To ask - if you had to pay nursery fees?

[Notthisagainfgs]

I'm trying to get a feel of what people have had to do in regarding to nursery/childcare fees, since this new evidence has come about that this was infact unlawful and they may need to repay.

AIBU - Yes - I had to pay full or partial fees to secure place and/or was made to.

yanbu - I didn't have to pay any fees and my place is still secure.

If any other comments regarding this please post below! Thank you

Do you mean when all nurseries were shut, or also since then?

We didn't have to pay when the nursery was closed, but once it had reopened it was pay or lose your place.

DD (14 mths) was kept out of nursery from March until four weeks ago, we didn't have to pay. Not sure if relevant but the nursery is a franchise and has over fifty nurseries

We didn't HAVE to pay fees but were humbly asked to pay or give a contribution for the month of April to prevent the nursery from going under. We were told all places would be secure even if we couldn't provide a contribution.

We paid half our usual rate as a good will gesture and were pleasantly surprised to be told that half pay would be credited back to our account when DS returned in June.

I paid because DD loves her nursery. It’s the only one that’s located on my way to work to allow her to be dropped off and me still get to school in time to set up for the day (teacher).

It’s not in a massive chain though, and I was able to help.

We didn't have to pay from April-June but when they reopened fully in July parents had to pay or lose their place (but we sent our boys back so would have paid either way). Big chain.

edit during the covid period when nurseries were only open to keyworkers and shut for the majority.

We pay in advance, so I got what I’d already paid knocked of my first bill

I didn't have to pay .i paid for a month extra in March for admin costs and never paid after that during lockdown even though it was open for key workers.

Im starting again in Sep and they held his place till then.

I heard of nurseries who took payment during lockdown and i think that's wrong

And didn’t have to pay when they didn’t attend

We didn't have to pay while they were closed. Once they opened we sent her back but if we hadn't it would have been a case of pay, or give notice (in which case you'd pay the notice period).

Nice to see a majority weren't forced to pay! I've seen lots, of statements from parents of childminders/nurseries who were made to pay when lockdown had shut them all down. Obviously, slightly different once reopened like any other time you don't send!

We had to pay April's fees to secure her place for when they reopened. The nursery is now insolvent.

Let’s not forget the news stories that say 40% of childcare provision may go under as a result of Covid.

My DD thrives at her nursery, she is extremely happy there, the nursery staff are wonderful and caring. I continued to pay for nursery during lockdown because if they go under then I am screwed. They asked for 60% of fees to be paid, but no threats were made about removing places.

I’m a key workers but my husband isn’t so our DD stayed at home. Our nursery asked if we could keep paying fees or a contribution to please do so. We paid 100%, it is now bing credited back over 10 months. I’d have happily paid and not had it back to be honest to ensure they were able to continue operating. I appreciate I am lucky enough to be able to do so however.

@Spam88
That sucks...

This thread has a very different feel to the ones I was reading in March/April. I remember people mostly saying that they were paying and everyone should pay if they want the nursery to be there once this is over.

We weren’t asked to pay at all (school nursery) and they actually organised refunds for us as I had paid in advance for the whole term.

We paid the last week of March and then nothing until it reopened 4 weeks ago. We have been offered the credit as additional days in nursery. Not helpful for the children who have already left the nursery or are full time.

At the start we were expected to pay an amount towards keeping it open for keyworkers children, however I think the uptake was low and a few parents complained so they made the decision to close and no payment would be required.

They opened in June and if you weren't too sure about sending your kids back for that month you could keep them off and have a % off fees to retain a place, but full fees expected from July.

We didn't pay when they were closed

We paid a 20% retainer while the nursery was closed, which was taken from the fees we'd already paid for April (so, before closure). The nursery reopened beginning of June, with full fees payable from July for parents who didn't want to send their children back immediately.

We were extremely fortunate not to have our incomes affected by covid, so were happy to pay the retainer of it meant the nursery staff got paid and could afford to reopen. Aware many others not in that position though!

Not quite the same as a childminder, but yes, we paid in full when she was completely closed because it seemed fair seen as though our money wasn't affected, and there isn't much childcare availablity so we were told this would keep our space. When she reopened she had changed her hours, which meant it no longer worked for us. In future I'm not going to think of others, and just not pay.

We didn't have to pay. Our nursery stayed open for keyworkers and did ask for donations.

We didn't have to pay but they asked for donations. We donated half the fees in April but couldn't afford to after that as both on furlough. Asking for a % of fees for those children on year round places in July and August, and full fees from Sept to save the place. I'll add they did offer the donation back if we needed it but we have left it with them.