Laws about leaving a nursery and still have to pay (and what exactly)?

Our nursery is three months notice so I would expect to have to pay for the three months if we used it or not.

Are you charged a separate fee for food and consumables on top of the daily rate or are you assuming you should pay a reduced fee if you're not there?
Did you give a months (or whatever the time period is) notice before the date you wanted to finish?

What is the exact wording regarding the notice period?
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Ok thanks everyone for your inputs

If you pay ‘one solid amount’ each month, I’d expect to keep paying ‘one solid amount’ each month for the notice period.

Then if you pay one solid amount each month, and you were late giving notice, you pay the same solid amount for the remaining period of notice. It doesn't sound like you get charged extra for food and sundries, it sounds like it's included in the solid amount you are charged.

So therefore you continue to pay that amount. You can get grumpy about the additional profit the nursery is making because they are buying less food but you can’t not pay what you’ve contractually agreed to pay.

Do you pay separately for food and stationery ( the latter seems unlikely tbh). If not the. You pay what you always pay.

There clearly is a notice period as OP refers to it.

What are the specific words in the contract regarding notice. ? Are you saying there are none or that it doesn't specify exact costs. ? For example ; In the event the child leaves the nursery one clear months notice must be given and the usual fees paid in full OR same line but ...and associated costs... is that what you are asking ?

If so, and no mention of ancillary costs then no, it's far from 'implied'. Food if fresh is not purchased over a term in advance. If frozen then remains that way. No loss to the nursery. Stationary etc are not single use time restricted products. So again, no pecuniary loss to the nursery. They can't just add stuff on under these headings because they fancy more money. Tell them to jog on. Pay what's contractually agreed and no more or less.

If there’s nothing in your contract about notice then you don’t need to pay

A notice period clause doesn’t specify what is included, only what, if anything, is excluded. So if it is silent, as you say, then that means you’d pay the usual amount during the notice period as you would pay during regular term time. Yes this would mean you pay all costs you’d normally pay.

If the contract doesn’t say you have to pay I wouldn’t pay anything.

What does it say about your usual costs? That will give you an indication of what you psy in the notice period. So does the contract state nursery fees plus food costs or does it state nursery fees?

As a pp says they are unlikely to pursue you for food costs.

The law you are under here is contract law. You are bound to do whatever you signed up to and someone needs to interpret your contract for you if you can't do that yourself. There may also be case law or precedent depending on how the contract is drafted. A bunch of strangers on the Internet cant help.

Why don't you confidently pursue your position that you understand the notice period to include fees only but no contractual obligation to pay for consumable items. Given that they will not be incurring these costs you can argue this in small claims if it comes to it.

Sounds like perhaps you didn't give notice in ample time before you wanted your child to leave, so you're having to pay the notice period after the date you've left?

Or have I misunderstood?

If you know you're going to leave, you give notice. Your child attends during the notice period so of course you pay all the costs associated during the notice period. If you didn't give enough time and child leaves before the notice period ends, then yes I'd still expect you'd have to pay the associated costs of attending because it was your error not giving the full notice.

It should be just the term fees, but food and other costs are usually just wrapped up in the daily fee anyway aren't they? You just have to pay the full amount so they have time to find another child to take the place, they don't want to be losing out. Hard to accept but that's the way it goes I'm afraid. You should have given more notice...

How do you usually pay? Is it one fee for care and another for food etc or is it one fee that covers everything without it being broken down? We pay one fee that covers everything at my nursery so would pay the whole cost during a notice period.

It's purely a contract issue. If the charge is not referred to in the contract then they cannot apply it.

If the notice period is in the contract and its a term, then you have to pay for the term unfortunately.

I think in this circumstance you pay the basic fees covering the notice period but not the charge for food or consumables, because as you say, your child isn't there.

I cannot imagine a nursery will take you to small claims court over £6 a day, even if they did have a claim (and I don't think they do if it isn't in the contract).

Is there a terms and conditions that goes with the contract? You need to ask them to specifically show the terms and outline what you have to pay.

Surely it gives a notice period and says you have to pay as usual?