Can I have your views please re registration fees for pre-prep?

[llareggub]

Following an open day and several visits to a lovely pre-prep over the summer, DH and I paid a small registration fee (£50) to register DS at the nursery of a pre-prep.

Over the last few months we've had second thoughts, as I am now pregnant and the nursery would involve driving through the rush hour which would take an unfeasibly long time. I've also found a small village pre-school which has had an excellent Ofsted, which would take about 5 minutes to drive to.

Unfortunately, DH has had a clear out and has lost tidied the stack of paperwork which contained the details. I think I remember a letter asking us to confirm our acceptance of the place and requesting a cheque for a larger amount, which we definitely didn't pay, preferring to keep our money in our account and gambling that they'd still have a place. They also told us that DS couldn't start until he was potty-trained and we've had no discussion of the number of sessions he'll do.

What is worrying me is that we'll have to pay a notice period. DH and I are pretty sure that we just paid a registration fee, and that is different to the fee paid when confirming the place, isn't it?

Do you think we'll be liable for the fees? I can't see how we will be because we haven't agreed when he'll start or how many sessions he'd do, but the only piece of paper I can find is a bit ambiguous.

I'd like to be a little prepared before I ring...

Help!!!!

They normally get you to cough up for a registration fee, then a deposit once the place has been accepted. This is normally refunded by a reduction on the last terms fees for this amount provided you have given them notice. Have you signed a contract saying you have accepted the place?

I remember - I think - that we registered for a place at nursery for dd and paid the registration fee a long time before she was born. When she was born, we agreed a start date, number of sessions and then had to pay a month up front in fees when we confirmed the place. Sounds like yours might be similar to that. If that's the case you've just lost the £50.

The registration fee is usually just to cover the costs of the initial assessment. If you accept a place, you have to pay a much larger amount. Once you do this, you are in, and up for the one-term's notice.

If you are unsure, contact the school.

Lots of families register for schools and do not take their application very much beyond the initial contact.

I think you will just lose the registration plac.

the other amount which you say you haven't paid would, I assume be the deposit confiming your places.

We filled in a form giving our details, which we signed.

Gah. I can't find it.

Would the contract not be the thing that agrees what sessions etc we want? We've not done that.

I don't mind losing the registration fee. If I hadn't found this other pre-school I'd probably put up with the rush hour traffic to get him there.

I guess I'll have to contact the school, or find that blasted paperwork.

Yes, thats the contract. It should tell you about deposit, notice period etc. If you have not signed this then you do not have a contract and are free to cancel. Do it in writing though rather then over the phone so you have some evidence incase they get shirty.

Will do. Thanks for the messages of advice.

I'm off to post for advice on filing systems now.

pretty sure you have just lost the £50. until you send off the larger cheque (which would go towards first term's fees) I don't think you have a contract

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