NCT Virtual Classes (due to Coronavirus)

[TwinklyTwinkle]

Hi everyone,

Me and my husband signed up to start NCT classes in April. Obviously with everything happening with Coronavirus, they've now been cancelled. We haven't been contacted to be told, but I saw it on their Facebook page that they are starting virtual sessions online instead. I called NCT to see if there was any chance of a refund or partial refund if we didn't feel virtual sessions were for us and they said they were still waiting to hear from Head Office (I got a feeling this wasn't true and they were trying to avoid refunds) she said they'd run 50 virtual classes already so far and the feedback was overwhelmingly positive. We paid £200 for the classes including a breastfeeding session and I understand that everyone is in the same boat and this was unexpected, but I feel that's a lot to pay for what are now virtual classes. One of the main reasons I signed up was to try and meet other new local mums because I'm really worried about being isolated during maternity leave.

Has anyone had any experience of these virtual classes? We've also done the NHS Antenatal classes too which were helpful.

I haven't heard from NCT yet but had an email from Bump and Baby (we're signed up for both..). To be fair they acknowledged that lots of people do it to make friends and said there was be lots of online bonding stuff (maybe a virtual party where they send you treats and you all enjoy them at the same time or something ) and maybe even mini meetups where a few people can go for walks together (while keeping a safe distance!). It's annoying, and I'm worried that I won't feel as confident asking "stupid questions" as I would face to face, but I don't know what else they can do..

They didn't mention refunds or discounts either btw..

It's really not going to be the same is it! It's so difficult to get personality etc and 'stupid' questions and stuff across online isn't it 😟

I'm also starting in April and very disappointed but completely understand, haven't been contacted by my course yet, think it may be the beginning of a maternity leave that's really not what we've been imagining/ hoping for unfortunately 😟

Guessing you are due June or July ish too OP? I am due 3rd July

Interested to hear what they say. I hadn't yet booked on because my local one only had two other mum's signed up and they said if there aren't 4+ it may be cancelled.

Virtual ones wouldn't be the same at all

Same boat OP!

Due 18 July and I emailed the NCT people as we were also to start classes on the 21 April!

They conveniently didn’t answer my questions about refunds but said they would be setting up virtual classes!

Like you I’m not sure how I feel about that as me and my DH we mostly looking forward to meeting other parents as this is our first child too! All the info stuff you can find online...

However I was speaking to my cousin and she said to not worry about that as she met most of her now friends through mum and baby/toddler groups where you meet up for a coffee and “I’ll talk about how inept you feel” 😂.

Hopefully this will all die down a bit by then and we can be let out of lockdown x

Omg I'm so glad I've found people feeling the same!! I was worried I was being a bit unreasonable being slightly unhappy about online classes as an alternative! She said they'll set up the same WhatsApp groups and stuff they usually have, but I just feel like it's hard enough to make a connection in real life let alone online, and they haven't really said how exactly it'll work!

I'm due on the 25th May and the classes were due to start 5th April! I was really looking forward to the breastfeeding session because I've heard it's much harder than people think it's going to be :(

Yes it is yet another small (medium?!) corona disappointment I am very upset as had really been looking forward to meeting first time mums in person going through the same stuff, my friends haven't yet started having babies so I don't have anyone I can really moan about my perceived ineptness to!

Ditto the breastfeeding classes Twinkly.

And to think last month I was worried about missing the second class as we had a holiday to Spain booked 🙈 you have to laugh or you'd cry I think

I am really hoping that things will have blown over/ resolved themselves by my due date and we can do some quick catching up on things like NCT. Fingers crossed 🤞 hope you are all keeping well too

@christmastree43 Same! The only friends I have with children have 3+ year olds which is good, but I was really looking for people to be in a good support network with! My colleagues speak so highly about NCT and the friends they made, so I was really looking forward to it!
To be fair, the virtual classes might be quite good, but I think I just want more information and the option of a refund/partial refund rather than being forced to pay for something I didn't sign up for :(

I realise it sounds like I basically paid for friends and now I'm worried I'm not gunna make any and I'll be £200 poorer for it 😂 I might just have to attend every baby class going in my area on maternity so I don't get too lonely and overwhelmed!

I haven't heard anything from mine yet. They were meant to start early June, so I'm still hoping they might go ahead by then. Online just won't be the same. I was mostly looking forward to meeting local first time mums. Hopefully it will work out ok. I bet everyone is thinking the same.

