Can I choose nursery days week by week?

[MinimalistMe]

probably a silly question as I haven't properly looked into this yet. I am about to start work 1-2 days per week, these days will be different week by week (one week may be Tues, next week may be Mon/Thurs)

I would like my child (3 year old) to go into nursery on the days that I work, but would he be able to do different days each week? I could give the nursery a month's notice as to which days I'll be working.

Just wondered if this was something that happens and is allowed.

Wildly unlikely this would work for any nursery unless you paid for five days a week but only used the days you needed. They might do that at a slightly reduced fee as the days you don't use your child wouldn't be consuming supplies.

Depends on the nursery, most nurseries it is the same days each week. Some nurseries are more flexible than some.

Nursery worker here. This wouldn't be allowed where I work due to staff ratios. You may want your child in on a Monday one week but the next week want a Wednesday when your child's room at at their capacity. It just wouldn't work.

No

No it screws up ratios. If you need flexibility you’ll need to pay for 5 days and then only use the days you need.

No, they need to plan staff ratios. You chopping & changing would make that very difficult.

Entirely nursery dependant. There are a few nurseries locally (South Wales) that offer flexible days for shift workers. There's probably a minimum day expectation but if you need 3 days that should be fine. See if you have any local mums Facebook groups and ask for specific recommendations - you won't be the only person in a similar position.

Generally no. But the one I used specifically catered to hospital staff (though was open to all) and I know was flexible with staff with changing shifts. To what extent I am not sure.

Thank you for your responses, makes perfect sense for it not to be doable. I think I'll book up the five days and use what I need

Nope - we ended up doing 5 morning a a week and then asked for the afternoon sessions to be added on certain days as additional. Our preschool was quite flexible, but nursery may suggest placing full time! You could try a nanny - they might offer flexi?

With a month's notice, you might still be able to ask if you could pay for at least 3-4 days instead of 5, especially if at least one of your rota days is Monday or Friday as they're usually less booked.

I'd expect to get a no, but 5 days is so expensive that it's at least worth asking.

Every nursery we've used wouldn't as you pay to "hold a place" on that day as it were, otherwise nurseries would be out of pocket as they won't be able to fill random days that you don't need. You may strike lucky and find one that is open to being flexible but I'd go in with the assumption that they won't. X

No; sadly. We used to be able to do this, with the caveat that some weeks the days we needed wouldn't be available and we wouldn't have childcare - but it's got a LOT harder recently, nurseries are filling up and don't have empty spaces to be flexible with.

I'd operate on the assumption that most nurseries sadly couldn't do this.

I would advise ringing sooner rather than later OP. When I moved to the area, nurseries around here were booked up years in advance. And the nursery I did manage to get my DD into has now posted on social media that they are fully booked until Sept 24.

If you booked 5 days of nursery when you only work 2 days, you’ll be losing money. Do you have any idea how much nursery costs? You’re going to lose hundreds every week.

You might find a childminder who can be more flexible but you’ll struggle to find a nursery that can do those days

There are some nurseries that operate that way. maybe try ones near hospitals? My friend uses one where she has to pre-book the days she needs, I'm not sure how far in advance she has to book, but some weeks where she wasn't quick enough to book she had to take AL to cover childcare as they didn't manage to get in at all. Best of luck!

We have 1 nursery in my area that accommodates shift workers changing patterns. It's also the most expensive in the area though I'm not sure whether that's due to their flexibility (and therefore needing more staff availability) or because it's a chain.

I found a childminder who was flexible and had my DD according to my shifts.

DD also attended a local council preschool 3 mornings a week and my childminder would take and pick her up if she went on my work days. The pre school was for education and socialisation before she started school and would go if I was at work or not.

I think it’s rare but does exist. My friend uses a nursery which lets her change her days, she just fills in a form for each month. It also means if they go on holiday or don’t need the nursery for a week they don’t pay.

We used to use a flexible childminder for this reason.

I suspect the best approach would be to make a flexible working request to work the same days each week.

Ours does with a months notice. I presume you probably pay a bit more though.

I used a childminder when DD was small to cover a rolling shift pattern. Paying for a full time place when you only need 2 days per week is financial suicide.

I did find a nursery that supported a rolling shift pattern when she was a bit older but they only did it as they were a new nursery and desperate for children!

This is what I'm hoping for, and at least I know what to ask for when I ring around