Am I right to be annoyed or is this what happens?

[trappedinsuburbia]

Dd goes to a school nursery 5 afternoons a week, funded place.
I work and have childcare covered weeks in advance between childminder and nursery.
I go in today and they announce there is no session on Thursday this week as they are taking the morning session to the softplay in the afternoon. Why can't they take them in the morning during their session? They are taking dd's class during their session so plenty of time to do so. The softplay is opened in the morning as well.
Are they allowed to just cancel a session? It has really gave me a headache trying to sort extra childcare with not much notice.
I was going to call the head tomorrow to complain, but is this just what happens at nursery?

[Snossidge]

If they're getting funding for her then they have a duty to provide the 15 hours a week, 38 weeks a year. I'd ask when she's getting that session back.

[trappedinsuburbia]

I asked if the hours were getting made up and was told no.
Her session where she is going to softplay has been cut from 3.45hrs to 2hrs as well, I didn't like to split hairs but its a little annoying when I need to plan weeks in advance for my rota.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Sorry 3hrs 15 mins not 3hrs 45 mins

[jelliebelly]

Doesn't sound usual to me - can't she go to the soft play too?

[trappedinsuburbia]

She is going the day before during her usual session.
I can't see them being allowed to cancel a school class for a reason other than an emergency, so im annoyed they've cancelled nursery.
Am I being a grinch, I know its meant to be a treat for them, but its such short notice it caused me a real childcare problem.

[sooperdooper]

That can't be right - why can't DHs go too? If they choose to take her group to soft play the day before it's irrelevant, they're suppposed to he providing child care during those hours for your dd, they can't just cancel, how odd

[sooperdooper]

Sorry damn auto correct, why can't your dd go too?

[trappedinsuburbia]

Probably staff/child ratio

[amysmummy12345]

I wonder if any of the other parents pay and have had to still stump up the money for the missed session? I would be well peed off, YANBU OP xxx

[trappedinsuburbia]

I think it is all funded places, its a council run school with nursery within it and either morning or afternoon session not both.

[sooperdooper]

If theyre taking the usual morning class in the afternoon, what happens to their usual slot? does that leave them with no nursery group in the morning?

[trappedinsuburbia]

Thats what I thought Sooper, what are they getting funded for in the morning with no kids there.

[trappedinsuburbia]

Theres enough obstacles being a working parent sigh!

[iwannadancewithsomebody]

I would phone tomorrow morning and explain that you are in no position to arrange alternative childcare and ask what are they going to do about it.

If that doesn't get you anywhere, phone the education department.

[sooperdooper]

And surely it's going to cause similar issues for the parents who had their kids booked in for a morning slot but now have the afternoon, what an unnecessary pain

[HSMMaCM]

I would complain, asking about when you get the session back. If you mention childcare, they will just say the session is not for childcare (government splitting hairs), but they should provide the full funded hours somehow. I'm guessing the soft play only offered afternoons, because that is when they are quieter (lots of children leaving for afternoon naps).

You could ask if they have an extra space when they are taking the morning group. They won't be able to go over ratios though.

[trappedinsuburbia]

I did call and complain, the head called me back and offered to either keep a staff member behind and send dd in as usual, but would only be her there or pay my extra childcare costs for that afternoon which I have accepted as I managed to get her in with my usual childminder that afternoon. To be fair she said it was a lesson learned as this was only the 2nd year of them running a nursery and I should have had far more notice than a couple of days.

[sooperdooper]

Glad it worked out - they won't be doing that again then!!