The Cost of Nursery School
Our twins, R and M, are three years old.
Starting in September they will be going to nursery school. It’s only two and a half hours a day, but it will strange not to have them home with me all the time.
We received a letter a little while ago from the nursery school that they’ll be attending inviting us along to a parents session and a children’s session.
The parents session will give parents the chance to meet staff, buy uniforms and learn a little more about the school. I’ll be attending this on my own. I’d love for my husband to come along too, but unfortunately the school aren’t fussed on children coming along to this one so my husband will stay home and look after the girls.
The children’s session gives children the chance to meet the teachers and see their new nursery. Unfortunately we’re away on holiday for this session, but I’m not too bothered about the girls missing it because they don’t start until September so would have forgotten about this session anyway as it’s in June. I thought they’d have organised these sessions closet to September so that children remember them, but apparently not!
Anyway the main thing that surprised me about the letter we received was that the children are expected to wear a uniform.
I wasn’t 100% sure if they’d need to as it’s only two and a half hours a day, but apparently they do. The cost of the uniforms is ridiculous!
For one polo shirt, jumper and cardigan it’s £25. Times that by two when you have twins and that’s £50, but I would like to have two sets in case one gets dirty meaning the total would be £100.
£100 for two and a half hours a day! Seems a bit extreme to me! That’s not even including trousers and shoes!
Someone told me that school uniforms can’t be enforced until high school anyway, which I didn’t know, but if every other child is wearing a uniform I feel that it would be unfair for our twins to be the only children without them.
It’s not that we can’t afford the uniforms because we can, but it just seems a little much to me.
What do you think? Does your toddler have to wear a nursery uniform? Was it expensive? Do you let them go to nursery in their everyday clothes?
I’d love to hear your thoughts!
21 Comments
Bethan Sian
July 21, 2015 at 9:21 am
My youngest daughter has to wear school uniform this year too and will only be going for 2 hours a day. Luckily I have my eldest daughters smaller school uniform. But will need to buy my eldest new t-shirts and jumpers and both girls new trousers and skirts/dresses.
I don't always put a full school uniform on my eldest. I see some kids not wearing a school uniform at all. But I do think it is important to wear something which has the name of the school on JUST INCASE! Especially when they go out for trips.
x
Emily
July 21, 2015 at 7:59 pm
Hi Bethan, thanks for your comment. It really is expensive. I know the uniform can't be enforced, but if other children are wearing the uniform I feel the girls should too. You make a really good point about school trips. I'd never thought of that, thanks x
firstooth
July 22, 2015 at 9:46 am
Oh, wow! I think ours is £50 a day for a whole day 'I think', I've not researched properly, but need to as that day is looming. Ours has a uniform, which I agree with because it's preparing them for when they start school. On the other hand, yes, it's extraordinarily expensive and you will need to stock up due to toddler and child accidents with food etc. It's all excessive, I agree it's one of those annoying things we have to swallow and just hand over the card. I didn't realise uniforms weren't enforced though. Back in my school days we would be made an 'example' of, if anything were out of place #myfavouritepost
Emily
July 22, 2015 at 6:28 pm
I only learned recently that they can't be enforced until high school, but then as others have said if other kids are wearing them I wouldn't mine to be left out. Also someone made a very good comment about uniforms being good if they go on a school trip as they're easily identifiable in a uniform and if they get lost people would know who to contact based on the uniform.
