Cost of Childcare

[sunnyday]

Am I the only person to be highly pis......cheesed off with the reports of the steep rise in the cost of childcare?

Earlier - a Party political Broadcast - don't know who for - wasn't listening until I heard "Under this government, the cost of childcare has risen by 30%"

Genuine question - who has put their fees up by 30% and/or received an increase in NEG of 30%

Kent's NEG hasn't changed

I charge £4.50 per hour and have done for the past two years - this is going up by 0.10p per hour from September ........I would be the first to admit that my maths is rubbish - but that's not 30% - is it? :blink:

Honestly I'm really fed up with - sure everyone thinks we are making a killing - I wish

[klc106]

We haven't increased by 30%. We charge £3 per hour and have done since we opened in 2011 and don't plan on an increase. Our funding rate has gone down by a few pence for next year too.

[louby loo]

I guess full day-care has had to hike prices up to cover the fact the NEG doesn't cover true costs

[sunnyday]

I guess full day-care has had to hike prices up to cover the fact the NEG doesn't cover true costs

You may have a point - lets hope someone involved in full day-care comes along to let us know :1b

[finleysmaid]

humm had a meeting about our rent yesterday...they seem to think we should be raking it in (because that's what the papers say) when i said we are not a private full day care nursery and so are very restricted he told us we should change the way we are set up so we can afford the rent! :angry:

[Rea]

It was a Labour party broadcast and I got cross too.

Our fees have been the same for at least 3 years, rent has luckily stayed the same and we didnt replace a staff member to keep cost as low as possible. I did manage to give staff a small pay rise however.

I particularly want to know how Labour will be funding the 25 hours 'free' childcare because up till now all free childcare has been subsidised by us and I for one cant see how it can continue.

Edited April 24, 2014 by Rea

[sunnyday]

humm had a meeting about our rent yesterday...they seem to think we should be raking it in (because that's what the papers say) when i said we are not a private full day care nursery and so are very restricted he told us we should change the way we are set up so we can afford the rent! :angry:

Fm - I 'liked' your post - but that doesn't mean I like your 'landlords'

I have said this before - if you try and explain to those outside EY the way in which we can't charge any form of top up and have our level of funding dictated by LA they look at you as though you came down in the last shower of rain.......

"But how does that work when you are running your own business"

"Oh but I thought it was your business"

"Well that can't possibly be right......are you sure"

Above are just some of the things family, friends and Village Hall Management Committee have said to me

[sunnyday]

It was a Labour party broadcast and I got cross too.

Our fees have been thesame for at least 3 years, rent has luckily stayed the same and we didnt replace a staff member to keep cost as low as possbile. I did manage to give staff a small pay rise however.

I particularly want to know how Labour will be funding the 25 hours 'free' childcare because up till now all free childcare has been subsidised by us and I for cant see how it can continue.

Absolutely Rea

[SueJ]

I'm with you sunnyday - I too would love to know where this increase is truly coming from - I did read recently that it was the cost of employing a nanny full time that was distorting the figures however in the article I read it said fees had increased by 19% NOT 30%

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/education-25683798

 

As for the 25 hours "free" that are being proposed - I wonder how many places - full day care and sessional will just have to shut up shop as it will no longer be viable to stay open.

We need a little emoticon with steam coming out of its ears!

 

 

[diesel10]

I feel that its not even the fact that the funding hasn't gone up its all the requirements that are added over the years that cost money

first aid courses (these used to be funded) charging for council courses, insurances for everything, a variety of food for snack, accreditation, police checks (or what ever they are called these days) non-domestic rates (we used to get 100 % refund) I could go on.

And then I love the comments oh you must get cheap gym membership working for the council, pension (what pension) sick pay (what's that) and then a friend comments her husband works for a large well known company and get cheap bus fares! On top of his large salary.

[laura]

We are full day care, charging 4 pounds an hour for the last couple of years, we'll be putting our fees up to 4.20 in September. With our funding rate staying static at 3.52 for the last few years it's been tough, our rent is high, plus business rates, utility bills..... We are never going to be millionaires

[Guest sn0wdr0p]

£2.90 per hour!

[woodlands1997]

We are private full day care and fees haven't gone up for a year and even then they went up by 10p an hour! Our funding went down by a few pence too so definitely not raking it in! Not sure where they've plucked these statistics from!!!

[thumperrabbit]

We've stayed the same price for 3 years

Had a rent increase

Had to put up wages 3 times in the last 3 years - because of minimum wage

 

We have voted for a 10p fee increase, and that's not per hour that's for the whole 3 hours!!

[Guest]

We opened in 2007 and have had one increase since then and not 30% worth!!

 

Early years are the target for all moans and complaints right now and I think ladies it's time we made a stand.

 

Or just stood and screamed loud and hard!!

[Guest]

full day care and no increase in two years. Went up a little the year before (50p a session) and that was the first rise in just under 3 years

Daren't increase as we are worried we will make it unaffordable for the parents - have given up telling our LA that the funding doesn't cover costs, however since we've cut down on the amount of funded two year olds to enable us to have more daycare two's in (because they pay the bills, jjust!), they are beginning to listen a just a teeny tiny little bit more

 

*warning* another can of worms opening - I thought tax credits were originally introduced to subsidise parents childcare costs and allow settings to charge a rate in which they can then afford to pay staff a decent living wage. most of our families don't earn anywhere near the threshold for being able to claim but when they enquire they are told they don't qualify and I wont start on the farce that is the false claimants and those that do claim are terrified they will be told the following year to give it back (and more!)

I'm tired of being indirectly harassed by media and politicians who do not do their research! The parents must be sick of hearing it too - they are all too aware of what it costs, let alone the guilt some feel - unless those in power do something about supporting us/parents then they should pipe down!

Lets roll the time machine out, all close and see how they cope with meeting targets without us and then crank the time machine up and go back and save their a.s.. bottoms

 

Fm - I 'liked' your post - but that doesn't mean I like your 'landlords'

I have said this before - if you try and explain to those outside EY the way in which we can't charge any form of top up and have our level of funding dictated by LA they look at you as though you came down in the last shower of rain.......

"But how does that work when you are running your own business"

"Oh but I thought it was your business"

"Well that can't possibly be right......are you sure"

Above are just some of the things family, friends and Village Hall Management Committee have said to me

Yes!!! - which other private sector business has less control over their decision making! Can you imagine Alan Sugar allowing it to happen!! I'd love to be a fly on the wall in those LA/setting meetings!

[thumperrabbit]

 

 

Yes!!! - which other private sector business has less control over their decision making! Can you imagine Alan Sugar allowing it to happen!! I'd love to be a fly on the wall in those LA/setting meetings!

 

Alan Sugar now there's a thought ... Anyone know him we need him to fight our cause!!!

[Pimms o'clock?]

Not sure about Alan Sugar, what about Joanna Lumley to fight for our rights. How are 'they' getting away with these ridiculous figures of 30% increase in cost when we know its all lies?

[Rea]

Would anyone have any objection to this thread going onto twitter?

[Pimms o'clock?]

No, I won't object - maybe Joanna might see it!!

[finleysmaid]

Would anyone have any objection to this thread going onto twitter?

no problem here!

[sunnyday]

Would anyone have any objection to this thread going onto twitter?

Not at all - but maybe check with the Key Dude first - the reason I posted in the lounge area was to keep it a frank discussion between us.........

[Sue R]

Was full day care - fees went up every year, usually February.

No comment to make other than that - it was a private company, two nurseries.