Should nursery fees reduce when DS joins the pre-school room ?

[nickyboo]

DS just turned 3 a couple off weeks ago and attends a nursery full time in West London. Straight after turning 3 he moved from the toddler room to the pre-school room, where the ratio of staff to children is now 1:8 (previously 1:4). I'm aware that this is the legal requirement for this age group, so thats not an issue. The nursery we are in at the moment have notified me that there is an immediate reduction in monthly fees because DS is now in the pre-school room and obviosuly their overheads are less as they need less staff to look after the children in this room. All fine... This, I would clarify, is seperate to the government funding reduction which we will be entitled to in the new year- so fees should reduce again.

However, we are moving from London to Hertfordshire in the New Year and I have been checking out nurseries in the new town that we are moving to.I have seen 2 that I quite like, but my preferred one doesn't offer any reduction in fees once children enter the pre-school room. 2 years olds pay the exact same amount as 3-5 year olds (before government funding kicks in), which doesn't seem quite right given the staff ratio differences. There is quite a difference in price between the two places, most of which I think comes down to this issue.

I just wanted to see if a fee reduction when children enter the pre-school room is normal in most nurseries or am I expecting too much ??

[DowagersHump]

Are you sure the 2 year olds are in a separate room? The preschool my DS went to had all the children in the same room from 2 upwards

[FireOverBabylon]

My DS is 3 and went into a pre-school class in September. We had the 15 free hours of childcare but no other reduction due to reduced child:adult ratio - I think they make up the difference through an increased range of activities with this age group - taking harvest festival produce to local elderly, visit to polce station, yoga etc that the younger children don't get to do.

[lisad123]

They likely spread the cost over the whole nursery, so it doesn't hit baby parents so hard.
Which nurseries you looking at? (Live and works in Herts)

[ReallyTired]

Most nurseries where I am do not offer a reduction when children move up into the pre school room. This is to off set the fact that

a) The pre school grant does not cover the cost of three hours and no top ups are allowed.
b) Parents who are in reciept of the preschool grant are allowed to just their free hours and cannot be forced to do extra hours. They can also choose to spread their 15 hours over 5 days.
c) The money from the preschool subsidises the baby room
d) Supply and demand. There is a massive demand for places in a good pre school room and the nurseries take advantage.

In the past all the nurseries in my town charged less for the pre school room, but now there is no discount.

The only thing I can suggest is to look for a pre school that doesn't take babies. Which part of herts are you moving to.

[Pozzled]

At DD's nursery there is a very small difference, only about a pound a day or something. Under 2s are most expensive, 3-5s least expensive.