Nursery demand DS attends

[Dontlickthebin]

Hi all, looking to get your opinion on this one. I've booked a nursery spot for DS (turning 2yrs old).

We initially booked for the full five days a week. Now the date is arriving (he starts 2 months from now) we think that might be a bit overwhelming so have asked to reduce to 3 days a week.

Nursery declined and said they would only reduce to 4! AIBU or can I not choose how many days my DS attends?

Obviously understand I can pay and not attend - but why should I pay the nursery when I don't want to use it?

Usually you’d need to give notice of a change and dropping from five days to three is a change.

what does your contract say?

They can offer a minimum attendance. If you don't like their terms you can always go elsewhere.

From there point of view they had full place for 5 days
reduce to 3 they may struggle to fill 2 random days so end up losing out
think they’d want you to go elsewhere so they can fill the place with a child that attends 5 days

Because they were counting you for 5 days and probably turned people away who wanted the other two so why should the nursery loose money? Nurseries aren't all wealthy.

The nursery may have made their budget and staffing plan based on having the full time place money coming in. You may need to check your contract for T&Cs

Well you can do whatever you like but if you've signed an agreement you'll need to honour that notice period.
FYI good nursery places are like hens teeth. Before you piss them off, make sure you have a back up plan as they'll be well within their rights to retract your space and give it to another parent who can do 4 or 5 days a week

Because they want to maximise their income by being full and don’t want to have to try and fill a two day a week spot? If you don’t want that anymore then you need to find an alternative that will agree to the provision you want and give appropriate notice to the first nursery. They offered and you agreed to full time - they don’t have to agree to you changing the goalposts. You’re being completely unreasonable.

They've probably turned people away who would have filled the other 2 days.

I guess it's to do with ratios and costs. They probably don't have another child who only wants to do 2 days so then they'll be missing out (you're lucky they were going to allow 4 I guess). I'd find somewhere more flexible. What we think doesn't really matter tbh, the nursery has give you your options. Personally I think 3 days is much better for a 2 year old so I'd stick to that plan and find somewhere else.

It's because someone more profitable could use that space. It's quite usual for nurseries to have minimum hours or days, 4 is a high though it's usually two or three days.

Well you can do whatever you like but if you've signed an agreement you'll need to honour that notice period.
FYI good nursery places are like hens teeth. Before you piss them off, make sure you have a back up plan as they'll be well within their rights to retract your space and give it to another parent who can do 4 or 5 days a week

Our nursery only offers 4 or 5 days. I think it's fairly normal where we live (London).

They will have sorted staffing out based on 5 days

Most nurseries like to be fully booked and staff accordingly. It’s quite hard to specify to someone that their child can only attend two days and dictate which days they are so by dropping two days, you could be depriving them of payment for those two days as they won’t fill the space.

Private nurseries can tell you their terms and conditions and specify exactly what they are happy with. Good nurseries get away with it because the alternative is having to find somewhere else.

Yes this is my worry - when you phrase it like that I think I'll take them meeting me half way!