Manchester mum gets daughter's first nursery bill – and is gobsmacked over cost'
A mother has spoken out about the eye-watering bill she received for just six days of her daughter's nursery care, revealing even before her child starts, she's been saddled with the cost.
Childcare costs in the UK are known to put a dent in parents' wallets despite government efforts to alleviate the burden. Data from DayNurseries, an advisory service, indicates the average part-time nursery fee for a child reached £8,194 in 2024, a rise from £7,729 the previous year.
First-time mum Emily Rose Brewster, from Manchester, took to TikTok to share her astonishment at the first invoice for her daughter Halie's childcare. With a glass of white wine in hand and a wry expression, the mum disclosed: "Just had my first invoice through for Halie's nursery."
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As she shared the total sum, her tone tinged with sarcasm, Emily revealed: "Six days, £516. Cheers to that."
Visibly shocked and muttering an expletive under her breath, she chuckles: "And this is the best bit. The invoice was issued today and needs to be paid in three days."
Maintaining her sense of humour, Emily concluded: "I don't have any money, she hasn't even started yet."
She quipped about the lengths she might go to finance her little one's education, saying: "Not even joking, any sugar daddies out there, I am open to being a sugar bebe."
Other parents were left in disbelief by Emily's video, which spurred a slew of comments about their own higher nursery costs. One user retorted: "Where are you getting 6 days for £500? 2 and a half days will cost me £400." Another person shared their experience: "I just paid £437.50 for 1 day a week."
The high fees prompted another to say: "That's well cheap! Ours is £900 odd for 3 days! " And a fourth mum questioned the financial sense of working: "Surely it's better NOT to work?!"
The government outlines that working parents can receive: 15 hours of free childcare weekly for two-year-olds, 15 hours from September 2024 for nine-month-olds, 30 hours for three and four-year-olds, and an extension to all under-fives from September 2025.
To be eligible for these new hours, most parents need to be earning over £9,518 and below £100,000 annually. For those on specific benefits, there's an entitlement to 15 hours of free care for two-year-olds and the same for three and four-year-olds.
Parents should apply prior to the start of the term when their little one qualifies and reaffirm details every three months if applying early. It's important to confirm nothing has changed before the new term begins.
January 2025 marks the next childcare term, and eligible parents with kids starting at nine months old could claim either 15 or 30 hours. More detailed information is available on the government's website.
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