To think the nursery are wildly unreasonable?

I think you're being wildly unreasonable. If they refund everyone, they'll be thousands of pounds worse off, with all their bills and staff still needing to be paid. Where would that money come from? It's just really unfortunate. Move on.

Why were they closed? Is it all outdoors or some thing?

I sympathise though OP, mine has just announced three inset days for training, which I still have to pay in full for - while also having to source alternative childcare on those days / take annual leave.

Here!

www.theguardian.com/money/2024/mar/12/private-nursery-chains-profits-england

But if they're letting you have free days off they can't pay staff. Regardless of whether the child was there or not, those are your booked days. There will be something in the contract about it that you will have signed. I've got years of experience of working in childcare and this is nothing out the norm. Kids and staff were usually sent home in dangerous weather. It'll be about the safety of the staff getting to and from work and whether public transport is up and running or if it was safe to travel.

Nurseries and care homes- healthy profits.

Goodness knows why people are defending the nursery.
Of course they should reimburse you - why should you have to pay twice- they will be making a healthy profit, as well, on your fees.

But the issue is THEY won't take the hit, the staff will (bar the rare service that is owned by a decent human). There's no way the majority of places will pay staff, leading to more staff turnover but they don't care as long as their profits remain untouched.
I work in Ireland where the Government will still pay all funding during storm closures etc, full day services with a rare exception charge full fees and every single time without fail there are services that try to milk the situation. 'oh ye didn't have to come into work til 11 cos of the storm so you all owe me 3 hrs work now', no, the service has its full income so you pay the staff their normal week and no one owes you anything!. About a month into the pandemic the Government stepped into cover staff wages while all ser ices were closed, and there were services that then told staff they had to come into the service to clean and paint it, or they had to start doing pointless paperwork or take on CPD at home 'because you are being paid now'. Staff weren't be paid anything by these companies but they wanted a benefit off their employees time.....

They may have had to close because staff couldn't get in due to fallen trees etc.

I don't know about the UK, but in the US insurance doesn't cover against damage caused by 'named storms' i.e. major storms.

They're not saying they can't stay open, they're saying the building is damaged - easily done in the winds we had at the weekend.

What is the nursery made of to not be able to stay open in wind? Paper mache?

Did some work a while back looking at nursery profits, they are often insane, almost all could take the hit without issue.

Nurseries seem to live on a whole different world. If my business can't meet a commitment for whatever reason, the client doesn't get charged, and my staff still get paid, But I always leave a decent buffer in the business account, even if I take the hit myself.

Storms are covered under insurance- an act of god relates to recoveries (i.e. no costs can be claimed back from anyone else because it's an act of god).

Well, only OP can answer that.

Well unless that wording is crystal clear they may well find themselves in court.

There really needs to be more regulations put in place over nursery charges when they’re closed because it’s truly outrageous.

This. I think YABU.

It's harsh. Half fees would be a compromise but it depends on what the contract you signed says.

Staff need paying yes but are you still paying the subsidy for nappies milk and food? I successfully got a few pounds credit from my nursery in similar circumstances all the food was not cooked and was frozen still so why were they acting like I used it? Milk? Why am I paying for what I don't use?

Seriously preferred my childminder

The damage occurred over the weekend - they probably couldn't get anyone in to fix things right away.

OP will have signed a contract agreeing to pay if they have to close due to unforseen circumstances.

It's not comparable to a restaurant where there isn't a contract in place.

Yes it's shit and will probably be in the terms and conditions that you have to pay but I don't understand how they've been closed for 3 days? The storm was Friday, Saturday and Sunday surely even if they experienced damage it would only be today they were closed or potentially Friday that's only 2 days?

It's rubbish but they'll still need to pay their staff and bills so they have to charge on the very rare occasion that they're forced to close. I doubt you'll find a nursery that wouldn't charge in this situation

Ours has had to close lots of times. It never crossed my mind that we would be refunded. It's really frustrating, especially with the price you are paying, but I just don't think refunds in these circumstances are a thing.

That’s tough. If a restaurant doesn’t open you don’t still pay for your meal. It’s part of the risk of having a business.