Accept offer private school

[sandrinha1]

I need some advice: im about to accept a private school offer, but not sure as yet. I will pay the deposit but if i want to cancel, what do I have to do? On the terms and conditions it says that..." you shall give written notice to that effect prior to the first day of the term immediately preceding the term in which your child was due to start" what do they mean by this? Thank you!

This is pretty standard for private schools. But the T&C you are looking at will be while you child is actually already registered. You have to give a FULL terms notice of intention to remove child ie: before the term starts you need to give notice you will not be returning the following term. I think the T&C's for deposits prior to accepting a place are different? It is a deposit, which you will loose if you don't start, but I don't think you will then owe an additional terms fees if you write to them before starting saying you no longer want the place.

Please don't leave it too long though OP. Someone else might be desperate for your place. This happens a lot locally. Those that can afford to, pay deposits on two or three schools, while they make up theirs minds. It's awful for those who are on the waiting list.

You'll have to pay the first term's fee if you cancel.

It means that if your child is due to start in September, you must inform them before the start of the summer term if you do not intend to take up the place. If you leave it any later, you will not have given a term's notice and will be liable for the first term's fees.

Not sure why this is in AIBU though.

If you don't want to take up the place for September, you need to tell them before the start of the summer term.

You need to tell them in writing before beginning of summer term (check the term dates) if you do not require the place for September, otherwise you would be liable to pay the term's fees.

Thank you so much.
I have checked on their website, the summer starts exactly at 20th of April. Means I have to tell them before that right?

I mean Summer term starts 20 th April

Yes, in writing. Might be worth an email and hard copy.

Private school where I worked had similar. Once the deposit was paid, that was almost always non-refundable. One full terms notice was then required to avoid the additional payment of the first term fees.

I have checked on their website, the summer starts exactly at 20th of April. Means I have to tell them before that right?

According to what you described earlier, you would have had to give notice on the first day of the term that started before the 20th of April. This is quite standard for private schools. However, I don't know how it would be possible in your case to give the required notice in this scenario when you hadn't even accepted the offer yet. The conditions of the contract assume that your child would stay longer than a term and clearly doesn't cater for any immediate or rapid cancellations.

Be careful. If starting 20th April you will still be liable for the terms fees even if you cancel now.

I speak from bitter experience!

I have checked on their website, the summer starts exactly at 20th of April. Means I have to tell them before that right?

Assuming it is for a September start date, yes.

Yes, it is starting only in September. So, if i cancel until 20th of April, that is when their summer starts, thst will be fine I presume right?

What do you mean Illstartexercisingtomorrow?

Why accept the space if you intend to withdraw your child after a term?

But you still lose your deposit.

tiggerkid my son is only starting in September, if i really want to go ahead with it. So, if i understood, until the beginning of summer term, 20th April I can cancel right?

You need to read the contract. But what others have said (in general) above is correct. You lose the deposit, but if you give a terms notice (as defined) you should not be liable for a terms fees

In all honesty why don't you ring the school and ask them..... all you're getting her are people's interpretations and that's no use to you!

OP, check what it says about notice in the contract too. It might be under a separate heading or under miscellaneous at the end somewhere.

For example, it might say notice must be given on a business day, and that if you give notice on a non-business day, it will be deemed to have been given on the next business day (i.e. it's easy to be late without meaning to, especially if you leave it until the last minute).

And the contract might specify how you need to give notice too (e.g. by post, or to a specific email address, etc).

Send the kids to state school and spend your money on wine and books.

The terms and conditions say prior to the first day of term, so if term starts 20th April they must have the written notice before then. I would ensure it is with them before 5pm on the 19th April.