Nursery charging me for half terms!!

[TaurusMama]

Hi,

Hi at signed 2 yr old up to 2 morning sessions a week and have received the invoice including paying for a half term in Feb when he won’t be there..??

Childcare and the fees are a joke!

The nurseries all capitalising on this lockdown as well, no taster sessions etc.,

Thanks in advance x

[TaurusMama]

I did get the prices beforehand and haven't signed anything. I have now cancelled his place upon weighing it up.. they only sent me the paperwork/info last minute and wanted swift payment made.. there was no official contract, just a letter of confirmation which i did not sign.

I paid/lost £100 registration fee on 4th Jan to confirm his place, but nothing else.

£60 is very steep for a morning session and good to know other mums agree! so glad I haven't gone ahead.

[LolaSmiles]

Now, from what you have posted, this sounds like quite an unusual Nursery, and it also sounds expensive for what it is, but why would anyone agree to buy any service before finding out the price ?
My thoughts entirely.

It's got nothing to do with Covid or being desperate or anything else. The OP signed her child up to a nursery because it has a good reputation and is local, but didn't get the fairly major information like prices before signing up.

It sounds steep for a normal morning session, but then it sounds like a very different nursery if they only run 8.30-1.30 and close all afternoon. Either way, they are free to price their service and parents are free to use them or not use them.

The OP's overall tone seems to be unfairly arsey by claiming the nursery is capitalising on covid and they seem a bit snippy when people have rightly challenged this or questioned why they didn't get prices before signing up.

[riddles26]

I have a child at a private term time nursery. We only pay for sessions where they are open - no fees for half terms or holidays. If we choose not to send, we still pay. Invoices are sent at the start of each term with clear payment dates and we do not pay for the following term however once enrolled, one full term's notice is required for withdrawal.

Nappies, wipes and lunch is not provided like in your case but a morning snack and glass of milk is. Once over 3, funding is given but does not cover the full cost so we top it up.

Fees are not published on their website either but information is provided as soon as you make an enquiry - this is the same for many nurseries in my area.

Whilst our nursery made errors at handling COVID and fees during closures, it was not because they are making huge profits. They are also struggling with so many unknowns and trying to keep their heads above water.

With COVID - they should not be charging you where they are closed or your child has been forced to isolate because they have been a close contact. If you opt not to send your child while they are open, they are entitled to charge full fees

[PurpleMustang]

You need the contract and to read it before anything else. They should of already talked you through how payments work etc to make sure you was happy before agreeing to the place and to then sign the contract.

[SnickersnotMArs]

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

You signed up to a private nursery not a school nursery.
You clearly didn’t understand or read your contract, not the nurseries fault at all!

Who rattled your cage. I think OP has the picture.

[BackforGood]

Pls don’t judge.. so many judgy mums on here hiding behind their computer..
You should be more supportive of mothers on here asking questions or advice..

....maybe, if asking for advice, and wanting everyone to be nice to you, you shouldn't be so rude in your opening post..... The nurseries all capitalising on this lockdown as well, no taster sessions etc.,

Now, from what you have posted, this sounds like quite an unusual Nursery, and it also sounds expensive for what it is, but why would anyone agree to buy any service before finding out the price ?

[dillydallydollydaydream7]

If it's private nurseries they are open over half term - DD nursery charges for any time she's not there that isn't due to illness so half terms if she doesn't go, holidays etc

[Scottishskifun]

A lot of nurserys don't advertise fees but instead they send out information when contacted including a contract and fees option breakdown. If you haven't signed anything then your not tied into anything.

I would research others and email asking foe the information. Nursery places are usually difficult to get and have big waiting lists but many parents have had to withdraw as their working circumstances have changed so some areas have spaces whereas usually they would have a year long waiting list.

