Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

nursery open christmas eve

63 replies

bananaandcustard · 21/12/2015 21:51

I work in a nursery and last year a parent was late picking up on Christmas eve. We shut at 6.15pm
Am I being unreasonable to remind parents to be on time ?

OP posts:
CrohnicallyAspie · 22/12/2015 07:52

Those 3 occasions are over 2 1/2 years of daily nursery use by the way! So it's not that often.

YerAWizardHarry · 22/12/2015 07:53

Our nursery is only open til 1 on Christmas Eve and has a list to tick if your child is actually attending presumably to reduce staff numbers then they're closed til the 5th of January

WeThreeMythicalKings · 22/12/2015 08:04

Part of dealing with a sudden emergency is arranging for your dc to be picked up at the correct time. It's not on for people to just expect the staff to deal with it, it really isn't.

Womaloosh · 22/12/2015 08:05

I don't think YABU.

The CMs I've used have never charged for lateness, but I would have been happy to pay as it eats in to their family time.

They understood on the couple of occasions I was late due to train cancellations, but I felt really bad as there was no charge.

Deffo think not charging could make some people think that it's ok to be late...

Rinceoir · 22/12/2015 08:06

Our nursery is open as usual until Christmas Eve and then closed until January 4th. We have filled in a form indicating the days she will be present. I was unable to take leave next week, so I have taken days off this week and my husband next week, meaning we get very little time off together. Christmas Eve is a normal working day so I expect nursery to be open as usual. I'm surprised they are not open tues-thurs next week.

Rinceoir · 22/12/2015 08:07

Should add I don't think it's acceptable to be late any day.

robinofsherwood · 22/12/2015 08:15

I think on Christmas Eve, when none driving staff might physically be unable to get home it wouldn't be unreasonable to tell parents that being late will mean they will be charged an additional cost to cover the costs of getting staff home.

Minibelle · 22/12/2015 08:22

Most nurseries in my area close early on chriatmas eve.

To the previous poster who said she wouldn't send her dc to a nursery that charges late fines. Do you actually think it's ok to expect a nursery to pay extra staff wages out of their own pocket because your late?

Hulababy · 22/12/2015 08:24

It's just common courtesy to be on time anyway. It's not fair on the child at the very least, let alone the staff having to wait around often unpaid.

Part of planning childcare is ensuring you have some form of back up for emergencies.

Just because an adult has to work late in their job doesn't mean nursery staff should then be forced to work late and unpaid to care for heir child.

Regardless of if people think nurseries should be open every day - when you sign up you generally ask about the working policies regarding holidays and closing etc. And you normally get notice of any additional closures ime.

Noodledoodledoo · 22/12/2015 08:29

Our nursery doesn't charge late fees. Manager has a pragmatic view plus you can pay if you need an extra 30mins on an ad hoc basis.

I have been 5 mins late in past 4 months due to my normal 45 min commute taking 90 mins. No problem on my route as such but lots of traffic trying to avoid an accident on a nearby A road I gave them 30 mins warning and felt really bad.

They are open all over Christmas but we have been asked when we will be in so they can let staff have time off if possible. I am not at work on Christmas Eve so little one not going in as it might mean staff can have easier day/ time off.

Noodledoodledoo · 22/12/2015 08:31

I have been late once that should say.

splendide · 22/12/2015 08:34

DS's nursery is closed on xmas eve which is tricky as I can't get the day off but we've managed to juggle stuff round. I am actually not sure if they charge for lateness, they're open till 6.30 and I pick up about 5.15 so I have a big buffer.

honeylulu · 22/12/2015 08:49

It's a normal working day so any usual rules should apply. Of course it's not acceptable to be late but sometimes it happens and fines are applied. I'd be very surprised if parents willingly delayed collection on Christmas Eve of all days though.
My son's old nursery used to announce it was closing at "1 pm SHARP" on Christmas eve. The first year I just booked a half day off work and paid the full time fees as usual. Subsequent years I examined the terms and conditions. There was provision for closure on bank holidays but not for half a day on Christmas Eve. So I deducted the pro rata sum for the half day from the monthly fee. I was happy to collect early but not to pay for a service not being provided. Bloody cheeky I thought.

Jibberjabberjooo · 22/12/2015 08:49

I don't see why it being Christmas Eve should make any difference. For many of us it's a normal working day. I'm NHS and we don't close early (if only).

Sameshitdiffname · 22/12/2015 08:53

Being late in unavoidable for some people and they can't always know in advance.

If you normally close at 6 you can't really say anything.

I doubt parents want to be late on Christmas Eve and will avoid it if possible

liquidrevolution · 22/12/2015 08:57

Uk Shock Hope you managed to have a good Christmas after that horrid start.

OP - I wouldn't be offended if you reminded me at all.

rosaeva · 22/12/2015 09:00

I used to work in a nursery and this frequently happened on xmas eve as the parents had gone shopping. I agree it's annoying! Always happens on Fridays to!

rosaeva · 22/12/2015 09:04

I have never worked at a nursery that charges late fees. It is just expected staff work for free until parents arrive.

Brioche201 · 22/12/2015 09:05

Sometimes people are unavoidably delayed eg accident closes the road and there is nothing you can do.

rosaeva · 22/12/2015 09:12

I think there should be a charge to cover staff wages.

remembermewhen · 22/12/2015 11:29

If the nursery manager sent a general we are closing at 2pm sharp email I wouldn't mind at all but it one of the girls said remember it's Christmas Eve you best not be late I wouldn't be amused.

By the by anyway as our nursery closes today at 5.30pm right through until Weds 6th January.

Kids should be collected on time every day not just holidays.

Understand there can be exceptional circumstances but in 2 years I've never collected my child late.

Anotherusername1 · 22/12/2015 12:50

My son's nursery didn't fine because they said that the parents would waltz in half an hour late, slap £10 on the table and walk out, so it was no disincentive.

I think it closed at around 4pm on Christmas Eve.

Not unreasonable at all to remind parents not to be late, but traffic jams and public transport delays can happen at any time of course.

Anotherusername1 · 22/12/2015 12:52

in 2 years I've never collected my child late.

In 4 years I was late twice, both times due to inclement weather but I phoned both times and was no more than 10-15 minutes late. That said, it felt like I was late if I was there 10 minutes before the nursery closed as they'd have him in his coat and shoes with his bag sitting by the door waiting, so I tried to be there no more than 30 minutes before it closed!

thelaundryfairy · 22/12/2015 12:54

I don´t think it would be unreasonable for the nursery to issue a polite reminder to all parents.

Jibberjabberjooo · 22/12/2015 12:58

Luckily our nursery is open normal hours on Christmas Eve.