Parents having to pay hundreds in non-refundable fees to be put on nursery waiting lists

Parents are having to fork out hundreds of pounds in non-refundable fees to get their children on nursery waiting lists. New research shows that some families have been forced to pay almost £200 to get their child on a list at their chosen setting, despite no guarantee of actually getting a space.

Aside from waiting lists, the data, from Direct Line Life Insurance, reveals that 78 per cent of nurseries in Manchester are charging upfront non-refundable fees to register their kids for a place. The average amount paid in our area is £47, with the UK average being £75.

Waiting list fees do not guarantee a child a place at the nursery either. In fact, in most cases, it’s revealed that many are non-refundable, and parents are often left still facing a high level of stress and a long wait before their child is potentially even given a spot.

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Hannah Donnison, product manager at Direct Line Life Insurance, said: “Childcare costs often take up a large part of a family’s monthly budget, so it’s important that parents are aware of all the lesser known and hidden costs that come with arranging childcare in the first place.

"It’s not surprising that some parents find it unaffordable to cover the upfront costs of nurseries before even securing a place, especially in circumstances where many might not have had income for a few months or it’s been reduced while on maternity or paternity leave."

She added: "Individual nurseries are known to take different approaches, but a large percentage do charge additional fees so make sure to look for these when doing your research. If you’re eligible, there is support available for childcare through the