Nursery closed for new intake

[myusernameisnotmyusername]

Just having a rant really. I've just been told my DD's preschool is closed next Wednesday so they can have an open day for new children coming in next year. Obviously I know they have to get new kids in but to close it means I have to take time off work at short notice. AIBU to be annoyed? Could they not just keep them contained somewhere else?

If you have funded 3 and 4 year old places then they cant do this unless they are already providing you with more than 38 weeks @ 15 hours a week.

It's 15 funded hours then we pay for another 15.

That's really weird. I've worked in lots of nurseries over the years and none have ever closed for the day (they would lose too much money! ) my nursery are currently having an open week for people to drop in and have a look around. Actual settling in sessions happen on an individual basis depending on individual needs.

Plus breakfast and after school club so I'm guessing they'll take the hours from another day.

My DD's free funding pre-school is always closing for various reasons. Closed for teacher training, polling station, closed for 3 days every term whilst they do home visits for new intake, finishes an hour early regularly for various reasons. Quite frustrating!

The dc's nursery used to shut one day a year for staff training. But they told us months in advance. IIRC it was usually a Friday in the summer holidays.

In the letter it's worded as an induction day but on their Facebook page they're saying to come in for an open day

They are funded by the LA for 15 hours for 38 weeks. They have to deliver that. Ask when you are getting your 3 free hours back or for a refund. Maybe suggest that you will contact the LA for advice.

They can close for training days if they do 39 weeks (like schools) as they are only funded for 38.

All 3 to 4-year-olds in England can get 570 hours of free early education or childcare per year. It’s usually taken as 15 hours a week for 38 weeks of the year.

Thank you. Yes I'm sure they'll take the hours off another day she's there. Don't know what happens if you only have 15 in the first place.

It's just about maybe reasonable to close for the open/induction day but there should've been months of notice so parents could make alternative arrangements (like school inset days which are planned months in advance). One weeks notice for something that they could've planned and is of no benefit to your child is not enough.

I'd be fuming as not everyone can take time off work at such short notice and not everyone has family nearby that can help

Strange to do on a weekday. Former nursery nurse here.. all nurseries I've worked at have done these kind of days on a Saturday.

Are pre schools different to nurseries?
I could understand it if one was education and the other childcare.
In this instance I suppose it's just like any other school closing for the day, for polling day.

Is this a new thing? Ours had it every year, and you'd have gone for the induction this time last year. It wouldn't have counted in the 15 hours, you'd have a day at the end.

Our school nursery closes for intake day, I thought it was standard. Private day nurseries don't, but we have 5 training days a year that we don't charge parents for and close for these.

We moved to this area in the school holidays last year so I wasn't aware there was one last year but another mum had just told me there was one. And she says they rarely put them in the calendar.

I used to think we were at a disadvantage not being able to use a school nursery, but reading all the threads about them on here I'm now quite glad!

YANBU

It's not attached to a school. It's a private one but with 3 years iyswim

Then it's odd for a private one to close for intake. I've never known that happen. I know the school ones round here close.

Well they have closed all provisions so baby and toddler too. It is weird and really annoying!