Page 2 | Nursery now charging for days not open

EdPops · 2023-03-08T12:50:37+00:00

My 2 x DS's attend nursery Mon–Fri and in the few years they've been there it's been policy for the nursery to charge for all bank holidays in a year even though they are closed. I've seen this topic discussed elsewhere and i know a lot of people find this policy frustrating, me included. However we've just been told that as of April this year our nursery will also be charging for the 2 weeks they close over xmas. On top of this they're introducing 3 additional closure days across the year which we will also be charged to allow the nursery to 'provide critical training and well-being support to our staffing team'. The letter begins by claiming 'it is common practice for nursery settings to charge for closure periods'. So, what are your experiences with nurseries, are you charged for closure dates? I assume there's little to be done if we still want our children to attend? Fees are approximately £70 per child per day, they're both in full-time so it's no insubstantial amount.

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ShesThunderstorms · 08/03/2023 15:11

Were charged for bank hols, which like you say is annoying but it's in our contract so we signed to say we were ok with it.
Our nursery decided they were closing at 3pm for 2 weeks over Christmas last year, which wasn't in our contract and with having two kids currently in nursery 3 days a week, was going to be 18 hours we were paying for but not getting, not to talk of having to get the time off work to pick them up on time.
I dropped it into conversation when I was talking to the area manager about something completely different and she had absolutely no idea about this and told me that absolutely wouldn't be happening and that it wasn't in our contract because it wasn't something the nursery does!

In your situation I'd be expecting them to reconsider OR to not be charging you for the closure over Christmas/the 3 days over the year. Have you got your contract with them handy? If it doesn't say it in there, surely they can't do it?

Newyeardietstartstomorrow · 08/03/2023 15:14

I think it'll be to cover the wages the staff still have to be paid for bank holidays and mandatory training days. The nursery still had the same costs (except food and heat) when closed for bank holidays and must pass these on. One of our nurseries has just gone bust due to rising costs.

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 15:22

“Have you got your contract with them handy? If it doesn't say it in there, surely they can't do it?”

I assume that, as this starts in April, the nursery is giving 1 month notice of a change to contract terms.

Sanch1 · 08/03/2023 15:25

We arent charged for closure weeks or bank holidays. During covid we werent charged when they werent open.

shelbyger · 08/03/2023 15:28

Ours do not charge for days they are not open. They are able all year round Mon-Fri but closed for 2 weeks at Christmas. We do not pay for those 2 weeks as I would expect to be honest!

I think that's really bad. I know some places do charge for the bank holidays but I'm not sure it's coming place to charge for 2 whole weeks off at Christmas time!

TeenDivided · 08/03/2023 15:32

It would be fairer to put the daily rate up to cover bank holidays and closure days.

Otherwise if eg your children are in on a Monday with more ban holidays you are paying disproportionately more.

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 15:52

It’s like selling 90g chocolate for the previous price of 100g rather than raising the price. Just optics of a price rise.

TeenDivided · 08/03/2023 15:58

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 15:52

It’s like selling 90g chocolate for the previous price of 100g rather than raising the price. Just optics of a price rise.

It is 'fair' for the OP whose children go in 5 days a week - they will get the same price rise regardless.

Less fair for those whose children go in part time if those days are more hit by closure days than others.

RedEyeBaby · 08/03/2023 16:05

Missing the point of the thread entirely but 2x70, how can anyone afford this? I was a teacher and my take home was 75 per day, minus 10 travel. I'm now a sahm and have too much of a gap to go back properly.

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 16:21

TeenDivided · 08/03/2023 15:58

It is 'fair' for the OP whose children go in 5 days a week - they will get the same price rise regardless.

Less fair for those whose children go in part time if those days are more hit by closure days than others.

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Mine was a cross post with yours rather than a direct response... but it isn't up to the nursery to be fair to all possible customers. They make an offering and you can choose to go there (if, let's say, you are part time with Fridays off) and to another provider if it doesn't suit your working pattern.

There's always posts on MN figuring out part time holiday allowance and bank holidays, it's a puzzler.

Barannca · 08/03/2023 16:59

They still have to cover their costs when they are not open.
I guess they will either charge when they are not open or they will increase their hourly rate. Either way the costs will be passed on.

FUSoftPlay · 08/03/2023 17:34

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 16:21

Mine was a cross post with yours rather than a direct response... but it isn't up to the nursery to be fair to all possible customers. They make an offering and you can choose to go there (if, let's say, you are part time with Fridays off) and to another provider if it doesn't suit your working pattern.

There's always posts on MN figuring out part time holiday allowance and bank holidays, it's a puzzler.

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Yes my kids used to do Mon, Thursday and Friday so I was hit by every BH. Managed to swap my Monday but not Friday.

