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Nurseries

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Original poster

Nursery now charging for bank holidays?

30 replies

dottiepeas · 21/01/2011 09:32

Hello there,

Not sure if I should say something or not to the nursery! But basically, little one has been at this nursery for 2 years now. But recently they have made some changes, which we are not too happy about.

The nursery never used to open on Bank Hols. But now decided they are going to open, and we WILL have to pay for Bank holidays, even if your child is not in!!

I am not particularly happy and think its unfair- when they never opened before, and now all parents have to pay, just because they decided that they will open. Whether people asked for it to be open is another thing- but you shouldn't penalise all parents for this? Surely they should only charge those parents extra, if they choose to bring their child in on a Bank Hols?

On top of that, we all have to pay for the whole of December, even though most children are off between christmas and new year. The most annoying thing was I HAD to tell the nursery, if my child was attending or not during those days between christmas and new year- yet I STILL have to pay for those days even if I tell them they are NOT in! Yes- it's about allocating number of staff, so they can bring in LESS staff on those days and save them some more money!!...even when all the parents, have technically paid for those days, yet less staff!

I don't think this is fair, and not what I signed up for when we first joined the nursery. They have changed their terms and conditions to accommodate these new changes, but I personally have not signed or agreed to these new changes.

Should I say something to them or not? Or just find a new nursery!?

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CharlotteBronteSaurus · 21/01/2011 09:34

getting the numbers between xmas and new year will be about deciding who gets paid annual leave.

the staff will be drawing a weekly salary regardless of bank holidays. it's standard practice and IMO perfectly reasonable to keep paying the normal rate during holidays.

Original poster

dottiepeas · 21/01/2011 09:37

That's fine that staff have to be paid for bank hols- who doesn't? But they had to be paid, when the nursery was not open Bank Hols for the last 2 yrs?? My issue is not staff wages! My issue is that ALL parents must pay for Bank Hols at nursery, when they are not going to be in!

Surely, they should charge extra for those parents who wish to bring their child into nursery on a bank holiday?

OP posts:

nurseryvoice · 21/01/2011 09:46

Theyve probably had to do this to remain financially viable.
If you dont like it you are more than entitled to leave as your original contract wouldnt have included this.

Original poster

dottiepeas · 21/01/2011 10:06

I know they are a business, and maybe having to do it stay financially viable. But they are not the only ones feeling the pinch!

Having to pay for all bank hols, would be quite a bit extra for us and other parents to pay out. From a parent's point of view, a blanket charge to all parents for bank hols, whether their child is in or not, is abit unfair? Like I mentioned before, they should charge parents who wish to bring their children in on bank hols, and allocate staff accordingly....

OP posts:

Original poster

dottiepeas · 21/01/2011 10:08

They can't be doing too badly, when they have a brand new jaguar, and range rover on the drive!!!

OP posts:

nurseryvoice · 21/01/2011 12:59

I have 2 cars, nice ones, but thats because myhusband has worked hard for 40 years and myself for nearly 30 years.
People always bring cars up!

I do not charge for bank hols, my daily/weekly rate incorporates this shortfall. (I charge £32 per day)

Like I said earlier if you dont like the nursery fee system changes then move.

Is everything else good with the nursery? with all the upskillling of the industry we have to pay more staff wages and training nowadays.

Im not saying I agree with what theyve done but there must bea reason for it.

CrispyTheCrisp · 21/01/2011 13:07

I would see if you can get a CM, they tend take hols between xmas and new year so no cost and if you can fit in with their holidays will not get charged in the summer. I have not used my CM on a bank holiday, but i don't think she charges unless being used (and then may be at a premium rate).

I do think they are taking the piss tbh. Especially for existing customers. DO you have a copy of your contract signed under the previous arrangements? As you have not signed the new t&C's i would ask them what they intend to do. Are they going to throw you out? if so, then i am not sure i would want my dc's to go there. May be worth asking on the legal boards on here where you stand wrt existing signed T&C's

purepurple · 22/01/2011 07:58

I think you should raise it with the nursery.
Just mention that you are thinking of withdrawing your child because you can't meet the extra costs.
I am pretty sure that your original contract will still be valid.
You might be able to negotiate not paying for bank holidays if you don't use them.
Good luck and let us know how you get on.

KristinaM · 22/01/2011 08:07

Our nursery did this as well. But it was only for new starts, existing children didn't have to change to the new contract. Unless their parents wanted to of course

So I would check with the nursery to see if this change of t and c s actually applies to you

cornishshelley · 22/01/2011 08:19

Our nursery closes for the whole of christmas period and our bills are worked out over 50 weeks not 52 and divided into 12 equal direct debit payments. However they also close for all bank holidays and if your child is normally booked in for the monday you still have to pay even when it's closed. That used to cost me approx £200 per year Funnily enough I've changed my days of work so that DS isn't booked in for mondays anymore.

I understand that a nursery is a business and they need to know numbers for staffing etc but it does seem unfair for them to change their policy and impose this on you without you agreeing to the changes.

Good luck

BalloonSlayer · 22/01/2011 08:25

Perhaps they had customers who work bank holidays and Christmas and were under pressure to open those days?

BeenBeta · 22/01/2011 08:26

Frankly if our DCs nursery had offered bank holiday cover we would have jumped at it. Your child does not know it is bank holiday and will enjoy it just as much. A lot of people have to work on some bank holidays now so for some parents it will work well.

littlerats · 22/01/2011 20:54

just what the nursery my son is at has done - although not all bank holidays, just some random ones (may and august ones). wonder if it's the same nursery.

Mollie1 · 23/01/2011 22:11

If you are that unhappy then maybe you should leave but tbh I think that moving a child from a nursery where they are settled and happy because of a issue such as this would be a strange thing to do...