[TaurusMama]

@OnlyFoolsnMothers

OP pls stop mentioning Covid and you being desperate, this issue has nothing to do with either. Find a nursery, express you only want to utilise the government hours, read your contract and done.
A nursery isn’t a charity neither are they ruthless money making schemes.
Gd luck to you

@OnlyFoolsnMothers I'm simply explaining the situation here from my perspective.. i'm aware a nursery isn't a charity, but at the same time i'm not willing to hand over a load of cash (more than usual for the hours it seems!) and not be satisfied with what comes with it, whether that be the hours, the meals/snacks..

You should be more supportive of mothers on here asking questions or advice..

good luck to you also.

[user1471538283]

It was like this when my DS went to kindergarten. The only days I didn't pay were Christmas and Boxing Days.

I would assume that if it had to close you wouldn't pay

[TaurusMama]

@Almostslimjim not quite, but very close! Not sure I should name it..!

[OnlyFoolsnMothers]

OP pls stop mentioning Covid and you being desperate, this issue has nothing to do with either. Find a nursery, express you only want to utilise the government hours, read your contract and done.
A nursery isn’t a charity neither are they ruthless money making schemes.
Gd luck to you

[TaurusMama]

It's unaffordable - i have contacted them and cancelled his place - i don't know how they can get away with not publishing fees and charging so much!! I understand covid has made things difficult for them as a business with staff salaries to pay.. but this shouldn't be standard practice to charge this amount, she knew i was desperate..





I am awaiting a response on e-mail.

[Pinotwoman82]

Good god that’s loads for half a day, it was a few years ago now my lot went but it was around £40 for a whole day with food

[TaurusMama]

@WhereverIGoddamnLike I chose them due to reputation, the ofsted report excellent in 2019 and the proximity to where i am (10min drive)

yes i should have researched others earlier - once i inquired they were late sending me info/fees etc.,

Just to note, i have not yet signed a formal contract, but have already gone back on email saying yes to a place.. does that have me tied in?

[Almostslimjim]

Is it Papillon?

[TaurusMama]

it's from age 2-5.. I thought it was odd the way they didn't publish the fees on their website, you have to contact them.. it's only now that i can see how ridiculous the charges are!!

[tatatatatatatatdahhhhhhhhh]

It's normal, if it's open you get charged whether he's there or not every week. I would of thought a month upfront, plus some kind of deposit was normal.

[WhereverIGoddamnLike]

Go with a different nursery. They sounds insane.

Granted, I'm in Scotland and somewhat out in the sticks, but my kid's nursery was £36 for a full day (which included a cooked lunch and breakfast). They went to nursery 5 years ago so it will have gone up a bit.
Even with the fact that you're in Kent, I cannot see how they are charging £60 for a half day with bo lunch. A private nursery, but only open term time and only open for half days? They sounds quite pathetic. Why did you choose them?

Pick somewhere else.

Usually a nursery will times your weekly fee by however many weeks they are open and divide it by 12 to give you a standard monthly payment (so if they're open for 50 weeks and you pay £60 a week then they will do 50 x 60 and then divide by 12 months). So it would seem like you're paying the same for xmas when they close for 2 weeks, but you're not actually paying for those weeks. Its just been spread out.

I've no idea what your nursery are playing at.

[SueEllenMishke]

Are they really only open until 1.30 every day? I can't see that working well as most people use nurseries so they can work!

It is quite strange for a private nursery to only open half a day and term time only!

[MacDuffsMuff]

Why do they close at 1.30pm every day. I worked in private nurseries for 20 years and never heard of one being open for the morning only.

[Almostslimjim]

Do the take under 2s?

[TaurusMama]

It’s based in central Tunbridge Wells

[TaurusMama]

This isn’t a preschool it’s a stand alone nursery in Kent - goes up to age 5!

[movingonup20]

I'm wondering if this a preschool rather than nursery and is charging school fees essentially but they still seem steep, my friends 4 year old is at the nursery attached to a famous public schools prep school and pays just under £40 per half day, she was whining about it.