Dance school notice period

[jollyfrenchy]

Hi, I'm wondering if anyone can tell me the ins and outs of this:

My daughter started at a new dance school in January and through this first term she has not seemed to be that happy there, and I am not that happy with the attitude of the teacher who runs the school to parents and the kids.

She is booked in to do an exam in a few weeks, so I thought maybe I could pay for the half term, to include her exam (which I've already paid the fee for) and then pull her out of the classes. However when I suggested this, the teacher has informed me that I would have to pay the full term's fees, as it states on her paperwork :
"A full term's notice is required in the event of withdrawal from the school or a full term's fees will be payable in lieu of such notice."

I had seen this when I signed her up, but hadn't taken much notice of it. Now I'm thinking more about it and thinking that, that means that on signing up you are forced to at least two terms with them whether you like it or not, because otherwise I would have had to have given notice of her leaving before she even started, at which point it would have been impossible to know that I wanted her to stop.

My question is, can she actually enforce this rule? My kids do loads of activities and I've never had to give notice of leaving. I also run an extra-curricular activity myself and regularly get people just dropping out and not even telling me, let alone giving me a term's notice.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Very standard full terms notice of discontinuing classes.

[nipersvest]

yes she can enforce it via small claims court if she wished to, she's running a business and in effect you are in breech of a contract you signed.

agree its a bit harsh though, contract ideally could include a few weeks cooling off period if kids decide its not for them.

[jollyfrenchy]

Hmm, I might have to start doing the same with my classes. I do think it's practically impossible to know a whole term in advance if you want them to carry on next term or not. Most people who come to my classes seem to make decisions very last minute on whether they are continuing or not.

[Lonecatwithkitten]

Very standard full terms notice of discontinuing classes.

[ClaudiaWankleman]

on signing up you are forced to at least two terms with them whether you like it or not

Well yes, but you didn't have to sign the contract. That's the 'like it or not' part.

Also, you had a 30 day cooling off period I think...

[jollyfrenchy]

Well, yes you do have to sign the contract if you want your child to go to the classes. Not convinced that it's fair that you are therefore condemned to stay with them for at least 6 months. It's not a bloody rental agreement, it's just a kids' dance class.

Also it is very hit and miss as I know someone else who stopped her son going but because she still had other kids going there, the woman obviously wasn't arsey with her and she never paid or gave any notice period.

[WinnieTheW0rm]

It is standard, and finding someone to fill a place for just half of the summer term might be impossible.

Yes, it can hard on joiners (but that's what a taster session is for) as they are essentially stuck with two terms unless they can negotiate their way out. But that's not relevant to your situation.

"I had seen this when I signed her up, but hadn't taken much notice of it"
It's always worth paying attention to exit terms, and I suspect you'll not make the same mistake again.

[LIZS]

Yes unfortunately they can. Also some teachers teach at more than one place so you may find it tricky to switch without them knowing you didn't give notice. We currently have a dilemma of dd being due to take an exam in June but won't know for sure until late May. We're increasingly frustrated with the set up and looking at alternatives. Don't want to give notice until she has taken it though and she's been with them for almost 10 years.