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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Remove child from private nursery for a vacation

49 replies

Anagharao · 15/09/2019 16:28

My 3 year old toddler goes to a private nursery full time. We are planning to take a vacation for 3 weeks. The money we will have to pay the nursery during those 3 weeks is about £800. We are thinking of removing the toddler from nursery for those 3 weeks and rejoining after we get back. Any experience anyone can share with regards to this scenario please.
We have previously taken vacations and our toddler has missed nursery for up to 2 weeks - but she was doing part time only. We didn’t think about saving the fee then.
But £800 is quite a big sum and it would buy us flight tickets.
Just torn between saving money and coming across as silly in front of the nursery people.

OP posts:
Comefromaway · 15/09/2019 16:30

Most nurseries have waiting lists. You risk losing your place.

EduCated · 15/09/2019 16:31

Are you guaranteed your place back?

superram · 15/09/2019 16:31

There will be something in the t &c’s to stop this or everyone would do it.

user1493413286 · 15/09/2019 16:32

I’m not sure if they’ll let you do that as in they may not then allow you back otherwise everyone would do that for their holidays

15thOctober2019 · 15/09/2019 16:32

Vacation- so not in the UK?

Ullupullu · 15/09/2019 16:33

In my city (UK but not London) you'd end up back on a nine month waiting list!

Polly99 · 15/09/2019 16:35

Unless this is somehow permitted in the ts and cs, I think you’ll risk losing your place. The nursery still has to pay its staff, after all. Do you live somewhere where good nursery places are in demand? Is there a waiting list for your nursery?

Userzzzzz · 15/09/2019 16:35

You’d not have a space at mine when you got back. In most places you have to suck it up I’m afraid.

donkir · 15/09/2019 16:36

You have to give at least a months notice in most nurseries and any good reputable ones will have a waiting list so you're not guaranteed your space back anyway. Or if there is space they are well within their rights to refuse to accept you.

Expressedways · 15/09/2019 16:39

Yeah good luck with that, unless your nursery is the only one I’ve ever heard of with no wait list and/or younger children waiting to move up a class then you’d probably get your place back in about a year’s time! I think the nursery would laugh you out of the door with that one. If money is that tight with regard to paying for the flights you may need to reconsider your trip, I hope it doesn’t come to that though.

Purpleartichoke · 15/09/2019 16:40

Ours would have your spot filled before you got back. So you would have to find a new nursery for your child.

Original poster
Anagharao · 15/09/2019 16:41

Thanks all.

OP posts:
MissRabbitNeedsAHoliday · 15/09/2019 16:42

Would need to give a months notice on my nursery, then pay a deposit of a full months fee to get a space for your child so you wouldn't be saving anything at my nursery. Plus they have a 9 months waiting list so you would lose your space anyway. Sorry OP I don't think it'll work unless your nursery doesn't have a waiting list.

LucieLucie · 15/09/2019 16:48

This has to be one of the most bonkers thread I've read.

Deal with your bills first before jetting off on 'vacation' for 3 weeks for heavens sake!!

Why do you think the nursery should lose out on income for keeping your child's place open for you to swan back into??? ConfusedHmm

caroloro · 15/09/2019 16:48

You'd lose your place, surely? Unless it's an unpopular nursery with no waiting list?

Sewrainbow · 15/09/2019 16:49

We were charged half price for holidays that we took as long as they had the required notice, to ensure space was secure. Is that an option?

Chickychoccyegg · 15/09/2019 16:49

as already said by everyone, you'd probably struggle to get a space, it is rather cheeky to even consider this.

CalamityJune · 15/09/2019 17:00

Have you even enquired as to whether you have holiday allowance or can come to some arrangment? With enough notice they may be able to adjust staffing.

mankyfourthtoe · 15/09/2019 17:05

Check hot much notice you have to give first.

listsandbudgets · 15/09/2019 17:10

No. Someone at DSs nursery tried this. They had to find new child care... for twins. Not worth the hassle.

It took 4 weeks to find an alternative and had to take unpaid leave. It cost her a lot more than a few weeks nursery fees.

Sorry OP

AudacityOfHope · 15/09/2019 17:12

I think that's quite a crappy thing to do; the nursery staff also have bills to pay, it's not just some faceless corporation you're doing out of money.

I don't understand why you even think of this monthly cost as a 'saving' if you don't pay it once. Surely it's factored into your monthly outgoings as a constant? What else would you opt out of paying - council tax, mortgage? Of course not.

If you can't afford a holiday don't go on one.

Original poster
Anagharao · 15/09/2019 17:27

I’m just trying to understand something I don’t know.
Thanks everyone for your insights.
We are not trying to swan our way back in to nursery or take short cuts at saving money. I was curious if anyone does this for going away for a longer time.
Many thanks everyone.

OP posts:
Botanicum · 15/09/2019 17:29

I would definitely ask if you can work together, for example it may tie it with granting a staff member leave and they are happy to reduce the fees. Ask politely

Gollyfot · 15/09/2019 17:31

Lots of people do that at nursery. Depends on whether you think you can get the child back in .

Gollyfot · 15/09/2019 17:33

I don’t know about the others here, but actually parents do this all the time . Don’t feel bad about it at all . The risk is that you can’t get the child back into the nursery in the pattern that you wanted ... but you need yo weigh it up and see if this will work for you