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Original poster

Nursery charging me for half terms!!

103 replies

TaurusMama · 17/01/2021 16:13

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

OP posts:
Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 06:47

Is it also pretty standard to ask for a full terms fee upfront and ensure you hold the place for the following term?

So basically paying for spring term tomorrow and also having to confirm fees for summer term tomorrow, so if for whatever reason it didn’t work out we would be lliable to pay fees until July ‘21.

Something doesn’t seem right to me, it’s all so money grabbing..

OP posts:
Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 06:50

And yes I did do my research but this particular nursery don’t publish their fees online you have to contact them for a breakdown. So it’s all been very fast moving since I inquired. They just sent me the invoice yesterday.

OP posts:
Flickoffboris · 18/01/2021 06:55

OP you are completely bonkers to sign up to something you don't understand.
It can't be that "fast moving" that you've been swept away with it, it's nursery not a house move or something.
If you're not happy don't send your child.
But yes, childcare is expensive. That's why most people only have one or 2 children.

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about these subjects:

2 year olds Childcare & nursery Families
custardbear · 18/01/2021 07:06

Seek an alternative if you're not happy. Is it possible you can send your child in over half term anyway? I'm assuming not if they're 39 weeks, in which case it's either unfair, or they just flatten their fees throughout the year to make it easier to budget, in which case your hour/day rates are bigger than you think

WalkingOnStarshine · 18/01/2021 07:20

I'd be looking for a different nursery.

DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 18/01/2021 07:34

I would never send my child to that nursery.

Imagine if he didnt thrive there or they were crap (I've experienced some seriously awful nurseries over the last 14 years) and you couldn't take him out because you couldn't afford to pay them until
July AND another nursery.

Honestly, childminders all the way.

I wish someone gave me that nugget of advice when my first was born.

Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 07:35

@Flickoffboris not bonkers no, just busy looking after my son. As I said, new to this and have asked questions on email only for the admin lady to get back to me with everything yesterday now asking payment due tomorrow..

Pls don’t judge.. so many judgy mums on here hiding behind their computer..

Smile/be friendly!!

OP posts:
DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou · 18/01/2021 07:36

Fwiw though, half terms don't exist with regular nurseries so I expect they assumed you would still send him during half term weeks.
Same with summer holidays

gradetoolisted · 18/01/2021 07:41

Ours takes the total for 12 months and spreads it over annually so you don’t have huge fees some months and nothing others. Re payment during Covid- we paid 50% of fees during the full closures in March-July as they requested. The other option was to lose our place and hope there was one available once it reopened and we were not willing to take that risk due to lack of places locally.

KaptainKaveman · 18/01/2021 07:44

Wild horses would not induce me to hand over money to an organisation which failed to provide a formal written contract,

Pearlwindow · 18/01/2021 07:52

@DontBiteTheBoobThatFeedsYou

Fwiw though, half terms don't exist with regular nurseries so I expect they assumed you would still send him during half term weeks. Same with summer holidays
Op has said it’s a 39 week nursery! Please read her posts!
LolaSmiles · 18/01/2021 07:56

Something doesn’t seem right to me, it’s all so money grabbing.
What? It's money grabbing for them to want to be paid before they provide a service?

We pay a month in advance and my friend pays termly for her wraparound care. It makes sense to pay in advance because otherwise some parents would take the place and not pay at the end.

If you think your DC's nursery is a money grabbing scam who are capitalising on lockdown maybe don't send them there.

Between this, surprise you have to send nappies for your child, and you claiming nursery are capitalising on covid and lockdown I'm really not sure what you are expecting from childcare.

Bluntness100 · 18/01/2021 08:01

The letter of confirmation should have confirmed what you’ve booked, Ie x sessions per week. Or x sessions per week exc school holidays. Most folks who work need the nursery care during school hols as well.

If it didn’t state exc holidays and you didn’t articulate that to them or even discuss it, Or even ask the payment terms, I’m not sure they are wholly responsible here.

Illstartexercisingtomorrow · 18/01/2021 08:04

OP - break it down with them. Either they are only open for 39 weeks in which case they should not charge you for 52.

Or they are open all year round in which case they will charge whether you send or not.

Either situation is fine, but If they are trying to charge you for more weeks than they are open then find a different nursery. I would pick up the phone and have a long chat with someone at their office so you understand everything thoroughly before handing over any money and if you’re not happy find another nursery, don’t cave in becuase of work pressure etc it’s not worth it.

Fwiw my previous nursery was all year, charted monthly and expected one month’s fees upfront.

Current nursery is 39 weeks +/- holiday club. So if I don’t send my daughter in holiday time I won’t pay for it BUT there is a little clause when I signed up specifically asking me to choose term time only or full year. When I first came across it I had no idea what they were talking about and had to ask lots of questions. They charge termly and you have to give a whole terms’ notice to leave so easily liable for two terms if not careful.

Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 08:31

Thanks - I’ll call them today..

£59.72 per session - seems steep to me.. I’ll likely not go for it with how I feel..

OP posts:
MummaBear4321 · 18/01/2021 08:42

£60 for just a morning?? That's what I pay for a whole day, and I have food and nappies included, and its ofsted outstanding. That seems very steep.

Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 09:54

Just been informed it’s term time only xx

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 18/01/2021 10:20

@TaurusMama

Thanks - I’ll call them today..

£59.72 per session - seems steep to me.. I’ll likely not go for it with how I feel..

For half day with no food?!

That's very high I know nursery fees are dependent on where in the country you are but that's a lot.

In comparison my son's nursery is £54 full day (7.30-5.30) all food and nappies included (we don't use the nappy part as he's in cloth)

Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 10:42

@Scottishskifun exactly! No wonder they don’t publish their fees :/ sounds terrible but the lady on the phone/admin who I’m dealing with knew I was desperate for childcare..!

OP posts:
Scottishskifun · 18/01/2021 11:35

@TaurusMama I would do a search again local mums Facebook groups are a great source of information including childminders.
I would also double check with them that they meant morning sessions only were that cost. Even the private school nurseries around us don't charge that amount.

Scottishskifun · 18/01/2021 11:38

@TaurusMama could it be that as its til 1.30 they are treating it as a full day session?
My sons nursery the options are 7.30-12 for half day, 9-3 for short day and 7.30-5.30 full day. A lot of nurserys have a 1 hour extension option. By the sounds of it they need to email you with a proper breakdown of the fees

blackcat86 · 18/01/2021 11:45

I'm not sure you have an accurate view of nursery. Providing nappies and wipes, and lunch in some cases are standard. Query the invoice with the nursery if you think you've been overcharged

Original poster
TaurusMama · 18/01/2021 12:00

They are only open from 08:30-1:30pm each day - they fully close at 1:30

OP posts:
jelly79 · 18/01/2021 13:29

@TaurusMama are you sure a session is half day? I've never ever heard of a nursery at that price. Something doesn't seem right there

Almostslimjim · 18/01/2021 13:33

Does anyone have experience or know what happens if a nursery closes due to COVID??

I’m guessing still liable to pay fees?

Depends on the nursery. Some are not charging at all, some charging full fees, lots in-between. Ours is still open so is charging usual fees for those choosing not to attend.

Regarding half term - are the fees pro-rata'd so you pay the same each month? Or do you pay different amounts each month?