To refuse to pay this nursery charge

Of course you're not being intentionally evasive , what could possibly have given me that idea, please accept my apologies!

This was the detail that was originally missing and why your post wasn’t clear as it seemed as though you paid in November for an activity that would happen in December

In the first post you said they've 'not done the activity yet'. In a later post you said the activity 'isn't bring done'. That is nowhere near clear!

I wouldn’t be happy with this and you’re entitled to question it. An extra £40 for every kid is a lot of money. Sounds liked nursery are trying it on, and seeing what they can get away with- hence the defensive response.
Depending on what’s in the contract, I’d be asking to not do the activity. Extra activities should be optional.
if your otherwise very happy with the care then you might just have to suck it up, if not look for a new childcare provider,

@Didimum Then why wouldn’t the nursery manager just say that then?

Maybe they did but OP was so riled up they didn’t listen, or went in all guns blazing not allowing the manager to explain, was offensive and the manager just shut it down. I mean, maybe they acted there like they have acted here, who knows?

Again, maybe it was planned for Nov but for some reason (unexpected staff absence, things ordered not arriving in time or something else) it didn’t go ahead in Nov as planned. So, maybe there will be no Dec payment in lieu? Or, maybe there will be no payment added the month before it is due to drop? Until ascertaining this why blow your top to the extent of getting on the internet and acting like a dick?

Well I've had about two hours sleep and I seem to have understood it fine in my dazed state 😅

OP, if you feel you can't complain in writing without risking your kid's place, you could always go to your local paper with the story and request to remain anonymous?

I read her posts. And I was getting confused. Op was intentionally not clearing up the main question, probably because it will make them wrong. The activity is going ahead in Dec, the payment was made early and as long as the number of payments match the number of activities then theres no issue.

@Didimum Sounds like the OP has has previous years of paying for the winter activity it’s its usual pay structure before, so I believe she would know how they charge for it

Yes, but sometimes things change. Maybe it was or was not communicated, who knows. I’m guessing any communication was shot down with rigid thinking and responses indicating the nursery manager was stupid which is what caused the perceived abruptness? In any event, there is no issue unless they keep charging in Feb if the activity stops in Feb and is not held in Mar. No need for a carry on unless that occurs, as then it becomes an issue.

Then why wouldn’t the nursery manager just say that then?

Why should she have to repeat herself multiple times. She already has. They should read the thread.

@Jeronnemo No. I pay in November for November. For everything. Attendance and the activity

Well, maybe not for this particular activity. It may be that traditionally, you have paid for that activity in the same month but something has now changed whereby that particular activity now needs to be paid in advance. In which case, there is no problem unless they charge you in Feb if the activity only runs Dec, Jan, Feb as then your Jan payment would cover the activity in Feb. Sometimes things change for various reasons, have you considered this possibility (not withstanding the rigid thinking of only being able to pay for things in the same month).

Op knows this. When someone questions her she just replies with "thats not what happened" or " I dont know how i can be clearer" instead of just answering the point the poster has asked.

Obviously I would be wanting to ensure that the activity DID then actually take place in March instead of November, rather than line be added to March’s invoice saying “yoga sessions postponed from November.”

OP, it’s a bit daft to get annoyed at posters having to tease out the pertinent details of the situation by asking questions about it, because you didn’t provide the full explanation in the first place. I don’t think you’ve even said WHY the activity didn’t take place.

I Would write them an email saying “it’s my understanding that monthly invoices are to cover services to be provided for that month. Please advise me if this is not the case for X activity as I am aware that X activity did not take place in November for whatever reason.

Can you confirm if November’s sessions have been postponed till ?March and that the breakdown in March’s invoice will state this?”

Sorry if I missed it but is the charge every month for the activity ? But your saying that one of the months it wasn’t actually provided?

or is it a one off charge that they’ve just billed earlier than usual?

What is the activity @Jeronnemo and is it once a month it happens or weekly over those months

She sounds sneaky and evasive. Also, you are at risk of being asked to leave if you challenge her?! I mean, you say you are (broadly) happy with the nursery, but honestly? Leadership sets the culture. I'm not sure I'd want that sly energy around my kids.

Sorry OP can't believe people don't understand what happened here. I agree with you & would not pay the extra £40 for the next month. If you go above the manager, to the owner, you will probably have more luck. That happened at our nursery over different things. The owners sort it out when needed & the manager gets told off, rightly so if she didn't have the children do a specifically charged for activity in the month you paid for it.

I'd definitely be putting it in writing and sending an email like a PP said just clarifying how many months they'll be doing this activity but they have you over a barrel really, it's not easy to find alternative child care.

I wouldn't be pleased at all with the way they've handled it and lied and would be looking to find alternative child care.

She knew it takes place in December though, if she expected it to take place in November and didn't clarify at the time then that's on her. Getting mad at everyone else because she didn't understand is mad. Its her own doing.

I didn’t understand your post to start with (I’m not thick) but I do now.
What sort of nursery charges £40 extra per child that requires no additional resources or staff? That sounds madness but without knowing what the activity is, it’s hard to tell. Especially as you can’t opt out of it.
You’ve said you didn’t quite understand the manager’s explanation but you must know roughly what her excuse is?
Unless they’re intending to put an extra activity on the end of their usual run - with November’s money paying for it then I’d be angry too. Not sure I’d just let it go either.