nursery fees for 2 and a half yr old!

[mrsmon]

hey mums!
i know it's not the correct thread but it seems busier here:)

trying to find out some answers regarding childcare for my 2 1/2 ds , i have 7yr ds and 15wk ds also!

My husband works full time, i dont work just look after kids & home etc, we dont receive WTC and i feel as though my 2 and half yr old needs more stimulation and company from children his own age! I have taken him to mothers & toddlers groups but i feel he would do better without me there!

We are in the house 24/7 and dont get out much as we stay far from any family/friends/groups etc, so i feel my son could be doing with a nursery place! my question is, if i was to put him in a private nursery for 2 days a week, would we get a percentage of childcare costs paid with only my husband workig and myself at home with the baby?

He is a very energetic/clever/curious boy who i think needs more interaction with children his own age rather being with me and his little brother all day everyday!

i just dont know what the cost implications are and would very much appreciate if any one in similar circamstances can shed any light on this situation.

im not trying to fob my son off on anyone or a nursery i just think he could benefit from being in a nursery envronment! p.s we do not have any sure start nurseries close by.

thanks in advance :) xx

I just waited until my 2 got their nursery funding at age 3. I dont know if you would get help towards childcare costs but dont think you would through the government. Does your husbands employer run a childcare voucher scheme?

Your husband may be able to get childcare vouchers through work - it's a salary sacrifice scheme where part of his salary is put away for childcare and is not taxed. Otherwise wait until you get the free 15 hours at 3!

Agree with the other posters - the one thing I'd also say is that the free 15 hours starts the term after the child is free (so if born in say September you have to wait until January to claim the free hours).

I'd guess that as you aren't entitled to WTC you probably won't qualify for childcare tax credits.

The dc's nursery is about £20 for a half day. For several months DS only went one morning a week and he settled down fine.

We're in a similar situation although i work 16 hours. We used to get wtc but not anymore. But when we did, no dd's childcare (2x 5 hour preschool sessions) werent covered. Not sure if preschool is cheaper than nursery as evidently they only attend during term time.

dd nursery is £43 a 10 hour day as its a day nursery. Pre schools are a lot cheaper and do take children from 2 and half. In my area you would be looking at £15 for 3 hours.

thanks for all the replies ladies:)
i think we will just need to wait until he's 3 , really only wanted to find out if it was possible just now for him x but looks as tho we would pay through the roof for it! shocking!
thanks again xx

Question - he needs more stimulation but you don't go out to groups and stay 'far away' from them???? Why? If he needs interactions surely you need to make the effort to go to places where he can play with other kids

agree with pumkins

also dont understand why you find it "shocking" that you have to pay for childcare?

why don't you call some local nurseries? they will give you a better idea of costs than we can, as every nursery will have a different pricing structure.

I think around here a preschool is about £15 a morning session here. But I don't understand why you just don't go out more?