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Original poster

Is it worth going back to work part time to ease nursery fees

10 replies

BeTwinklyTealPanda · 30/12/2024 20:52

I'm a teacher, due to go back to school in July when my 9 months mat leave is up. DD will start nursery in September and full time fees for 5 days a week are in the region of £2000. Factoring in the 30 hours free funding kicking in Sept for babies over 9 months old and the tax free child credit, I am hoping this brings it down to £1400?? The nursery hasn't given a breakdown of fees as these will increase in April for the new financial year.

I am wondering if it's worth asking at work to go part time, either 3 or 4 days. Anyone have experience of whether this works out well? Is paying nursery 1 less day a week worth the 1 day salary sacrifice? Ofcourse it depends on my individual pay and outgoings. But just wanted to know especially from teachers how they found this.

OP posts:
Mrsttcno1 · 30/12/2024 21:01

If you’re looking purely at the finances, look at the nursery charges for a day & what you are paid for a days work.

My friend is a teacher and went back 4 days a week for similar reasons but after 3 months went back to full time because she found she was doing the same amount of work as she had when working 5 days a week except for less pay so it wasn’t worth it for her.

LittleRedRidingHoody · 30/12/2024 21:10

I'd check out the current nursery fees and see if there's a discount on 5 full days. When DS went the prices were something like £1,850 for 4 days or £2,100 for 5, so it may not be worth just dropping 1 day.

Original poster
BeTwinklyTealPanda · 30/12/2024 21:16

Changed to a quoted reply

OP posts:
Original poster
BeTwinklyTealPanda · 30/12/2024 21:19

Mrsttcno1 · 30/12/2024 21:01

If you’re looking purely at the finances, look at the nursery charges for a day & what you are paid for a days work.

My friend is a teacher and went back 4 days a week for similar reasons but after 3 months went back to full time because she found she was doing the same amount of work as she had when working 5 days a week except for less pay so it wasn’t worth it for her.

Yes I've heard this is the case for a lot of teachers and so they either work less than 3 days or full time. It's for finances but also this being my second child, I could do with more time at home to do home chores, spend quality time with dd and not be so consumed by work, as I was with first child!

OP posts:
Original poster
BeTwinklyTealPanda · 30/12/2024 21:21

LittleRedRidingHoody · 30/12/2024 21:10

I'd check out the current nursery fees and see if there's a discount on 5 full days. When DS went the prices were something like £1,850 for 4 days or £2,100 for 5, so it may not be worth just dropping 1 day.

Agree i need to get back to the nursery again. When I signed up, they couldn't confirm the final price with government discounts included and just gave me the monthly overview instead of a daily fee..

OP posts:
QueenOfWeeds · 30/12/2024 21:30

I was 4 days a week and it was ok, but I was SLT and not class based. My colleague had a class and it was awful for her. Also she had Fridays off so never knew what state her room would be in at the start of the week. I had Thursdays off and that worked for me. 3 days would have been better. My dream would be 3 days at work, but 4 days of nursery to give me a day to do a bit of work, household tasks etc and then have a proper family weekend. I’m currently class based and full time.

Is your nursery term time only? I find it frustrating that in holiday time I’m either paying for a place and not using it, or DD is in nursery and I’m not seeing her. Obviously the odd day useful to potter about at home without her under my feet, but it’s an irritation. I found it less galling to have a part time nursery place in school holidays.

Stressedoutforever · 31/12/2024 18:46

I do 2 days a week (secondary core subject) and find it okay but will be increasing to 3 hopefully in September solely for Financial reasons. I'm just enough in the loop to know what's going on and the students know me, but I'm not really a lead for any classes and my workload is very manageable
I personally didn't want to do 4 days as I knew I'd be mostly class lead and just end up working 5 days worth of work in 4

BoxOfCats · 01/01/2025 03:29

Don't forget to factor in pension contributions, not just your take home pay!

Sk1sk0 · 01/01/2025 18:41

3 days works very well for me personally but we’re very lucky as DD goes to nursery 2 days and my MIL the other. I would sit down and work it all out, as pp said including pension etc, and see where you’re at. Also think about workload/the school you’re at - mine is v supportive of part time workers but I have friends that had an unmanageable workload part time so ended upping to full time again quite quickly as it was more hassle than was worth.

YouveGotAFastCar · 01/01/2025 18:55

Our 30 hours has just kicked in and somehow our nursery bill is now more each month than it was when we got the 15 hours, and he does the same days. They’ve just hiked the compulsory essential charges to make up for the increase in funded hours, and told us there will be a price increase in April.

You’d need a breakdown from nursery to know if it’d be worth it.

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