Active discussions

Are your children’s vaccines up to date?

Set a reminder

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Nurseries

Find nursery advice from other Mumsnetters on our Nursery forum. For more guidance on early years development, sign up for Mumsnet Ages & Stages emails.

Original poster

Nursery requesting 2 months notice

38 replies

RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 16:42

Hello,

My childminder gave notice to the end of December (she’s moving out of the area). In panic, I reserved a space at a local nursery by paying £75 deposit. I am not keen on that nursery.

Today I found a childminder who also runs a small nursery within a space at a church. I loved the settings and felt comfortable so decided to put my LO there.

I emailed the original nursery to say my LO will not be attending. They replied back saying 2 months notice is required therefore my LO’s last day will be the 18th Feb.

My LO has not started yet. No settle in sessions. Nothing. My LO was due to start on 9th January. In the contract it states once the deposit is paid, the spaces are not confirmed until an email is received from the nursery manager. The only email I received was ‘start date of 8th Jan’ which I challenged to say it’s actually the 9th Jan. Then it was just left there.

What are my rights? I was expecting to lose the deposit but not to pay up 2 months notice!

OP posts:
Are your children’s vaccines up to date?
Set a reminder
preppingforlife · 18/12/2023 16:45

Did you sign a contract stating it's 2 month notice regardless of having started? If yes then that's kind of it unless you want to go to small claims court?

Original poster
RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 17:09

I completed a registration form with all details. Is this the same as a contract?

OP posts:
Original poster
RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 17:11

This was in the registration form.

Nursery requesting 2 months notice
OP posts:
mamma65432 · 18/12/2023 17:14

Looks like two months notice, but I suppose that as DC isn't due to start until 8th Jan its about 5 weeks you need to pay?

Boomboom22 · 18/12/2023 17:17

Don't pay anything and lose the 75 deposit, that's what it's for.

PotteringAlonggotkickedoutandhadtoreregister · 18/12/2023 17:20

But they have potentially not offered that place to someone else who wanted it because you have reserved it. There terms seem pretty clear.

Iwishiwasasilentnight · 18/12/2023 17:20

You’ve entered into a contract with them. Looks like you owe them the money from
the start date until 2 months from when you informed them that you won’t be taking the place.

LIZS · 18/12/2023 17:42

2 months from when the days were confirmed. Assume that was 18th December? Was it a full time place, or not Mondays?

NuffSaidSam · 18/12/2023 17:46

RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 17:11

This was in the registration form.

So, it's two months from when you give notice. It won't be all the way until Feb 18th, but 5 weeks from now/when you have them notice.

I'd ask whether the £75 is included in that.

Original poster
RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 18:57

It was for 3 days a week. Tues to Thurs full days.

OP posts:
Original poster
RustyCutter · 18/12/2023 18:57

I gave notice today and the manager said 2 months notice takes me to 18th February.

OP posts:
SarcasmAndCoffee · 18/12/2023 18:59

I really wouldn’t pay. The likelihood of them chasing you is small

poppitypop1 · 18/12/2023 19:16

Based on that wording seems you owe 2 months notice.

poppitypop1 · 18/12/2023 19:19

poppitypop1 · 18/12/2023 19:16

Based on that wording seems you owe 2 months notice.

Assuming they sent the confirmation before you cancelled.

SecondUsername4me · 18/12/2023 19:21

I'd just book the CM to start 19 Feb and send him into Nursery (having served notice today) for the 2 mo the notice period.

It's a pain but it is said there that you have to give 2m notice.

unvillage · 18/12/2023 19:23

I mean, those terms are pretty clear. Your place was confirmed. Now they have a space to fill. Pay the notice period. Nurseries are struggling enough as it is without people weaseling out of T&Cs that they agreed to.

Flyhigher · 18/12/2023 22:15

The nursery nurses get paid minimum wage. Nurseries need the cash.

Original poster
RustyCutter · 19/12/2023 07:40

What is a confirmation exactly? Because the settle in sessions were not confirmed in writing - it was verbal. And the only thing I have in writing is a start date of 9th January. Is this a confirmation?

OP posts:
MissBuffyAnneSummers · 19/12/2023 07:43

It's an unreasonable contract. Don't pay it. Just lose the deposit.

givemethetea · 19/12/2023 07:49

RustyCutter · 19/12/2023 07:40

What is a confirmation exactly? Because the settle in sessions were not confirmed in writing - it was verbal. And the only thing I have in writing is a start date of 9th January. Is this a confirmation?

Sounds like a confirmation to me!

Invisimamma · 19/12/2023 07:56

Yes from that contract it looks like you owe 2 months notice, taking you to 18th Feb. So you'd owe fees for 9th Jan - 18th Feb.

Annon00 · 19/12/2023 07:57

RustyCutter · 19/12/2023 07:40

What is a confirmation exactly? Because the settle in sessions were not confirmed in writing - it was verbal. And the only thing I have in writing is a start date of 9th January. Is this a confirmation?

You clearly need to pay the notice period by the terms of the agreement. It’s clear. I don’t think you can wiggle out. You could not pay and hope they don’t take you to small claims court, but that’s quite a shady thing to do when nurseries are often on the brink of going under.

GrannyAchingsShepherdsHut · 19/12/2023 08:06

Yes, the start date is confirmation - it's confirming she will start, and when.

You do owe the fee to 18th Feb and they could persue you for it if you don't pay. They could take you to small claims court and I would imagine they would almost certainly win.

BEL88 · 19/12/2023 08:07

RustyCutter · 19/12/2023 07:40

What is a confirmation exactly? Because the settle in sessions were not confirmed in writing - it was verbal. And the only thing I have in writing is a start date of 9th January. Is this a confirmation?

Of course this is confirmation!

Original poster
RustyCutter · 19/12/2023 08:08

Appreciate all the answers, thank you. For those who passed judgements - wiggling out of the contract, refusing to pay and that I’m shady etc, shame on you. You have no idea the situation we are in. It was just a question to clarify our position that’s all. Life is miserable as it is with so many negativity happening in the world, nobody needs your judgements. Thank you.

OP posts:
Swipe left for the next trending thread