is this preschool too cheap???

[chocolic]

ds is to start at a local preschool when he is 2. it costs £8 for 3 hours - £2.50 ph plus 50p snack money.

A lot of people say it's the cheapest locally.

It seemed ok when I looked around and tbh there is not much choice locally that would fit with my working hrs.

But now I'm a bit worried as they said it is 4 dc to 1 staff for 2 yos but how can they afford to do this if each dc only pays £2.50 an hr?

They need to pay for premises as well as staff as they are a private nursery.

beacuse of the free 5 x 2.5 hours a week the govenrment pays for that everyone gets?

Some preschools have very low rents (e.g. village hall, church hall). Put that together with very low pay for staff (minimum wage isn't uncommon), and they might actually get more than they need from the government funding. Then they can subsidse the other places with that.

camdancer - oh ok maybe that's what's happening then.

carocaro - I don't think the govt gives funding for all 2yos do they? my ds won't get anything till term after he is 3.

I am still a bit concerned though - apparently there needs to be 1 staff to 8 3yos and 1 to 4 2 yos. But both are charged the same per session (those that pay obviously) . Just seems a bit odd - does anyone know if this is normal??

i don't know tbh.

this may sound like a stupid question, but is it actually a private day nursery? is it open all day and that's just the price of a 3 hour session?

what are the prices of the other local nurseries like?

It's advertised as a preschool and as far as I know just has 2 sessions a day plus afterschool care for bigger kids. It is privately run though.

The other nurseries afaik cost more - around £5+ an hour and that is for a child who is almost 3 (not sure about costs for babies).

I am probably worrying about nothing - most mothers I have spoken to are just pleased it is cheap but I was just trying to work out how they could operate at this price.

most private nurseries are open all day though, so that people who work can send their children from like 8-6 or whatever, which is what made me wonder if it was just a pre-school/playgroup type thing instead?

maybe just ask them? i would!

Is it a charity? Ours is and charges similar rates.

It might be a charity. Ds1 went to the towns cheapest play school, but it was also the best.

It's not a charity - it has a notice up saying it's a private company and a photo of the company director!

I suppose you are right and I should just ask how they are so cheap. Hopefully it won't seem too odd as ds is going there soon (probably).

thisisyesterday - yes it is a preschool/playgroup type place. They don't take dc younger than 2.

I would want to find out about the qualifications of the staff, and how old they are. Paying minimum wage isn't all that strange, but it could mean they don't keep staff very long - most people would move if they haven't have a pay rise for a long time (recession excepted). Minimum wage is less for under 21's, so that could be another place to cut money. Apprentice's can be paid as low as £2.50 per hour.

Some places do charge the same for under and over 3's just because administratively it is easier. They lose a bit on the under 3's and make it back when they are over 3.

It does sound very cheap for a day nursery but then maybe the director is independently wealthy and runs it at cost. If it seems good, then enjoy it!

They have no choice about the ratios, so you don't need to worry about that. Those are legal minimums. They can save money on salaries and equipment. And rent. I'd ask how long people have worked there - too much turnover is bad for everyone.

If you like it, just be grateful!

It does seem cheap but if you like the nursery then there's not really a problem.

I paid £11.50 per 3 1/2 hour session including lunch for my ds's when they were in nursery. (8 months & 2yrs at the time) It was a Sure Start Nursery but was the best one I visited. My boys loved it there & I was crying when I had to pull them out.

The playgroup/preschool my DS goes to sounds the same sort of set up, and is the same price as the one you're looking at, as are several others I've come across. It's been fine and he really likes going. These sorts of playground just aren't as expensive as proper 'nurseries' in my experience, so don't worry that they'll secretly be using your offspring as child labour or anything else dubious.