any spare places to leave a lot of disgruntled customers.

If the old nursery ended up with a bit of a reputation, I would suggest that part of the new nursery's local advertising would need to explain more than just 'under new ownership' but 'under new management' / new staff / different ethos / organic food etc. etc.

Opening up for 'trial attendance' or organising unmissable one-offs (ie. you get a professional face-painter in for an afternoon etc.) would also perhaps help those still suspicious to feel better about the new place.

Good PR and repeated features in the local paper / the various property magazines etc. will probably be more important than a 'normal' new business launch, as it is this kind of thing which perhaps persuades parents more than your flyers / adverts IYSWIM that you have nothing to do with the old nursery.

Finally the 'introduce a friend' thingy can be very powerful if the motivation is high... you mentioned your 'best customer' lady... if it was made clear to her / others that if someone was introduced and booked at least x sessions / came for at least y weeks they (the 'introducer') would receive z gift (ie. a quantity of free attendance / free breakfast club for x weeks etc.) then this person is very much more likely to be bothered to give your place a plug. If you can additionally offer this prospect some kind of introductory pricing for one morning / day / week whatever, they will have an easier time thinking 'oh, I'll give it a go then'... (I know this impacts bottom line, but if it signs people up for a long term relationship with your business, it's worth it).

HTH

Bubb: Just phoned and got your dh, LOL. He must think me mighty strange.

I know stuff is busy at the nursery, so just a bump so you don't miss my oh-so-valuable advice.

Hope things are under control. If in doubt, get a bigger stick !

(joke)

Wotcha hub. Yes. I was knocking out a rather lovely onion gravy when you 'phoned. We seem to be a largely vegetarian nursery at the moment as two of the kids don't eat red meat. One child and two staff eat only Halal, another two kids don't eat pork. So fish and chicken seem to feature frequently with the odd bit of lamb thrown in for the resident carnivores. Probably should post this in another topic but any suggestions for main meals to fit the above tastes/criteria would be appreciated. Our chef is getting over the lurgey and should [hopefully] be back to work on Monday.

If you think I know anything about food other than eating it...

BTW hub. Did get your advice. Thanks I said to DH earlier that having been over at the Hampton nursey earlier and talking to the manager I now know how slaughtermen/women must feel if they let themselves. She knows her job is on the line and I know it too. Having said that I asked her yesterday to find out some facts about nursery provision at a local school and received an email saying that she'd talked to a school secretary and had some very vague info. Not good.

Doesn't sound promising does it...

Can I ask a dumb question: Is it feasible for you (or one of you two) to assume the Manager's role full time ? No one will ever be as commited as the owner !

Could you maybe try incentivising based on numbers / profit / expansion etc. so she maybe pursues these leads / realtionship opportunities more aggresively ?

Hi Bubble - I'm sure you're diong this anyway but if you want to check out prices I can tell you that the YMCA in Surbiton do the same service.

hatsoff, hub. Thanks you two. Struggling to stay awake now, it's been a knackering day. Good suggestions that I will ponder tomorrow. Am off to bed now to dream probably of onion gravy and slaughterhouses. Night.

Bxxxxx