Nursery now charging for days not open

[EdPops]

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.

I mean. Thinking of teenage years even… Come to think of it having a child is expensive regardless 😂

@Bree82 after school care is very cheap (comparatively) and holiday clubs aren't quite as expensive as nursery. They'll feel cheaper anyway once you're not paying ££££ per month.

My DS is with a childminder rather than nursery however she never charges for when she takes holidays.

My 1 & 2 year old both attend 5 days a week and we are charged for all bank holidays, snow days, sick days and the closure between Christmas and New Year. We are also charged if we take the kids out for a week if we go on holiday for example, even if we give 6 months+ notice so they can adjust staff ratios.
I really begrudge the Christmas one and bank hols tho - luckily I work a 9-2-5 job now so I am also off and getting paid, but 10 years ago when my eldest was in nursery it used to cripple me as I worked in hospitality so did not get these days off, and had to pay for alternative childcare on top of the normal nursery fees.

Oh that’s good to know!
im also thinking by then LO can spend time with grandparents etc in summer (we don’t live near enough for regular help so go weekend and holidays)

Oh I just assumed childminders did get paid for holidays! Just like a nanny would etc or that you would in another job, get paid leave etc.
so I guess it’s somewhere between nannying and babysitting in terms of pay? ie babysitters only get paid for when the sit. I don’t even think they get paid when people cancel? But then normally babysitting is extra, not a main job.
do childminders still get paid if the kids are sick and can’t go or if the parents take holidays?

Aw paying for extra childcare would be a bummer :/
im glad I I know all the days nursery will be shut so far and can book it off work easy,
but did not think about snow closures etc… hopefully my work would be closed on the same days if it’s that bad!
anyone get emergency care days for children with their work? Kind of like sick day entitlement but for your kids?
does it count of nursery closes in emergency eg or only if kid is sick??

@Bree82 yes they do. It's not their fault your child is sick.

Ultimately childminders can do what they want and it's up to you whether you agree to it or not. We are in London and spaces are extremely limited so finding one you like who has space is difficult.

Oh that’s good they get paid when kids are sick. I just wondered as I genuinely thought they get paid for holidays would as it’s their main job so I’m curious on how it all goes!

No, legally the minimum number of days paid annual leave which any employer has to give their full time staff is 28 days which is 20 days plus 8 bank holidays so they have to pay their staff for the bank holiday anyway. Absolutely no reason why they should inconvenience parents by closing unnecessarily then pass the cost on. Shamefully rinsing people!

Our nursery doesn't charge (or close) for bank holidays or for the two weeks it closes over Christmas. It's open year round except those two weeks, and they took one day for Queen's funeral and another for King's Coronation, both of which we were refunded for if our child was due to attend.