to be annoyed at pre-school saying they now don't have a morning place for my DD

[Tapster]

Went to see a pre-school 6 weeks ago for my DD to go to at age 2.2 - earlier than I wanted her to attend pre-school but they said they only did Sept or Jan entry. I signed her up for two mornings a week from January sent off a £100 deposit got an email confirming it all.

Got a call at 7pm this evening from woman - a bit late to think about these things IMO. She said there is now no place, and I shouldn't have been confirmed a place. They now can only offer my DD two afternoon sessions and also it was a minimum of 3 mornings a week and I couldn't sign up for 2 anyway.

I was so shocked I said I'd get back to her. At just over 2 my DD will hopefully be still napping in the afternoon. I wanted her to go to pre-school in ther morning, get tired and so have a long afternoon nap - so a double wammy .

I have no family help and trying to ttc no.2 so wanted a bit of break when pregnant/new baby.

I'm so disappointed at the nursery and being treated this way that I don't think I want my DD to go there anyway. Unfortunately there are no other options for under 3s for pre-school rather than nursery round here.

I know they are having trouble filling their afternoon places, and I have heard its difficult to switch from afternoon to morning sessions at a later date, despite them saying it "could" be possible. Dh thinks they are trying it on but very annoyed anyway.

very poor that they are messing you around - if they are so disorganised they don't know what places they are, funny how they aren't disorganised when it comes to taking your money off you. YANBU.

It sounds suspiciously like someone else has been given priority over you.

Write them a letter telling them you don't accept the changes and you will be sticking to the mornings you both originally agreed as you have now accepted a part-time job for those hours, on the basis that they had already agreed to give you the place.

OK word the letter something like this:

Dear X

Further to our telephone conversation yesterday, I am sorry to advise you that I am unable to alter my arrangements and move from mornings to afternoon.

I look forward to seeing you on (insert date of first playgroup session here).

Best regards

It's a clear attempt on their part to break the contract. I would second the letter idea, maybe something like this:

Dear X

As a business person I am sure you are aware that by taking my deposit and confirming by e-mail my daughter's place for X and X mornings, you entered into a legal contract with me.

I appreciate that it is difficult to co-ordinate everyone's requirements to ensure that you fill every session, however in this instance I regret that I am not able to vary our agreement as I have made plans based on the offered sessions.

If you have any queries feel free to contact me, otherwise I look foward to seeing you at Xam on X January.

Yours sincerely .....

Not the nicest way to start off though. Good luck.

They are definately trying it on. I would suspect that someone else is trying to take the am sessions and they are trying to accommodate them over you. If they have taken a deposit and confirmed the place in writing they should honour that. I would check out their prospectus or any information you were given to find out about the 3 morning rule. I would insist that you can not take afternoons and you would like the morning sessions they agreed you could have.

They've broken the contract and definitely have no right to keep your deposit. Sunny Delight's letter is great - go for it, I'd say.

No you are not. Don't let them push you around and don't take afternoons or you will never have a moments peace.

Thanks for the replies. Got a montessori nursery confirmed place Sept 2009 - phoned to check today in a paranoid moment. But they insist on DD going 4 mornings a week, all the kids do. I had hoped she could go 2-3 terms at a caring well regarded pre-school and build up to the 4 days slowly. Thinking about it I think she will be unsettled by moving nurseries so may stick to september and just enjoy looking after her for 8 months - I'm probably mad!

My concern about the letters (while thinking they are good) is that it will cause bad feeling and would you want them looking after your child under those circumstances?

With my son, I started him on 2 sessions and then gradually added an extra one until he was doing 5 mornings to be used to going all week for school.

If you don't need her to go to pre-school Tapster then I think you're making the right decision in waiting until September. Yes, you are in the right and I am a great one for standing up for people's rights but starting off as "stroppy mum" isn't the best way to go.