To not give nursery notice for a day off.

[coffeeforone]

DS (3) usually goes to nursery while we work. There have been two instances in the past month where I have given last minute notice of a holiday.
Once we were away for the weekend and I had completely forgotten to tell nursery that we wouldn't be back on the Monday (I called on the Monday morning).
And tomorrow. My parents live 350 miles away and are visiting us for the weekend. They just asked me if they can take DS out for the day tomorrow whilst i'm at work (they don't usually get to spend much time with him).

So I emailed the nursery to let them know about tomorrow. I then got a phone call from the nursery manager asking if I can give more notice in future, as she needs to plan staffing levels referred to earlier 'incident' above.
We do usually give as much notice as possible for longer holidays and time off, its just these two instances where i haven't. We pay the same monthly fee regardless of whether DS turns up or not, so whilst i do understand it is helpful to know for planning, I'm not sure we should be criticised for the taking the odd last minute day. How is it different to sickness? AIBU?

In some areas, short notice absences are recorded and an ongoing pattern may become reportable as a "safeguarding" factor.

Also, it might’ve affect your ability to access a funded (“free” hours) place in the future. In my area, childcare providers are required to give priority to parents who demonstrate they will use the place to the full.

This isn’t correct. Having days off nursery isn’t a safeguarding issue. And if you’re paying for your place it has no bearing on free hours.

If you’re paying for the space regardless of whether you use it, then you can give as much or as little notice as you like!

YANBU it's so cheeky, if it were cheaper for you then yes of course but you're paying regardless so I wouldn't care less to tell them.

I usually let nursery know in pick up if we have concrete plans for DC for the next day/week but if it’s a spur of the moment thing I just ring up in the morning to let them know so they don’t wonder where they are.
However I’d expect that if anything happened, and I needed them to go in, that they’d have the space for them to attend as I’m still paying either way.
I don’t think I’ve ever actually thought about them taking leave as I’ve said Dc won’t be there.

Try to give more notice. I say this because parents have emergencies where they need to place their child on a day when they normally could not, so it is useful. We have begged for a day out of our normal contracted hours before now.

you pay for the day regardless so you shouldn't need to let them know earlier, they just want to make double money for the day (charge you and get another child in when yours isn't)

I would smile and say absolutely but seen as the few still needs paid regardless of if my child is there or not I expect to be able to use it in the event of a change of plan. If you can’t guarante this I can’t guarante I can tell you planned days off.

If this is the case, they should offer you the fee back if they fill the space with another child. If not I don't think they have a right to complain.

What are they going to do anyway? Sack you? I doubt it.

Can you write another email asking this woman to explain the holiday notice period policy, what happens if your plans change and you actually need the space? I’d also say you were surprised she made reference to the last minute change earlier this month to your ds’s schedule when she called, hence why you’re looking for clarification. Conclude that where possible you give notice such as holidays booked in advance to accommodate staff holidays and as you explained on the phone, on this occasion your mother is visiting and plans changed last minute as she offered to take your ds out for the day rather than his attending nursery.

It’s interesting that she called, not emailed, which makes me think this is wishful thinking and her preference rather than policy. I don’t think nurseries make massive profits so I can understand her concern albeit her manner sounds poor.

Maybe they should offer some sort of credit if you give them notice and someone else can book the day. Would motivate people to let them know and everyone benefits.

If they give the session to another child or give a staff time off meaning the can’t have your child for that session then they need to refund you the money for it.

This! I think they're being very cheeky and I'd tell them you aren't obliged to give any notice. Even for pre booked holidays, plans could fall through which would mean you still should be entitled to that place you've paid for.

Why should you give them notice? So they can benefit from paying one less staff member, or benefit from a full fee of another child using your place? In which case pre booked holidays that you give notice for should not have to be paid for... Works both ways.

If you are paying for the day even if your DC isn’t there I would just ignore it.

Sorry if my answer seems a bit rage filled, but nursery fees make me rage, 43% of my wage goes to nurseries and so I begrudge things like this

While I agree that you are under no obligation to inform them in advance I did always try and keep in mind that nursery staff are very poorly paid so if I could help make things run a bit more smoothly then I would e.g it might mean that a staff member's request to take a day off could be honoured.

Also it might mean someone who needs an additional session could come in that day (so what if the nursery is making money on that place, I've paid already).

Around Xmas time they always wanted to know so that staff could finish off on Xmas eve as early as possible. It was just courteous.

YABU

why not informing them in advance when you can?

They can give the slot to another parent, they can simply welcome a child for a settling-in session, could allow a member of staff to take time off (even if it's just for a medical appointment!)
My nursery used to organise outings with the kids on days it wasn't too busy (not a full trip to the zoo, but just little errands around, even going to the park). Knowing that there would be less children would have allowed them to plan something else

I know we pay them, but if they look after your child, why feeling so resentful and annoyed towards them for a reasonable question?

1 parent is one thing, imagine if it's 10 on the same day.

When my DS1 was in nursery - albeit a while ago - I worked 4 days, but paid for 5 as my job required me to be flexible. As far as I was concerned, his place was fully paid. I sometimes took him Tues- fri sometimes Mon - Thursday, never once did they ask me to tell them if he was going to be there or not. The staffing is based on paid contract / bookings surely. Plus for nursery, absences due to illness must be common too. Just smile and say nothing. It’s not your issue.

For a 3 year old, it wouldn't affect staffing at all, its 1:8! YANBU.

For a 3 year old, it wouldn't affect staffing at all, its 1:8! YANBU.

only if it's just 1 child, how do you know about other parents and other children?

I don't understand the defensive attitude against a childcare provider - they are not supposed to be the enemy

Ignore. You are still paying. It shouldn't impact staffing. If she wants to cut staffing because of fewer children actually there, then that's a bonus for the nursery financially. They obvious need to know she is safe, but that's it.

"In some areas, short notice absences are recorded and an ongoing pattern may become reportable as a "safeguarding" factor."
That could be the case if the child was awol and frequently missing for no reason at all.....having a last minute holiday or time with grandparents couldn't be construed as that. any attempt to suggest this is sheer power play.

Yanbu. I think it’s courtesy to contact the nursery in the morning of an absence to let them know, but they don’t need 24hrs notice. You’ve paid for the place which you may unexpectedly need. I’m really interested to hear how the nursery would deal with you if you unexpectedly turned up at their door.

Most nurseries can only allow one staff member off per room at a time. By giving them as much notice as possible means another worker will be able to have that day/week off.

Next time let him pull a sickie🤷🏻‍♀️- sorry he’s not coming in, he’s got a slight temp and he’s under the weather, so I think it’s best we keep him home. Just remember not to pull the ‘he’s been sick’ if it’s not a Friday and you need him in the next day! Jeez he’s in nursery, not work and facing a back to work interview. I can understand safeguarding concerns, but an odd day here and there, I don’t.