BelindaBears · 08/03/2023 17:38

We paid for Bank Holidays but not the 2 week closure period (which included 4 half days training). We paid for 50 weeks a year rather than 52.

Original poster

EdPops · 08/03/2023 18:42

ZacharinaQuack · 08/03/2023 13:28

We are charged the same amount monthly, but the understanding is that we're being charged for the days they are open, but spread equally across all the months. So we do pay the same amount for December, but it's not the same as paying for 'closure periods'.

Our monthly invoices vary depending on number of days in the month, December has been much less up to now because of Xmas.

OP posts:

Original poster

EdPops · 08/03/2023 18:52

NuffSaidSam · 08/03/2023 13:29

For obvious reasons they need to increase the money coming in. They can do this by charging for the two weeks holiday or increasing the hourly rate, you're going to pay for it either way so I wouldn't feel too put out about it. Would you prefer they up the day rate instead?

I should have added, they are putting the daily rates up as well, twice in fact! The first increase came into effect in January, the second increase will come into effect in September.

OP posts:

Original poster

EdPops · 08/03/2023 19:15

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 14:46

Have just done a quick calculation - £70x52x5 is about the same as £75x48x5 (allowing two weeks closure, 8 bank holidays and 3 training days)

So I suspect if they didn’t charge these days, your day rate would go up about £5.

This is on top of a day rate increase, the first increase was in January and the second will be in September

OP posts:

Original poster

EdPops · 08/03/2023 19:27

ShesThunderstorms · 08/03/2023 15:11

Were charged for bank hols, which like you say is annoying but it's in our contract so we signed to say we were ok with it.
Our nursery decided they were closing at 3pm for 2 weeks over Christmas last year, which wasn't in our contract and with having two kids currently in nursery 3 days a week, was going to be 18 hours we were paying for but not getting, not to talk of having to get the time off work to pick them up on time.
I dropped it into conversation when I was talking to the area manager about something completely different and she had absolutely no idea about this and told me that absolutely wouldn't be happening and that it wasn't in our contract because it wasn't something the nursery does!

In your situation I'd be expecting them to reconsider OR to not be charging you for the closure over Christmas/the 3 days over the year. Have you got your contract with them handy? If it doesn't say it in there, surely they can't do it?

It forms part of a new contract they're asking us to sign before March 20th

OP posts:

Original poster

EdPops · 08/03/2023 19:28

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 15:22

“Have you got your contract with them handy? If it doesn't say it in there, surely they can't do it?”

I assume that, as this starts in April, the nursery is giving 1 month notice of a change to contract terms.

Correct, it's part of the new contract we need to sign

OP posts:

kirinm · 08/03/2023 19:45

We had to pay for bank holidays and two weeks a year where they weren't open.

qpmz · 08/03/2023 20:01

It should be the same monthly fee regardless of holidays. That way you know where you stand. Staff need paid holidays and running costs have risen. Most are already on minimum wage and doing long hours.

Bree82 · 08/03/2023 20:11

Oh this is all a bit confusing. The nursery we will send LO to closes 2 weeks over Christmas/new year and 2 weeks in the summer to give the staff proper breaks, which I’ve already booked off work, but we don’t pay for that. So during those periods there will be a 6 week gap between invoices. It’s open the rest of the time apart from good Friday and Easter Monday Which is good as I don’t get automatic days off on bank holidays (get a lot of leave so technically get them in lieu but can book them in still), So we only pay for 48 weeks. I hadn’t realised some nurseries charge for days they are not in. I’m not sure if mine does charge for those 2 bank holidays but if they do at least it’s only 2!

fruitandfibreg · 08/03/2023 20:13

That's so greedy! They don't have to close for 2 weeks over Christmas they could just take the BH!

SheilaFentiman · 08/03/2023 20:17

fruitandfibreg · 08/03/2023 20:13

That's so greedy! They don't have to close for 2 weeks over Christmas they could just take the BH!

I assume it’s bloody impossible to staff over Xmas, given most people want that time off.

MumOf2workOptions · 08/03/2023 20:20

It's not "common practice" at all
I'd report this to offstead

I've used a combination of nursery and childminders and If they close for 2 weeks at Christmas or a week in Easter or summer there is no charge

Nursery charge full price if kids are poorly my childminder charges 50% which is fair enough

I'd be really annoyed with that, also i just told my partner about this thread he said if they are claiming the 15/30hr funding while they're closed this could be classes as a fraudulent claim!

Ljc1985 · 08/03/2023 20:21

ZacharinaQuack · 08/03/2023 13:28

We are charged the same amount monthly, but the understanding is that we're being charged for the days they are open, but spread equally across all the months. So we do pay the same amount for December, but it's not the same as paying for 'closure periods'.

This is the same for us. Same amount every month even with them closed over a week for Christmas