Dance class- notice period for ending

[Meyou1]

My daughter attended a dance class for 2 years however in the end she decided she no longer wanted to attend. In Sept/Oct I paid for our last term of classes and my daughter only attended the first class and then refused to go. I messaged the dance school and explained I was struggling to get my daughter to attend. She didn’t attend the next 5 classes (despite having paid for the term) and I didn’t sign up for the next term.
However the dance school is now chasing me for payment for the winter term as they said I should have given 6 weeks notice that we would no longer be attending! I think this is completely unreasonable as I already paid for a term and she only attended 1 class yes I didn’t give ‘formal’ notice but after 2 years of regular attendance (and payment) and I mentioned she wasn’t keen on continuing I’m sure 5 weeks of absence would have been evident that we were not returning.
Am I being unreasonable should I pay ££ for a term we never attended?

You should have given notice properly. You'd have been pissed off if she did change her mind and want to go back and they'd given away her place.

It doesn't matter what we think, what do the T&Cs say? If you have to formally give 6 weeks notice and you haven't then there's not much you can do.

Of course you should have notified them, its so strange that you didn't. But of course they cannot demand this payment off you now, unless you signed a contract?

Of course you should pay. You signed up to particular terms - if the dance teacher didn’t turn up for 5 weeks you’d want your money back, right? Because the contract involved them providing your daughter with tuition? Works both ways.

The key there is “yes I didn’t give formal notice”... and therefore you are liable for the fees.

As for five weeks’ non attendance making it evident you’re not returning, this is why the notice is period is there - so the teacher doesn’t have to guess how many students she will have or whether her income will be steady or not.

Thanks for the comments always helpful to hear other view points

Yabu. If she'd missed 5 weeks because she was on holiday, ill, medical appointment etc on your return you wouldn't expect to be told her place had been given away. You'd be pointing out missing a handful of classes after 2yrs doesn't imply formal notice.

It's basic common courtesy to give notice, hardly taxing or time consuming.

Full term's notice is the norm, so you should have done so when you paid in September. Only classes missed due to illness/injury are refundable.

Did you sign a contract and if so what did it say. I think the dance company are being overly harsh but if they held your daughters place for the winter term then it’s understandable I suppose.

I think you are going to have to pay up. Same with swimming lessons - 4 weeks notice, they don't assume you have left as children do miss due to illness and holidays.

The contract has to be 'fair' though - the Consumer Rights Act 2015 gives consumers a lot of power to challenge unfair terms in a contract, even after you signed up to them.

From what you have said, it does sound unfair. Please feel free to dm me and I'll take a look for you if you wish?