Childcare

My 3 year old gets 30hrs now and 9 month old has just started (not entitled to 15hrs until April). They both go every morning 8-1 and our monthly bill is currently £1100 (will drop to £750 in April).... I'm basically working to have someone else look after my kids.... makes no sense xx

Sorry if this is a silly question, but why are you needing to pay this if you’re getting the funded hours? How many hours are they actually using a week? My LO is entitled to 15 hours pw and we will be using 14 hours therefore expecting a bill of £0, except holidays.

Full time is £1200 a month for my girl. Missing out on 45 hours a week with her for what? Not for money thats for sure😂 im going back part time or not at all

@Georgia most nursery you have to 'top up' the funded hours, so we pay an extra £2 per funded hour for consumables etc, then in alot of nurseries you can only use the funded hours between the hours of 9am and 3pm, so anything before or after that is charged at a full hourly rate. I'd check the terms and conditions of your nursery carefully x

For the “15 free hours” in London - Treetops nursery quoted me around £650 for 2 days a week! I didn’t want two full days either. I’ll be part time and mums going to have her - she did my niece and nephew also.

@Georgia they go from 07.30- 18.00 each day it's classed as a full day. So even if I pick up at say 5pm I still use a full day . I also spread them over the year so I don't pay more during holidays..you also use consumables on top so I'd check that your nursery is completely 'free'. Also they are only term time so you'd be paying full price if in school holidays unless you stretch them

@Rachel ah okay thank you. We’re using a childminder and she didn’t mention any extra charges so guess I presumed it’d be the same for a nursery. This country is an actual joke isn’t it

Ah that makes sense. Sorry, was being a bit dumb

@Georgia yeah with childminders tou usually just say per hour which is good. Also don't need to pay then during holidays sometimes too and usually send a lunch box etc so works cheaper . I just much prefer a nursery setting

I’m lucky our nursery doesn’t charge for consumables but it will still be 1300 a month for both of mine for 3 days a week, at least in September both will get 30 hours, the cost is criminal though 😭 x

My two littles go for 3 days a week. The 3 year old qualified for the 15 hours for 2 year olds when that started last April and I dropped her down to two days a week while on maternity leave. She turned 3 in Nov so now qualifies for the 30 free hours thankfully so we only pay £60 a month for her consumables. I have to pay £700 a month for my April baby for now at least that should half in April and then drop to £60 in Sept when he qualifies for the 30 hours too. I will have spent less on childcare for him than for her, thankfully. My husband takes his two days a week off mid week so it’s not great that I don’t get to spend much time together as a family, but at least it’s covered for now. I’d really like to reduce my hours at work but don’t know whether it’s financially viable.