Gutted - nursery put the fees up 17% from Sept

[Shoppie]

DS1 has gone since he was 6 mths old, Ds2 since 10 months. DS1 is due to leave at the end of Aug anyway in order to start school Sept, but we just cannot pay an additional 17% - its over £100 per month just for DS2 so he is going to have to come out just as soon as I can find somewhere else for him to go.

The nursery is the best in the area by miles, they got an outstanding in 2008 and last year they only put the fees up 2% saying they understood how much economic pressure everyone was under but they felt they needed to give the staff a payrise after the Outstanding. Obviously I thought this was fair enough, but was kind of thinking it would be similar this year. 17% though?!?!?!?

Gutted

[Miffy]

OMG that is a huge rise. I think it this climate they are going to shoot themselves in the foot as they will no doubt lose children because of it.
Really hope you find somewhere lovely for him to go instead.

[Booh]

I can understand why they need to put the fees up - mine are going up 10 % in September. I have never ever put them up more than 2.5 % in the past. However, after doing my accounts for last year I made a tiny profit for working 50+ hours a week as the cost of food / insurance / Ofsted reg / diesel has gone up so much.

I do however think its a bit naughty of them as I know where you are there is such a shortage of good quality childcare they seem to be expecting parents to just 'suck up' the extra cost.

My sister has delayed her return to work as she can't find good childcare in the area

[ellabella]

Ours put the prices up 25% last year. I was annoyed but apparently Ofsted told them they were undercharging.

[Booh]

Ours put the prices up 25% last year. I was annoyed but apparently Ofsted told them they were undercharging.

I doubt it was Ofsted Ellabella - as they will not get involved in financial issues with childcare!

[fifitrix]

Eeek, I really dread this happening. J only has six months to go at this nursery and so there's no way I'd move her but I know their costs have gone up hugely and inflation is so high at the moment

I do however think its a bit naughty of them as I know where you are there is such a shortage of good quality childcare they seem to be expecting parents to just 'suck up' the extra cost

That's probably the point though - if there's not enough competition then presumably they'll always find someone willing to pay

[Shoppie]

TBH, I don't doubt they will find people who will pay it - the waiting list is huge and they are already signing people up for Jan 2012 We just can't though, especially as I will be going on Mat Leave in Dec/ Jan. B will have to go to a CM until then, and when I return to work it will have to be a nanny. I really will miss the nursery, but I just can't pay two lots of nursery fees AND fees on a CM, even though they do love the nursery. hum ho.

I just can't see how people can afford it when most people are getting 1/2% pay rises at best.

Oh and they def aren't undercharging, the other nurseries in the area have similar fees, unfortunately both are rubbish. I could take him to a neighbouring town, but then I'd have 2 different pick up and drop offs at least a 15 min drive apart, which wouldn't work either.

[smiley]

What a pita :(

Could you leave B there until you go on ML in Jan? Then get a nanny when you go back to work for all three children?

It's a massive increase though. I'd have said 10% is more realistic ...

S xxxx

[Woodstock]

17% is really quite shocking

Its actually quite worrying that they can increase by such a high amount in one go.

[Cat]

Have they increased the hours Shoppie?

We got a letter saying the Government (in their wisdom ) have increased the number of 'free' hours offered - however, this seems somehow to be costing us more.

In O's case its £1.77 per session, but perhaps its more for you?

Or, of course, it might have nothing to do with it

BG x

ETA to clarify, O's sessions will be 8.45 till 12.00 (as opposed to 9.00-12.00 now) or 12.45 till 3.45 (as opposed to 1-3.30)