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Nursery fees - Martin Lewis on This Morning

18 replies

rossKemp · 04/05/2020 13:08

Did anyone see Martin Lewis on This Morning today? Apparently if nurseries aren’t providing you with childcare due to restrictions imposed by corona virus, you’ll legally entitled to a refund for services not provided.

What does everyone think about this?

OP posts:
BuffaloCauliflower · 04/05/2020 13:11

Legally you might be entitled and I’m sure you could demand it, but you might well find there’s no nursery to send your child back to when the time comes

rossKemp · 04/05/2020 13:19

Why not? When nursery staff would be entitled for furlough pay from the government?

OP posts:
Floatyboat · 04/05/2020 13:21

I honestly don't get why people have carried on paying

LaureBerthaud · 04/05/2020 13:23

I honestly don't get why people have carried on paying

Me neither but it's become a MN badge of honour to declare you're paying nursery/child minder/cleaner because you've not be financially impacted.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 04/05/2020 13:26

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Lumene · 04/05/2020 13:41

Ours is keeping deposits and shows no sign of returning or even reducing fees offset by them.

HappyDinosaur · 04/05/2020 13:44

Ours is 25% during this period, which I think is reasonable to ensure it will still be there when everything gets back to normal. Being entitled to something legally doesn't always mean it is the right or best thing to do. Everyone is in a different position.

cstaff · 04/05/2020 13:54

The 80% is covering staff costs but not rent, rates and whatever other costs are involved. This applies to all businesses though that operates out of a premises so I think nurseries are being very cheeky and using the fact that your child likes it there and you don't want to go through the ordeal of finding a new place and your dc getting used to it etc.

Thefaceofboe · 04/05/2020 13:55

Lots of small businesses are going to go under because of this, why do you think childcare providers are any different? They are underfunded as it is by the government

Nofunkingworriesmate · 04/05/2020 13:56

We were told we didn’t need to pay and obviously haven’t, childminders are different specially ones who weren’t official nor paying tax

Thefaceofboe · 04/05/2020 13:56

And it’s fair enough if you don’t want to pay, then don’t, but don’t complain when they aren’t there to provide you childcare anymore.

Constantlurker · 04/05/2020 14:57

Nurseries are no longer allowed to fulough their staff, so it's likely many will have to shut.

www.nurseryworld.co.uk/news/article/government-makes-u-turn-on-nurseries-access-to-furlough-cash

Not sure how the government thinks it'll get the economy back on its feet when half the workforce can't actually go back to work because nurseries have gone out of business!

FoxtrotSkarloey · 04/05/2020 15:05

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Constantlurker · 04/05/2020 15:10

@foxtrotscarloey interesting point, I guess I'm confused because if the funding is for only aged 3 and up, what happens to the fees and staff salaries for those caring for 0-3yr olds? Surely that side of the nursery business isn't being funded by the government?

LetsGoFlyAKiteee · 04/05/2020 15:16

Nursery I work at shut because we weren't getting enough children in but stopped charging fees. Still bit confused by the situation but think some of our 80% is coming from the nursery itself.

Funding from goverment is only about 4/5 pounds per child so some nurseries were already struggling with that before this.

FoxtrotSkarloey · 04/05/2020 15:17

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Comefromaway · 04/05/2020 15:18

Martin Lewis is not an expert in contractual law or employment law (as those of us dealing with furloughing have found out.

If you have paid for a service and it is not being provided then, you are entitled to a refund.

If, however the nursery is asking for a retainer fee to save your place for when they re-open, that is a contractual matter between you and you can decide whether to pay it and guarantee a place for your child or not pay it, and risk you place being given to someone else. Essentially you are placing them on standby for when they are allowed to re-open which could be short notice or could be a long time away.

How popular a nursery is and how likely it is you can source alternative childcare when needed.

Littlemissdaredevil · 04/05/2020 17:35

There was a press release from the government last week saying that companies are not allowed to double charge and end up profiting from the furlough scheme. So basically companies can claim furlough but then only charge for the costs not covered by furlough (or by the free hours entitlement)

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