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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

To think it’s actually really unfair to be charged for bank holidays at nursery?

282 replies

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:08

And no, I’m not going to complain about it because I don’t want anyone to think I begrudge the staff a day off. I don’t. But I do resent paying for a service I’m not receiving.

OP posts:
bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:19

TourangaLeila · 20/05/2025 18:18

But then your still paying for it. It's just perception.

It’s spread across all the children though, not just Monday attendees.

OP posts:
CheeseCakeSunflowers · 20/05/2025 18:19

It does seem unfair that people using the nursery Tuesday to Friday are rarely affected but Monday users get this often. It would be much fairer to share the cost of it between all customers in the same way most businesses allow for the cost of staff leave when calculating their prices.

RaininSummer · 20/05/2025 18:20

I think they should build it into their fees so it isn't seen as being charged for no service just covered by the company out of all revenue.

footpath · 20/05/2025 18:20

I get paid for bank holidays so can't agree.

Mynewnameis · 20/05/2025 18:20

Some change Some don't. It will be reflected in fees either way.
One reason i decided to drop working Monday when I reduced my hours!

amele · 20/05/2025 18:21

My child goes 4 days a week and I purposely picked Tuesday-Friday to avoid the bank holiday issue

footpath · 20/05/2025 18:22

I'm p/t but work Mondays so I can get paid for bank holidays.

MoistVonL · 20/05/2025 18:24

“From their profits”

OP, if you think nurseries can afford to pay every staff member for eight extra days a year without raising their prices you are living in a dream world.

Shatteredallthetimelately · 20/05/2025 18:25

I do see where your'e coming from. My GC goes to nursery school 3 days a week, not on Monday's for the very reason you've wrote your post about, but if they go away on holiday for a week/fortnight the invoice is still for the full 3 days, there's no leeway.

Nursery would save on nappies, wipes and meals but rent, utilities and wages all still need paying.

heidyho · 20/05/2025 18:25

Mine were only in on a Monday and Tuesday at one stage and I felt short changed too! But then I looked at is as I'm off anyway so it doesn't matter. However , my workplace only gets one of the May bank holidays so I had to pay the nursery and also pay for an alternative childminder too. That was frustrating.

Whoarethoseguys · 20/05/2025 18:26

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:09

I literally say in my post I don’t begrudge the staff a day off. That’s not what this is about.

How do you expect the nursery to cover costs? They either have to charge more per hour or charge for the bank holiday.

WhatMe123 · 20/05/2025 18:28

I'm pretty sure most nurseries aren't making much profit op there's limited funds to go around so you just pay for bank holiday as we all still pay for Christmas Day if it lands on a week day etc it's just how it is

Doseofreality · 20/05/2025 18:30

I have friends who work frontline NHS, they are being charged for closed nurseries on Monday and have to find additional childcare to cover their shift!

Theunamedcat · 20/05/2025 18:33

I don't mind paying for their wages on the day off I did object to paying for food on a bank holiday for my child especially when he had a packed lunch 😂

GotToWearShades · 20/05/2025 18:35

Many of us have to work on Bank Hols. Nurseries - like shops and the uni I work for - should be open. Those parents needing the nursery services on that day should pay, nursery staff covering that day should get extra pay or time off in lieu. Parents not using the nursery that day shouldn't pay. The staff not working that day should get their usual salary.

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:36

Whoarethoseguys · 20/05/2025 18:26

How do you expect the nursery to cover costs? They either have to charge more per hour or charge for the bank holiday.

I think charging more per hour would be fairer and would be minuscule as well spread across all the children, all year.

OP posts:
Digdongdoo · 20/05/2025 18:38

Why did you sign the contract then?

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:42

Ah, the triumphant ‘gotcha’ moment.

I signed the contract because I needed childcare because I have to work. This doesn’t mean I agree with this particular policy. I believe it is unfair and wrong to only charge some parents for bank holidays.

OP posts:
Communitywebbing · 20/05/2025 18:45

RaininSummer · 20/05/2025 18:20

I think they should build it into their fees so it isn't seen as being charged for no service just covered by the company out of all revenue.

I agree. The nursery has to find the money to pay staff for bank holidays and it could be found by slightly increasing the day rate for all their customers. Astonishing that any parents at all choose Mondays as one of their days, unless full time.

FedupofArsenalgame · 20/05/2025 18:45

LegoLandslide · 20/05/2025 18:12

Yes, for everything else you pay a little extra every other working day and it works itself out. Nursery is the only example I've come across where you literally pay extra for a service you don't receive, if you only access it part time.

I agree it's annoying but I also accept that being annoyed is pointless as its now an industry standard.

I used to find it annoying also. Nearly always had to work bank holidays and pay for childcare twice. Once for nursery he couldn't attend and once for a childminder who worked BH. If I didn't work the BH I didn't get paid

2020Raquet · 20/05/2025 18:46

I agree with you OP. Staff annual leave is a part of overheads which should be included in their overall daily rate, charged fairly and equally to everyone.

Yes there are still rates, electricity, insurance and other overheads to pay on non working days, but they don’t specifically ask everyone to cough up for weekends do they. Banks holidays should be the same.

They are a service provider and not providing the service. Therefore they shouldn’t charge. It’s the same as a coffee shop charging you for your daily coffee on a day when they’re closed.

Realistically you would end up paying anyway for in increased rates, but it would be split between all service users the same as non prescripted annual leave.

VinnieVanLowe · 20/05/2025 18:50

I never got charged for bank holidays. If I went on holiday I’d expect to pay as the service is being provided but I am choosing not to use it. On a bank holiday no service is being provided.

Yes, I get paid for bank holidays but my clients don’t get charged as I haven’t carried out any work for them. Similarly I wouldn’t expect to get charged for a day when a nursery is not offering me any childcare.

The Nursery should surely work out their annual running costs and the number of days they are open as a starting point for calculating fees. That is what any other company does that has to pay salaries on a bank holiday but no money is being received. I really don’t see why nurseries are any different and why so many people think it is fine to charge for services which are not available on a bank holiday. Slightly higher daily fees for everyone seems to me to be far preferable to charging for days on which no service is provided.

Ponderingwindow · 20/05/2025 18:50

There are two options

option 1: the nursery takes the total they need to charge you and divides by 52 or 12 and you pay a flat, predictable rate which means you end up knowingly paying for bank holidays.

option 2: the nursery takes the total they need to charge you and divides by the number of days you actually use. Then they have to send you an invoice for just those days. You have to adjust your payment each billing period. You have extra hassle, but end up paying the same amount over the course of the year. However, you don’t have the mental burden of thinking about paying for bank holidays.

HollyBerryz · 20/05/2025 18:50

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:42

Ah, the triumphant ‘gotcha’ moment.

I signed the contract because I needed childcare because I have to work. This doesn’t mean I agree with this particular policy. I believe it is unfair and wrong to only charge some parents for bank holidays.

Why don't you get paid for bank holidays?

bouncinround · 20/05/2025 18:51

A lot of people don’t @HollyBerryz !

OP posts: