To expect a refund when nursery closes for snow??

[Lou1324]

Just had a phone call to say my DDs nursery is closed tomorrow because of the snow. The nursery is part of a big college and the head has made the call to close the college. We had heavy snow fall last night, but the main roads are now fine, we've been out and about all day.

We've been told no refund! I'm now going to have to pay for alternative childcare as I work for the NHS, which does not close no matter what the weather! DH is saying we should insist on a refund... Anyone ever managed to do this?!

"Don't forget - If you were using a Childminder, you would likely be paying for two weeks per year (give or take) that they weren't providing care, so that the Childminder can have a holiday!"

We're childminders, not slaves.

It's not even true that most charge for holidays.

I am 46 and can remember being sent home from school on more than occasion because it was snowing. On one occasion we had 2 weeks off because of burst piped so of course it used to happen years ago.

MsHarry, of course it used to happen years ago.

I am 51 now and was at school in the seventies and early eighties. I remember a number of times when school closed for snow.

I had a rather important apt for DD3 - with her paediatric neuro consultant - cancelled today with 3 hours notice

I'm not moaning because the snow is bad here - all 3 kids schools are closed and I have taken annual leave to cover it

shit happens OP - I'm still paying my childminder (who would have picked DD3 up) despite not needing her

and it did happen years ago - I'm 47 and remember having snow days

Totally depends on your contract as to whether you are BU.

DDs nursery do not charge for bank hols or any other closures. We do however have to pay if we choose to take dd out (sickness or holiday etc).

However, many nurseries do charge bank hols or other closures. It should be clearly explained in any paperwork and part of the decision making when choosing a nursery.

It’s unreasonable to choose a nursery and then complain about their policies.
It’s not unreasonable to query something that’s not explicit in their policies.

I don't get sick pay (other than ssp) and I wouldn't get paid if I couldn't get into work because of the weather.

My dc's nursery has been shut twice this year due to flooding and both times they have placed dc in a sister nursery nearby. If they were unable to do that I would expect them to offer an alternative day, although I don't know what contract states.

Nursery is shut Xmas day/ boxing day and also 1st/2nd of January. We pay for that despite them being closed and we also pay for any holidays we take or days the kids miss. It's a pisser, but that's how it is.

These are not 'state' facilities - so everything is down to the contract.
If it is in the contract, that you signed, you need to pay.
If not, then you don't.

Lots of MN folk worry about things being 'fair' or something. The law doesn't work like that.

Shops have to pay staff, even if they have no customers, they don't then charge the next customers into the shop double to 'make up for it'

Come back, OP, when you have checked the contract.

I had to pay my childminder today as she was happy to work. However I pay her to collect the kids from school for 3 hours and as they weren't at school and I wasn't at work, I didn't need her to collect them. She did text me and say she was happy to have them from 3-6pm as usual...

you made the daily fail

My DS' nursery was closed for 2 days because if a burst water pipe and they refunded me, I didn't ask (or expect) this to happen but was pleased!

I think it is standard, but don't agree with charging. This thread is already in the daily mail so it must be an issue lots of people will have to deal with.

My daughters nursery said they were closing because due to the school closures, many of their staff didn’t have child care. Others, I imagine, would have struggled to get in (even though I did a 20 mile journey to drop my daughter off to a friend and many of my team travelled into work the same distance on public transport).

In most places I’ve worked, staff have had to take annual leave if they’ve been unable to get to work due to adverse weather conditions. It's often policy. Likewise, time off for dependents policies usually dictate that annual leave can be taken or it’s unpaid leave. I therefore don’t think it’s fair to charge for the snow closure. If staff have taken unpaid leave then they’ve not had to pay out, and if staff have taken annual leave then that’s covered anyway and taken off their annual leave entitlement.

It is a difficult situation but equally not my problem if their staff can’t get childcare. The weather was also forecast days in advance so a bit of sensible planning would have been good. Many parents had other children off school so were home anyway and therefore wouldn’t have taken their little ones in, but not all of their staff members have kids and many live locally so maybe they could have come in for those that still needed it. A quick email or phone round could have established this.

I’ll be checking my contract and challenging the fee. Interesting to see if they will charge for 27th December as they’ve also decided to close on that day due to too few kids being booked in. I chose not to take my daughter in as we’re away with family so happy to pay (well, not happy, but you know!) but if I was at work that day and they told me they were closing I wouldn’t expect to pay.

I think all nurseries should allow an annual leave allowance so parents can book out days for holidays etc where they don’t get charged. They could pro rata it over the year so each month they get their guaranteed income to pay staff. I think it’s one of the biggest scandals going that I have to pay £250 to a nursery that I’m not using for a pre planned family holiday!!