Aimee currently attends a pre school where we pay £7.50 a session (3 hours a morning) and this covers everything. When she is 3 (first term after), we get it completely free (15 hours a week).

So, we are thinking of moving her to the next pre school which is attached to the school she may go to.

I have had my information pack through today and firstly, their hours are different, so I would need to pay £3 per day for her to stay 45 minutes for lunch (as I wont finish work in time to get her).

But, this is the bit that has naffed me off... they are also asking for an additional £3 weekly 'contribution' towards food/snacks, etc.

Her existing pre school doesnt do this, so why is this new one doing it? Does yours ask for a contribution?

Now, £3 isnt anything really, and its not that I mind paying it, but lets be honest, im already going to be paying another £15 a week extra for her to stay at the lunch club. If I keep her where she is then I wont have to pay any extras, which over a month, does add up.

Yeh I pay £1.95 a day for a cooked meal that comes from the school kitchen, although snacks aren't charged as I could send just a packed lunch and not pay anything but shed still get snacks

What is the £3 for? Thomas nursery charge £3 a day for lunch but if they take a packed lunch it's free (Thomas will be taking a packed lunch coz he's a fussy sod). If the £3 is to cover food cost then fine but if it's literally just to keep her there an extra 45 mins even with her own packed lunch then I wouldn't be impressed tbh. Fair enough if it was a private day nusery as they do charge by the hour and this would be the case at Thomas' but when he moves next september to the school one I wouldn't pay - I would rather keep him where he is (will be soon) iykwim?

As for the contribution to snacks I kinda get that if it's a state run school but surely you should then have the choice to send her own snacks instead?

xx

gracie's is £7.25 per session and no hidden extras the only thing that naffs me is that hers is 12 until 2:30 so sometimes she is a bit tired before she even gets to school.

God jealous of your session costs. We have only one nursery school and one preschool and all others are nursery. We pay e to go two mornings a week which is £20 for four hours plus lunch and apparently according to them funding won't cover it. Sorry to be no help. But some schools do ask for contribution as I don't think government covers it.

I think thats still cheap. H cost £12 a session for 3 hrs x

I agree its VERY cheap! I pay £3.50 an hour and that's the cheapest around here by a long way .. normally about £4.60+ per hour (and I thought we were cheaper than other parts of the UK!)

I pay 9 pound for Caelyn for 3 hours and come New year gonna put her in for a full day but they havenet said anything to me about extras for meals. I just assumed I would send her with a pack lunch. I would be well hacked off

Sorry, lol, I got a bit lost in my original post.

Basically, when she starts the 15 hours free that they get, they still want me to pay an additional £3 per week for snacks.

(The other £3 per day would be our choice, which I would be fine paying for the extra 45 mins and lunch).

I was just wondering for those who get the free 15 government hours, if anybody had to pay extra for their snacks on top?

no we dont pay for snacks at our playschool , its £2.40 an hour (deprived estate - only advantage is the cheap playschool lol) and snacks are included , the kids have a bit of fruit and a biscuit - but they chop up the bits of fruit so the kids get a few slices each so prob not a whole piece, and would be surprised if it even added up to £3 a week! a pack of own brand biscuits is around 50p and a bag of apples is £1.50 and there no way one toddler would go through that lot on there own

I also think its how they ask for it. There are no manners involved at all and its all very blunt.

I have read through the rest of the booklet and im really put off. There is no friendly wording that would make you want to send your child there. They also want another £20 to take them on little trips.

The one she is at now are great and take them out without asking for any extra money. I really think im going to keep her where she is. I just dont want to hold her back and have her as the only one left behind.

Although saying that, 14 children who were supposed to move onto that pre school last year didnt go either and stayed where Aimee is now - so it may be that other parents are thinking the same thing this year x

Seb is starting preschool after Christmas and compared to private nursery I've foudn the information on payment lacking and the attitude rather relaxed - I've only been told the fees verbally but it is £11 for a 3 hour session and then there is a contribution for snacks, can't remember how much, but he is a pig so I'm sure he will eat more than his fair share. I know another preschool locally asks the parents to provide the snack food on a rota rather than paying cash.
I turned up to register with a checkbook and was told they bill in arrears at the end of the month i.e. when he's settled in, which having only dealt with a private nursery up to now who want a month's fees up front plus direct debit in place I found amazing!

Googling suggests that they can charge extra for optional services such as food and trips but that you can opt out; however I can't find an official website with this information.

at the school nursey oliver is going to you dont have to pay anyhting, just send a packed lunch...they get fruit and milk aswell xx

We dont pay for snacks either at Oliver's pre-school. They get fresh and dried fruit and milk and its all inclusive. I agree with the other lady though, £3 for snacks per week per person?? they'll be raking it in!

Olivers actually in 'tweenie's at the moment (2-3yrs) Its a Christian community centre that runs a playschool/nursery/pre-school. We were going to move him into the pre-school that is attached to the school we want him to go to..but like you I was put off by it. They didn't come across very welcoming at all and have actually had second thoughts about sending him to the actual school.
So we have decided to keep him at this Playschool where he will receive his free pre-school education, its got a good ofsted and he's extremely happy there

Laura wrote:

Sorry, lol, I got a bit lost in my original post.

Basically, when she starts the 15 hours free that they get, they still want me to pay an additional £3 per week for snacks.

(The other £3 per day would be our choice, which I would be fine paying for the extra 45 mins and lunch).

I was just wondering for those who get the free 15 government hours, if anybody had to pay extra for their snacks on top?

We would have to at his private pre-school but not at his school pre-school

oh, no ..