NEW NURSERY OPENING

[kelly76x]

oh i'm so angry my kids have come from school with a letter the nursery have always had a pre nursery for children who are about to go into nursery so you can get them used to it for a small fee but now they are offering full time childcare for 2-5 year olds from 8 til 4 and guess how much? .............. 12 quid a day thats a full weeks childcare for 60 quid how am i supposed to make a profit with them they are 5 mins from my house and based at the school. i am so upset about it and so is my friend also a childminder only shes been going for 10 years and knows the head and had the guts to speak to her about it she apologised but said theres nothing they can do so we gotta put up wiv it i cant believe it

[donnagwynne]

Kelly that really is terrible, I am surprised that there was no consulation or anything before-hand!!

I think that there is going to be a lot of this about as more schools become 'extended', there is going to alot of business lost to pre-school and after-school care as well.

There is also more free-nursery places for 2 year olds about at the moment.

I think that the government wants children away from their parents as soon as possible!!!!!!!

[charleyfarley]

It seems they are offering all this out of school care to parents to get them back to work but they are actually doing childminders out of a job at times.

Alot of parents will go for the cheaper option, not always the best option though.

When our after school care started they were charging £9.00 for 9am til 3pm how could I compete with that. They have however put their rates up to higher than me now so are doing themselves out of business

Are you worrying for the future or have you vacancies you need to fill?

It is difficult when it's on your doorstep but you may be surprised by the phone calls you still get

Carol xx

[miffy]

When after school and holiday clubs first start they get loads of funding which means they can subsidise places. When the funding runs out after a couple of years they have to charge a more realistic fee although they are still undercutting us.

Since I started childminding (and it was a long time ago) the two playgroups in the village have both gone to full day sessions, there are 3 after-school clubs and a nursery has opened. This Sept one of the playgroups has started a breakfast and take to school club.

You cannot compete with some of them on price but you can on care and flexibility and fortunately there are parents who still wish their children to be looked after in a home environment.

Still it is really annoying when you are faced with such unfair competition. Are you already minding or just registering? Either way I hope it doesn't affect you too much

Miffy

[angeldelight]

Hi Kelly

That is a shame and I would not be happy either

But ....

The same happened here recently and I must say I am still getting the calls so maybe it will still be the same for you - hopefully anyway

A lot of people still do prefer childminders

Good luck and hope you still get those calls

Angel xx

[mel]

That is ridiculous. There is no way you can compete with that. Lets hope your reputation provides you with the calls you need.

Mel x

[sarahnev707]

I know how you feel Kelly - I've got a 107 place nursery opening 5 minutes down the road

gutted doesn't cover it!!

Sarahx

[rubybubbles]

agree with miffy about the funding they get in beginning!! When I lived in Scotland there was an all signing all dancing but because it was so cheap alot of other parents used it to so the people that needed it as they had to go to work still ended up using childminders as we are more flexible!!

£12 yikes

[Pauline]

I know you must feel bad but don't worry too much.

Same thing happened here and all the minders I know are full and even turning people away.

Plus the nurseries do not do the same hours that childminders will do, i.e. early and late arrivals, so you might be able to get those people in.

Not fair though that they are able to under price childminders, we should be getting some funding to help us offer lower prices too!

[janet]

as agreed with every1, but we offer a home care and are able to take the children out this is what most of my parents want for their children, i do the 2 year grant so can still get the 2 year old dont know if anyone else does it blackpool seem to be quite on top of grants and training, it is paid direct to me from the government at £666 per term £12.12 per 2 hours 30 mins and the children get 12 hours per week so it is good money for me xxxxxxx

[lorraine2767]

Hi Janet

Never heard of that grant before. How do you go about it.

Lorraine xx

[banana]

Thats ridiculous!

How are you supposed to compete with that!!

Fingers crossed that you get very busy, very soon!

x

[kelly76x]

my best friend who is also a childminder and has been for 10 years or so has just phoned me this nursery has now dropped its prices to just 8 quid a day we cannot compete with this apparently yesterday a lady approached her after childcare she said she was full on under 5's but mentioned me that i would be registered in the next month or so but she then found out about this nursery from the school and has placed them in there. i feel like giving up before i have even started!!

[hazel2]

hi kelly, yes new nursery, we had one open up near us and people wanting childminders are few and far between. but the prices they are charging they will soon get full and once there full they will probable bump up there prices. i cannot see them breaking even charging only £8 per day.

hazelx

[chell]

At £12 for eight hours there is no way they can be providing a quality service. What will their staff ratios be?

I pay £14 for three hours for my two year old DD, I pay more than other nurseries due to the high staff ratio and quality of staff and activities on offer there.

[kelly76x]

i queried this but it is council funded apparently and part of the school,

[susan]

kelly76x said:

nursery has now dropped its prices to just 8 quid a day we cannot compete with this

[/quote

how much ..... OMG !!!

[fionamal]

Thats all very well but what happens then when the schools on its many holidays?

Thats when us Childminders have one over the Schools as we are open all year round.

Parents will soon realise and coming running back to us.

[miffy]

They must have been having trouble filling places at £12.00 a day otherwise they wouldn't have dropped it to £8.00 (my local nuresry charges that for after-school care!).

It's just to try and get people through the doors - it might be subsidised now but that won't last and then they will have to put their prices up.

I think someone may have got their maths wrong here.

I'm sorry Kelly because it must be really frustrating for you just as you're starting out but be patient, parents don't like fees going up sharply (as these will have to do) and some do prefer childminders to nurseries.

Keep us up to date and hope your phone rings soon

Miffy

[jo]

UNBELIEVABLE!!
The thing is though parents will probably put the cheaper cost before anything else. Not saying its going to be a bad setting, probably the exact opposite if it is council run.Is this going to be a sign of things to come?