To think the nursery are wildly unreasonable?

[Gerrp]

Our nursery (just outside London, if relevant) had to close for 72 hours due to the storms. They have offered no refund. It’s 120 a day and we have had to source alternative childcare on top of this. I realise this is an unforeseen circumstance in some respects but also, they must have insurance? I’m absolutely fed up of feeling financially stretched all the time and this has just topped it off! I’m assuming we have no rights to argue this?!

Staff need paying yes but are you still paying the subsidy for nappies milk and food? I successfully got a few pounds credit from my nursery in similar circumstances all the food was not cooked and was frozen still so why were they acting like I used it? Milk? Why am I paying for what I don't use?

Seriously preferred my childminder

It's harsh. Half fees would be a compromise but it depends on what the contract you signed says.

This. I think YABU.

Well unless that wording is crystal clear they may well find themselves in court.

There really needs to be more regulations put in place over nursery charges when they’re closed because it’s truly outrageous.

Well, only OP can answer that.

Storms are covered under insurance- an act of god relates to recoveries (i.e. no costs can be claimed back from anyone else because it's an act of god).

Nurseries seem to live on a whole different world. If my business can't meet a commitment for whatever reason, the client doesn't get charged, and my staff still get paid, But I always leave a decent buffer in the business account, even if I take the hit myself.

Did some work a while back looking at nursery profits, they are often insane, almost all could take the hit without issue.

What is the nursery made of to not be able to stay open in wind? Paper mache?

They're not saying they can't stay open, they're saying the building is damaged - easily done in the winds we had at the weekend.

They may have had to close because staff couldn't get in due to fallen trees etc.

I don't know about the UK, but in the US insurance doesn't cover against damage caused by 'named storms' i.e. major storms.

But the issue is THEY won't take the hit, the staff will (bar the rare service that is owned by a decent human). There's no way the majority of places will pay staff, leading to more staff turnover but they don't care as long as their profits remain untouched.
I work in Ireland where the Government will still pay all funding during storm closures etc, full day services with a rare exception charge full fees and every single time without fail there are services that try to milk the situation. 'oh ye didn't have to come into work til 11 cos of the storm so you all owe me 3 hrs work now', no, the service has its full income so you pay the staff their normal week and no one owes you anything!. About a month into the pandemic the Government stepped into cover staff wages while all ser ices were closed, and there were services that then told staff they had to come into the service to clean and paint it, or they had to start doing pointless paperwork or take on CPD at home 'because you are being paid now'. Staff weren't be paid anything by these companies but they wanted a benefit off their employees time.....

Goodness knows why people are defending the nursery.
Of course they should reimburse you - why should you have to pay twice- they will be making a healthy profit, as well, on your fees.

Nurseries and care homes- healthy profits.

But if they're letting you have free days off they can't pay staff. Regardless of whether the child was there or not, those are your booked days. There will be something in the contract about it that you will have signed. I've got years of experience of working in childcare and this is nothing out the norm. Kids and staff were usually sent home in dangerous weather. It'll be about the safety of the staff getting to and from work and whether public transport is up and running or if it was safe to travel.

Here!

www.theguardian.com/money/2024/mar/12/private-nursery-chains-profits-england

Why were they closed? Is it all outdoors or some thing?

I sympathise though OP, mine has just announced three inset days for training, which I still have to pay in full for - while also having to source alternative childcare on those days / take annual leave.

I think you're being wildly unreasonable. If they refund everyone, they'll be thousands of pounds worse off, with all their bills and staff still needing to be paid. Where would that money come from? It's just really unfortunate. Move on.

I would love to know the justification of people thinking they can keep the money... paying staff isn't OPs job. She paid for a service and did NOT receive it, she even had to pay double to replace the service she did not receive.

If you pay for a service and dont receive it because the PROVIDER cancel then you are entitled to a refund... there no 'debating' it with but they really want that money to pay bills or blaming god.

You can put any clause you want in a contract or T&Cs but that does NOT make it legally binding if the very act goes against the customers rights or the law.

Small claims will find a refund fair.

I guess you have to conclude if everyone refused to pay their fees it would result in the nursery closing. If you are able to join another easily you could try refusing to pay. Ours closed a few times for weather-based incidents (leaky roof) and also over COVID (we received a 50% discount for fees occurring for the latter). You could ask for a discount on next month’s fees and see what they say?

I’m not sure actually - she’s paying for a service which is not being provided, leaving her out of pocket.

The nursery should pay for Business Interruption insurance and then they would not need to charge for zero service. They have taken the business decision not to insure the risk, so they should be liable for it. All this silliness about staff not being paid is plsying on emotions instead of considering how a business should be run.

Haha the local owners must have their Porsche on PCP then.

They will still have to pay everything, staff wages etc.

Act of god my arse…..all reputable insurers offer storm damage insurance…..I have just started a claim for some roof damage with my insurer…..they went online to a national database which records weather…..wind speed has to be over 55 mph to claim…..it was 63mph so my claim is going ahead