[Spotted Giraffe]

Our community run centre has always provided morning and afternoon tea, but never lunch. And I think our fees would be a good $7 less than the next cheapest centre. I prefer to pay less and provide my own food. They also heat up food. A left overs bowl of pasta or a sandwich would not cost more than $1 and does not take long to make. My child also has allergies, so we always pack morning and afternoon tea for him incase the menu items are not suitable.

I've used a centre before that provided all food and whilst it was convenient, I'd rather pay less.

[libbylu]

It's strange that they didn't do a survey of parents before making this decision.
Ours did a survey about the need to meet increased kinder hours.
I haven't heard of any other centres doing this.

[Maybe this month]

I'm very new to the child care thing. DD has only been going a couple of months. They provide all nappies, breakfast, lunch, morning and afternoon tea and a late afternoon snack. I love that! It makes getting out the door so much easier. When we started fees were $63/day and they went up to $70 recently. We are in the outer suburbs of Melbourne. I am surprised that fees vary so much. I love our centre. It is a great family run place with chooks and herb/veggie patches and staff that are always smiling and seem to actually really enjoy their jobs. That was one of the reasons I chose that centre. When I went to have a look, every staff member that walked past stopped to say hello to my daughter with a great big smile. And they all still do the same now. Totally off topic now but will check with them to see that they're not considering removing their meals.

[Mrs Manager]

Our LDC provides all food & nappies, and have made no mention of removing food or increasing fees - but I suppose that is because it is a privately owned centre and they already covered the new staffing ratios so they had no increase in costs.

I would not be happy with removing food, and if it were an option I would take an increase in fees over removing the food. I think your centre should put it to a vote!

[ceedee81]

Yes ours have advised us that they will be doing the same as at the 2nd April, I dare say we are with the same company, they have a few centres around seq, our notification letter sounds similar to what you have said. We also had a small fee increase a couple of months ago along with the removal of food.

As much as I am not looking forward to working out what to prepare and finding the time to do it I would be happier they drop the food than the quality of other things being erroded due the financial/time/red tape constraints of the staff.

[Pocket79]

My DS only started daycare this year. They don't supply food, only nappies and milk. I'm not sure if they supplied food before this year or dropped it because of the cost increases although I suspect they didnt offer it. I would have preferred him to go to a centre which provides meals, and there were a couple nearby that offered us a place but in the end I chose his current centre because I liked it better and it seemed to provide better care, plus it is closer to home. All the kids have the same little lunchbags with inbuilt cooler brick pockets which we had to buy (for $5 I think) when he started and we have to pack lunch, afternoon tea and a piece of fruit each day.
Making meals for DS to take to daycare every day is a little annoying but it has its pros: 1) I know what he is eating and can make sure it is healthy and filling enough 2) it forces me to make lunch for myself and DH to take to work too since I am already making DS's lunch which means we end up saving money on buying ourselves lunch 3) DS eats really well when in the presence of his friends at daycare so if he refuses to eat something for dinner I just put it in a lunchbox and give it to him for lunch the next day and presto, all gone!

[TiredbutHappy]

We had a fee increase at the beginning of the year. I'd much prefer that as I'm too disorganised to get me ready for work, DD ready for daycare, pack my lunch and hers as well - I'd need to get up at 4!

[laridae]

We had a fee increase at the start of the year - of about $10 per week due to the legislation changes.

If they decided to drop meals (they don't provide nappies), I'd be annoyed, but it'd be doable.

I'd also try and get her in a cheaper centre that doesn't provide meals.

[Chardonnay Buffa...]

The local daycare in my town costs $95/day, and provides no food!

[suziej]

Our fees went up at the start of the year - and then they advised us they were dropping the food.

As I make my own lunch and my older daughter makes hers each morning, it isn't too huge an imposition - just have to remember, really.