Switching nursery - is this unreasonable?

[DrMaryMalone]

My little boy goes to a local private nursery 4 days a week as OH and I both work full time. The branch he curently goes to is in the town I work in and is part of a small chain of nurseries , all local. We moved house last year and there is a different branch of the same chain in our new village so we put his name on the waiting list and were told a few months ago that there would be space for 2 of the 4 days at the start of Sept if we wanted it, which we do. I told our current nursery this weeks ago in person and happened to mention to the manager yesterday that we had a settling in visit at the new nursery booked for next week. Today I got a message from her reminding me that I need to give 4 weeks written notice of giving up 2 of our days at current nursery - with 3 weeks to go until our new place begins meaning I will have 1 week paying double for 2 days. AIBU to have assumed that head office would treat it as a transfer and not enforce the notice period since they are both part of the same company? I'm feeling stupid but not entirely sure it's all my bad....

Sorry I think it’s your bad.... all nurseries require written notice period, it’s irrelevant they are the same chain they will work as independent nurseries, so own overheads budget etc.

You’re going to have to pay I’m afraid.

My bad??! What are you 12?!!

Well, if the contract states you have to give written notice at least 4 weeks in advance, you'll have to give written notice at least 4 weeks in advance.

What I really find unreasonable, however, is to switch your son in the first place. Switching childcare is kind of a big deal for children, and, in my opinion, shouldn't be done lightly. So I find a switch without actual need quite unnecessary and not good for your child. Even more him attending 2 different nurseries.

YABU to assume this as you should have checked. They need time to fill your space and cant take your mention of it as notice in case guy ou change your mind.
Although the nurseries are owned by the same brand they're probably run as separate entities with different management.

What I really find unreasonable, however, is to switch your son in the first place. Switching childcare is kind of a big deal for children, and, in my opinion, shouldn't be done lightly. So I find a switch without actual need quite unnecessary and not good for your child.

She wants him to go to nursery near their home (which probably means that both parents can do drop-off/pick up at least sometimes) rather than her work - that doesn't seem particularly unreasonable? It probably also means a shorter daily commute for the child, which is nicer.

I do think the nursery is a little unreasonable because they should have pointed it out to you when you first mentioned it verbally. I wouldn't make a fuss, though - it is only two extra days to pay for, and it's really not worth souring the relationship with a nursery you're still going to be using two days a week over that.