NCT online classes

[confused107]

We have just had notification that our NCT course due to take place in October has been moved online. As someone who has been stuck at home working and on zoom/teams all day I'm just fed up of it and can't imagine sitting on it for a whole Sunday for the course. We are also FT parents and were especially looking forward to the practical aspects of the course and meeting other parents.

I was just wondering if anyone had any experience with the 'online' NCT course? Is it worth doing or should we try and cancel?

I think from a consumer rights point of view they shouldn't be charging a cancellation fee. They have fundamentally changed what was originally offered and you paid for.

My october booking switched to online and they wanted £120 off me to change to another course (5 mins up the road and it goes from the middle price bracket to most expensive, plus an admin fee). Im glad i decided against it because that course has gone online now too I think. I think its a bit much to be charging £250 or £350 for the same online signature course, when other parts of the country it's £150. If the course is online then surely the overheads are the same. Im only doing the course to meet other local mums. Reviews are mixed and there are some really good free or much cheaper live online classes. I did a free Baby Academy "baby care" course a few weeks ago and it was really great.

Im not impressed so far about how NCT conduct themselves, especially as they're supposedly a charity. I just hope the course is better than I'm expecting and I make some good connections.

Hi @EveningReflection I agree it's bit dodgy charging a cancellation fee, but tbh as it was only £30 I decided not to argue. In all honesty I felt a bit sorry for them. Think they are really struggling and I would hate to see them go under.

Like you, the main reason for joining was to meet other parents locally (that and the fact that we are totally clueless and not even changed a nappy between us!) I've now heard really mixed things about the course online, I think some find it harder to talk (we already know from social calls with groups of friends it's hard not to speak over people and dominant personalities always take over) and I do so much of it at work I often just switch off!

It was £191 for us locally and instead we have booked onto a little stork course for £175 which at the moment they are hoping will run in person. So currently with the cancellation fee we have actually spent more, but to me it's worth it for the chance of it going ahead. It's also two hours a week so much more manageable then full Sunday's if it moves online

Best of luck with whatever you choose to do. When are you due? I was hoping to be more social in pregnancy. Perhaps join a pregnancy yoga class but obviously that hasn't been able to happen. I'm hoping that by the time my baby arrives (due 3rd December) I will be able to join local groups. Fingers crossed!

@confused107 I'm due the day after you!

I'm sure they are making more money by running the courses online, because they save on the venue and refreshments. The course is also shorter now that its moved to an online format. They only refund 15%.

Check out the Baby Academy one I mentioned, they cover nappies :)

I'm dreading it being online because Ive never video chatted before in my life. It seems a bit awkard, like people will talk over each other etc. I guess it's easier when you need to pop to the loo though!

Thanks for the tip @EveningReflection I will check out those courses

I'm sure you will be fine with the online. It's not that I hate it, I'm just sick of it as I spend hours of my working day on it

Can't believe we are due a day apart! Best of luck with everything x

I’ve just checked an I originally paid £360 for ours so will re-look at other options.

Even with a 15% discount I’m so reluctant to pay £300 ish to sit on Zoom for two days. However, I am feeling really alone and unsupported through lack of maternity care at the mo, so maybe this will be helpful...?

@Wise0wl sounds like you paid the London price! It's a bit ridiculous as we live in the suburbs and the price difference is £100 depending on if we do the course 5 minutes drive one direction or the other. Now theyre all online it's even more farcical.