What's better for nursery - term time only or all year?
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I personally think it will cost you regardless, it's either spread the hours over the year and pay the short fall all year round, or use the funded hours, pay a lot less during term time and only pay for the days you need during the holidays where the nursery can be flexible. Not sure you save much doing either way, it should be advertised as discounted hours not free childcare because it's far from free🙈😅 x
With the addition of tax free childcare too of course to get the 20% top up from the government x
My LB is term time only, he has gone back this week and has been hysterical every morning and clingy at pick ups. He’s had 7 weeks off so is very unsettled as he’s used to being home with me. I’m thinking of changing it so he’s not off for such a length of time
I wouldn’t do term time if you are in a position to choose. Especially at age 2 because you are basically wanting to prepare them for going into primary 1 and i think after a long summer holiday then straight into school they might struggle. I could be wrong though and I’m sure many have different experiences. My son has been going 5 days a week all year round since a baby but I have no other choice x
I do term time , she’s just gone back to nursery . She’s adjusted well so far! It depends on your child and how well they adjust to change quite often. Although she has a routine of going her dads every week and goes nursery afternoons 3 days a week now . So it depends x
It depends on your circumstances and the nursery you choose. If you only want to do term time then you'll have to go for a Local Authority nursery that is only open term time. Privately run are open all year round and usually do longer hours (8-6ish rather than 9-3). We had to go privately run because we can't just stop working for every school holiday and half term!
We do term time and I love it. On the months where she isn’t in full time our bill is significantly less which is great. During the holidays she can go in two days as we pay a detainment fee and this has been great for me to get appointments etc done.
Depends on your needs. We need year round childcare for as long as possible so sticking with a private nursery as long as possible and splitting our free hours over the holidays too
I'm a teacher but chose to not do term time only. My daughter loves nursery and thrives off the routine. Plus we need a nursery with long opening hours to suit our work schedules, so had to go private.
Personally we did all year round, since my job is all year round 🤷♀️
If you can afford it, i recommend year round. My 3 year old is term time only full time, and does 2 days in half terms but he really struggles with the change and is unsettled returning back to full time again.
I'd only do term time if I worked in a school. Otherwise it just doesn't really work and kids like routine.
We did private for a year and now do school terms. I liked the idea of her going to the school nursery of the school I hope to send her too as it gives us a taster and will help her settle in reception. Our school nursery is also led by people who are trained teachers oppose to nursery workers (not that one is better then the other but personal preference). And obvs it’s also cheaper to send them to term time nurseries. Our private nursery was lovely and she thrived there too. Think it’s super personal to your preferences and circumstances xx
It’ll of course be cheaper to do just term time if you can have him during the holidays, but also bear in mind a lot of nursery’s only allow you to do all year!