MichaelaS · 27/01/2011 10:28

At work I get paid a monthly salary that is 1/12th of my annual wage. It does not go up or down if there are bank holidays or if I take annual leave.

Our nursery does the same - you pay 1/12 of the annual cost each month. The cost already includes adjustments for the fact you'll probably take your child out to go on holiday, for bank holidays, and for the fact they're closed between christmas and new year. I think this is totally fair IF that's what you sign up to in the first place. It suits me fine because it matches the way I get paid.

My guess is that you're concerned with the change of T&C because this is a sneaky way of increasing the total charge whilst appearing to have the same daily rate. If your child is happy there I'd be inclined to stay and pay extra if you can afford it - and try to negotiate with the nursery to stay on the old fee scale.

Ellaglover · 06/03/2011 11:16

Dottiepas, I totaly agree with you.

Nurseries take advantage of parents. They don`t see that if there are no customers then there is no business.

They seem to think that we need them and they do not need us.They can always find somebody else to replace your place.

I certainly disagree with this staff salary argument here. You do not sign up to pay staff salary you sign up to pay for the services they provide withing the hours you require. If you had a childminder working foryou then that is a different story all together.

It is completely irrelevant that staff get paid on bank holdays or not. Everyone who is contracted get paid for the weekends as well. Does that mean Ipay forthe weekends as well...They divide your salary by 12 months and pay you monthly / weekly. As I said this is completely irrelevant.

I have been given a letter by the nursery that my little one goes to. They will be opening on bank holidays and if a permenant booking of a child falls those days then we will be charhed.

I showed the letter to my partner who is a solicitor. He is specialised in contract law etc. In the contract that I signed there is no such thing opening on bank holidays and being charged etc.

He has written to the nursery and we are waiting to hear from them.

There is a breach of contract and it is obvious. I am not moving my child and I will not pay for bank holidays and I will go to court if I have to.

The thing is not many parents challange this kind of disputes and they just get away with it.

I am really annoyed by the comment that nurseryvoice made. Leave if you don`t like it..

nurseryvoice · 06/03/2011 15:37

I dont normally "annoy" people. Had to read what I'd put.
I did say that if the poster wasnt happy then they should consider moving?? whats wrong with that?
are you saying that tne nursery should not charge bank holidays? this could lead to financial repercussions for this nursery otherwise why did they introduce it in the first place.
Ive already said I do not charge for bank holidays at my nursery but costs have gone up astronomically in recent months. I also didnt put fees up last year either but this meant I couldnt increase wages either!
I dont know how you can say nurseries (mostly small businesses employing local people)dont respect parents and basically want to get as much money out of them as they can. Maybe you just had bad experiences!
My small nursery serves our small rural community well and we're all proud of it.

newpositiveme · 06/03/2011 16:35

I can understand how this would be annoying given that it has not been the case so far, but I am personally surprised that they have only just implemented this.

After all the vast majority of people will themselves get paid for b/h's wont they, so why should the nursery staff not????

Our nursery bill is a major expense (more than our mortgage until DS goes to school in seprember!!) but i do not begrudge it in any way. I am leaving my most precious 'possessions' there and i want the staff to be as well paid as possible, for that to happen the nursery has to charge a reasonable price dont they??

Ellaglover · 10/03/2011 21:43

I don't hire the nursery staff... If i had a childminder it would be a different story all together.Most employers divide annual salary by 12 and pay monthly. They don't take out weekends and pay salary and yes most people get paid for bank holidays. Does that mean i should pay for weekends as well. People also get paid more if they work on bank holidays.

When hourly rates are worked out all oveheads are taken in to account plus profit. As far as i am concerned i pay the going rate and i shouldn't have to pay extra to cover their loss or contribute in to their profit margin.

If there are parents that require child care they should then be charged at a different rate and staff should get paid more for working those days.

When i go shopping i pay on the way out, no financial comitment, i pay the labeled price for each item and leave.

People get this all wrong,nurseries don't provide childminders, they provide services and i pay the cost of my child's place. I shouldn't have to pay extra to save their business just becouse the nursery does not enough children to meet their profit targets. I can barely cover my own cost.

Ambi · 10/03/2011 21:51

My DD only goes to Nursery Mon & Fri, they are closed on Bank Hols and I have to pay for it, it's a fuckin disgrace, I've argued with them over it but their answer is if you don't like it then leave. Come April they get a month paid by me when they're not open, good isn't it?

Gottakeepchanging · 10/03/2011 21:53

Just all turn up on a bank holiday. See what happens. I suspect the policy will change. You don't have to tell them in advance if it's a normal day for the child to be there.

ABitBatty · 10/03/2011 21:56

Our nursery charges for BH too, even though it's shut :-s

Ambi · 10/03/2011 21:57

I cannot think of another service where you'd pay when they are closed and unable to provide the service they charged for. I don't work B/Hs but if I did, Id have to pay for my child NOT to go to nursery and pay for additional childcare.

Ellaglover · 11/03/2011 12:08

What they are doing is totally out of order. If the contract you signed doesn`t mention anything about bank hols being paid even there is no service provided then take legal advice.

The contract I signed does not mention bank holidays being paid but it says terms and conditons will be reviewed annually and may be changed.

They have now decided to change the T & C and charge me for bank hols. I have taken legal advice and it turned out to be that there is a breach of contract!

They dont pay the girls decent money also the snacks that they provide is all smart price Tesco and Asda rubbish. They dont even have a cleaner on site.

Ellaglover · 17/03/2011 20:53

I have received a letter from the nursery confirming that there is no charge for bank holidays... I win and it is called justice!!! Horeyyy!!

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