@TwinklyTwinkle I feel exactly the same so don't worry

I suppose what we have to remember is that all other FTMs due from now til... the foreseeable I suppose! will be in the same boat, so whenever this blows over hopefully we will all be at all the baby groups and trying very desperately to make friends

We had our first virtual NCT class last night having met in person twice before. It wasn’t too bad at all, and the NCT teacher tried her best to make it still a fun informative session.

We only have two more classes, one being breast feeding. I was in two minds about asking for reimbursement however I have decided they are trying their best given the last minute changes sprung upon them so I think I won’t.

However, I have booked a postnatal course with them starting in July which if is likely to be virtual I will ask for a refund as the whole point is to go with your newborn babies and meet up with mums.

Please don’t discount making mum friends virtually. I know it’s not the same at all but it’s still a lifeline! When our babies were all first born, we didn’t see each other for weeks! We Whatsapped all day & all night. It was so so lovely to have people to talk too. We got to know each other pretty well. 3 years later, we are all busy back at work etc, so maybe see each other once a month or so depending, sometimes more. But we talk daily on WhatsApp, they are my constant source of support, friendship & oh god, what is this new difficult phase we are going through!

In my opinion, still so worth connecting with local mums. They’ll still be there when this ends!

Same here - we had done 2 sessions and now the rest are cancelled with possibility of online instead.
The 2 we did get to do were great and I don't think online will be the same.
I contacted them today to ask about partial refund as I'm not happy to have paid all that money for now online.
If it had been online from the start I wouldn't have paid anywhere near the amount.
They avoided my question about refund and just kept saying they were going to be going online etc.
I'm not happy and don't know what to do! I will use the online service but in my mind it's not worth the value that face to face is!

I have done a virtual session. It is actually not that bad. Yes we do it to meet ppl but everyone seems super friendly. We are all going through the same stuff plus CV together and we have whatapps chats as well so it is has been super helpful. I am being open minded about it. I am sure when CV pandemic dies down we will all meet up. We are all stuck with CV and the consequences. If u dont want to do the classes then dont and ask for a refund but at the moment with my baby due in April it is a nice alternative to have as a fall back. If u are due later... maybe consider ur options closer to the time.

Interestingly emailed mine about this and haven't heard back. I don't want a virtual class, If I wanted an online class I would have paid for one, it would have been cheaper.

I'm due to start mine in May, I've seen all those starting similar time now say virtual but I've not heard anything. In two minds, I've emailed to ask about the price of the virtual one to see if they are discounted. I paid £352 so seems an awful lot for a virtual class!

Tell them you don't have a computer or any means of accessing the virtual class!

It's a bit cheeky seeing as they're saving a fortune on venue hire etc. It's still a few weeks away so I don't think they can justify not giving you a refund. You paid for a service which they're no longer able to provide!

Hmmm now don’t get me wrong, I understand the disappointment but please remember NCT is a charity...

It might not be the same but I did NCT and basically paid £200 for friends and it was the best decision I ever made. We have all supported each other from the very beginning... the oldest baby is 8 months old and our group chat is still going strong every day (and night!).

I really would try and still attend. The key is to get a WhatsApp group chat going straight away (after first session).

You might find in these strange times you appreciate the friendships more than ever, even if you have to wait a while to meet F2F.

@2020Aug £352!! We got off a bit easier by the sounds of it! I wouldn't be happy with that for a virtual class at all. I feel exactly the same as you, as there are so many online courses I saw for a quarter of the price that I would have signed up to instead but we wanted something local and face to face.

I understand they're a charity and these are unknown waters, but I think to avoid the question of even just a partial refund as a goodwill gesture (which I would happily take!) is somewhat cow-boyish, especially as some people who are expecting babies may also be facing job/financial uncertainty due to CV also! As someone said, they are probably saving some money now on their rental overheads. I'm a bit gutted we didn't even get to have 1 class cos then at least we would have had a basic foundation for the WhatsApp group and stuff.

Yes, I appreciate it might feel like a lot of money for virtual but the NCT leader needs to be paid and that will be where the majority of the fee goes. Presumably they will lead the online sessions?

Hopefully when the dust settles they will look at partial refunds. It’s early days, give them time. They may have a lot of their staff not at work at the moment too.

Hope you all still manage to get something out of it and good luck for the rest of the pregnancies

@TwinklyTwinkle yes, I was surprised when I saw £200, I'm south London. I know friends have paid similar so think most classes are around that here.

I appreciate what PP has said regarding the trainers being paid but clearly there is a huge range of prices in any case, and they haven't got hall costs etc for a virtual course so I'm hoping they will do a reduced rate. I'd stick to the virtual one if they reduced mine to £200!

We've paid £323 in London so it is a lot and I think the venue would probably take a good chunk of that. I really want to still do it but I do think a discount is needed.