Pre School Fees

[Lynseydee76]

My son started school this September and previously attended pre school.

As he was leaving the pre school to start school it didn't occur to me that I still had to give notice and so having asked me what my son's last day at pre school was going to be they have taken the six weeks notice from the date of my reply and so they are charging me up to the 15th September.

Originally they told me the figure would be what it would be with the funding my son was entitled to. They then sent me a chaser letter stating a different amount. When I queried why the amount owing was considerably more the response was that as they are unable to get the funding the price has gone up.

I sent a cheque for the original amount stating that I thought it was irrelevant that they were unable to get funding for my son as he is no longer in their care. They have subsequently e-mailed me to say that they no longer take cheques as payment and that I have to pay either by bank transfer or card and that the full amount is to be paid.

I was just wondering where I stood on this? Am I liable to pay the full amount or should I just bank transfer the amount of the cheque and see whether they take any further action?

Any help or advice would be appreciated. As a single mum I could do with not paying anything I don't need to.

Thanks

They are not taking the piss, because school start can be deferred or you might be about to move or whatever.

The only time the notice period does not apply is when the DC leaves because they have reached the maximum age permitted for that setting (not then minimum for starting somewhere else).

Yes, it's an expensive lesson to learn as parents.

But you must read the T&Cs and expect them to apply in all circumstances unless precisely specified (there is nothing in the bit OP quotes that says 'this does not apply for those leaving to join a reception class')

Most settings have insurances for legal fees and are quite likely to pursue the matter. Do think about how much energy you have for a fight of that kind, which you are far from sure of winning (and in which a loss will cost you more than the outstanding bill).

As you have not been paying by cheque routinely, it is of course totally reasonable for them not to accept one from you at this point.

The thing is that until you told them his last day was going to be 24th August they had to keep his place open because you would have been entirely within your rights to keep sending him there until 15th September despite imminent school. When my dc1 started reception, the first week there was no school as the teachers spent the week going on home visits. The second week they only went in for half the week so that there could be a less crowded classroom 15 at a time. I kept the preschool place (and paid for it) until the end of that second week. Others didn't and gave notice sooner.

Even though they knew your child was leaving some time this autumb they had no information aboutwhat his last day was until you told them.

Until 4th August when you gave notice that place was your to do as you wished. On 5th August they would be able to offer a place to a child on the waiting list but that child would be unlikely to take up the place that day - it would probably take 6 weeks to work through the process of the parents giving notice to their current childcare provider and organising the settling in.

Preschools operate on very tight margins and allowing a place to stand empty for 3 weeks unpaid for could have a serious impact.

I think this money is legitimately owed. Including the higher amount because they can't get the government funding any more (one of the things you signed when your child got his school place was a form to transfer the government funding from the preschool to the school where he is now in reception. The government won't fund both, and only funds in whole terms, so this is reasonable)

HSM but that is what implied term means, that as he was going to be starting school he was going to be leaving hence no reason to be giving notice.

Apple I notified them that his last day would be the 24th August but have paid up to the end of August. School started here on the 5th September and he wouldn't have been at pre school on the 1st September as he only attended Mondays, Tuesdays and Wednesdays.