Random Musings
July 22, 2015 at 12:10 pm
I think £100 is extremely expensive for 2 outfits for 2 children! Have you considered buying them elsewhere rather than at the school? Asda, Tesco etc usually do a range of school uniforms that are a lot cheaper than buying direct from the school. #myfavouritepost
Debbie
Emily
July 22, 2015 at 6:29 pm
It is isn't it! I know I could get polo shirts from M&S or a supermarket, but I don't know if I could get the badge to sew on. Maybe I should have looked into that more! Thanks for your comment x
Random Musings
July 24, 2015 at 2:14 pm
Back again from #effitfriday 🙂
Debbie x
Lisa Savage
July 24, 2015 at 7:31 am
Nope. My son's Montessori preschool does not have a uniform and at this age I think that's right. Uniforms have their place in creating a team environment and teaching pride in belonging, but at this age the children don't understand this kind of thing. Also, the amount of paint and other dirt he gets on his clothes at this age, means he has to have clean clothes every time he goes. If you send your child five days a week, that'd be either at least three sets of uniform and a quick wash turn around. Its just not practical. I believe that at this age, its more about the nursery using the uniform and the child as advertising. #effitfriday
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:47 pm
Hi Lisa, thanks for your comment. My girls are three years old. I agree uniforms have their place, but yeah I think for two and a half hours a day it seems a bit extreme! x
Ellen Windmill
July 24, 2015 at 7:37 am
I work at a playgroup in a school where the little ones who stay for nearly 3 hours wear their own clothes and we even say not to wear 'best clothes' because of messy play etc, the big ones who stay for lunch at school & then go on for nursery class (they're aged 3-4) come in uniform. The uniform consisted of polo shirt with logo (£7.50) & school jumper with badge (£8.50). I've always bought plain polo shirts as you cant see the logo under a jumper! Try to see if there are any local suppliers who may be cheaper?
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:48 pm
Hi Ellen, our girls are three. The uniform isn't compulsory, but I didn't want them to be the only ones without a uniform. I could have gone to a super market I guess, but it wouldn't have had the school logo on and I'm not sure if the badge is available to sew on myself x
Jemma Chambers
July 24, 2015 at 8:00 am
My son's 'uniform' is a polo shirt with the logo. They get one free and you can buy another three for £15 – so basically less than a fiver each. To keep his own clothes nice, I dont mind that one bit. He doesn't ask to wear it but if I've not got one clean for some reason he has a melt down (which is when I get a flannel, some fre-breeze and the iron out!). BUT he starts swimming with nursery in September. To make it easier for the nursery staff to get them ready and dressed again afterwards, I've got to pay £16.50 for a track suit. Not sure why I need to pay to make their lives easier. I have trackie bottoms he wears for sports that cost £2.50 from the Tesco sale that are just the same as the nursery ones – why cant he wear them and his polo shirt? #effitfriday
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Hi Jemma, thanks for your comment. That's great that you get one free and it sounds like the extra ones are cheap too x
Angela Milnes
July 24, 2015 at 2:52 pm
we are so lucky that our school uniform is generic as in anything red or grey or black, so we don't have to buy the expensive school logo items anymore like at my daughter's old school! Now its a trip to asda or tesco and we ca pick up a new dress, cycling shorts, pe shoes, polo shirts, cardigans and have it all for less than £25. Sorry to hear it is extra for you and with twins that is even more difficult!
Angela from http://www.daysinbed.com
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:49 pm
Hi Angela, that is lucky! x
Laura Powell-Corbett
July 24, 2015 at 5:16 pm
That is CRAZY! Our nursery have a uniform that was provided as part of the joining fee (don't get me started on that one but it's different in Dubai) that the kids have to wear when they go on school trips.
Thanks for linking with #effitfriday
Emily
July 24, 2015 at 8:50 pm
Hi Laura, I know right! It's a lot of money! This is free state nursery, so we haven't had to pay joining fees or anything. Thanks for your comment x
Odd Socks and Lollipops
July 26, 2015 at 12:21 pm
Oh wow that is expensive!
Emily
July 26, 2015 at 4:19 pm
It is isn't it. Especially for two children and it's only for two and a half hours a day!
Zena’s Suitcase
July 29, 2015 at 1:25 pm
I think it's worth shopping around for uniforms. Sometimes you can get them from different suppliers and they are a lot cheaper. I do think there is value in wearing a uniform but maybe not at nursery. My children don't have uniform, but they go to private day care, so what we don't pay in uniforms they more than make up for in fees anyway
Emily
July 30, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Hi Zena, thanks for your comment. I'll definitely be shopping around next year x