After Schools

[Tabitha889]

Wondering if IABU
I gave prior notice to after schools provider that my child would not require provision for an afternoon this month as they had a prior engagement. Notification received. Didn’t hear anything more and had detailed that I would be in contact again when prior engagement stopped - it’s a one off activity that lasts 5 weeks. Today I received an invoice from after school provider for the afternoons I had cancelled (we only use them one day). When I queried this, they said that the day must still be paid for.

It’s a retainer fee to keep your place available and entirely usual practice in childcare.

I would expect to pay for a missed session. They are still holding a place for your child.

What’s their cancellation policy? Did you give whatever notice you’re supposed to?

The staff still need their wages even if your child wasn't there.

You either give up the place completely so another child can use it or have a paid for place that you aren't using.

Same as with all childcare

Are you expecting their place to be kept open for 5 weeks even though she isn't attending? I don't think that's the way it works.

What does your contract with them say?

Essentially they can’t fill the one day a week space for 5 weeks with anyone else, as you still want the space in 5 weeks time. So they lose money.

If you want to risk losing the space for in 5 weeks time, then you would need to cancel your space……. then cross your fingers and hope that no-one else takes it in that time.

If you want to guarantee the space is held open for you to have again in 5 weeks time, then you should pay for it.

Stand corrected. I had given one month notice.

But you're not really giving notice if you'll then want the space again a week after your 1 month notice has ended? If you want the space for each week going forward except these few weeks then surely it makes more sense to pay and retain the space?

Given you expected the place to be kept available for your child then entirely normal that you'd still have to pay.

Yes but what notice are you actually required to give? There would have been a cancellation policy somewhere when you booked it.
Also, are you allowed to book it adhoc or is it done termly? If it’s adhoc then you should be cancel odd days so long as you give the correct notice. If it’s termly then you won’t be able to give up odd days and also hold you future spot.

If you stated you would let them know when you will need the place again, they’re keeping it open for you. They aren’t going to do that for free, so they invoiced you.

Didn’t hear anything more and had detailed that I would be in contact again when prior engagement stopped - it’s a one off activity that lasts 5 weeks.

You're paying to keep the place open if you want to return in 5 weeks.

Completely normal.

But after the 5 weeks, you want your child to attend again so youre paying for the place so that his place is not given away to someone else.

They won't be able to afford to run with spaces and are really unlikely to get a child who wants

• that one afternoon
• for just 5 weeks
• for the specific weeks your child is doing the other activity

So either they get a child who wants it for long term so then it's not there for your child when their other activity finishes.

OR

You want the space to be available 5 weeks later. So they can't get another child to take the space, which means they need to get the income for that space from you during that 5 weeks.

Depends on the contract. I think most of DSs clubs want a minimum of half terms notice for cancellation, and it sounds like you didn’t notify them you wanted to cancel anyway - just your DC wouldn’t be there in which case you’d still be paying to hold the spot.