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Original poster

Is it normal practice to pay for nursery meals when your child hasn’t started yet?

48 replies

BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:33

My son should have started nursery in January, however couldn’t due to norovirus. However I keep getting invoices to pay for his nursery meals, £4 for a lunch. He had to miss his settling days because of his sickness, however I’m being chased for his meals he won’t be consuming! Is this normal practice?

OP posts:
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StormingNorman · 07/01/2025 14:35

were they notified your son wasn’t attending week by week? Otherwise, I’d have thought they would have paid for food for him.

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:35

I'd imagine if they have his space, then they have catered for the children due to be there. Worth calling them to check they haven't just issued the food invoices as a matter of habit, but if they have catered for him then they probably have just cause for charging.

Is it a paying private daycare type nursery or a Preschool?

BarbaraHoward · 07/01/2025 14:36

Yes I would expect to pay all fees during a short term absence.

Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:37

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:35

I'd imagine if they have his space, then they have catered for the children due to be there. Worth calling them to check they haven't just issued the food invoices as a matter of habit, but if they have catered for him then they probably have just cause for charging.

Is it a paying private daycare type nursery or a Preschool?

He hasn’t got a start date yet so I would have assumed they wouldn’t cater for him knowing he’s not started yet?

OP posts:
SatinHeart · 07/01/2025 14:38

Edited due to x-post with OP update:

You said he was due to start in January though? So did he have a notional start date agreed with the nursery before the norovirus hit? If so you will be liable for costs from then.

My DC's nursery didn't invoice for meals separately (it was rolled in to the fee charge) but we always paid full cost for days missed due to illness so I'd say fairly normal. Check the contract/T&Cs to be sure.

Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:38

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:35

I'd imagine if they have his space, then they have catered for the children due to be there. Worth calling them to check they haven't just issued the food invoices as a matter of habit, but if they have catered for him then they probably have just cause for charging.

Is it a paying private daycare type nursery or a Preschool?

It’s a private and honestly so put off already and he’s not started. The managers tone is usually off and I get one word responses. I’m really not used to this as my other children’s nurseries have been amazing. They just don’t take children before 2 so stuck with this one 😢

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:39

My son should have started nursery in January, however couldn’t due to norovirus

Presumably the "should have" and "however couldnt" means he had a date to start which he couldn't start on?

BarbaraHoward · 07/01/2025 14:39

BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:37

He hasn’t got a start date yet so I would have assumed they wouldn’t cater for him knowing he’s not started yet?

Show quote history

What do you mean he doesn't have a start date yet? You said he should've started in Jan, is that not his start date?

Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:39

StormingNorman · 07/01/2025 14:35

were they notified your son wasn’t attending week by week? Otherwise, I’d have thought they would have paid for food for him.

Yes notified last week that he would not be coming this week and we would decide on a new start date

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:39

BarbaraHoward · 07/01/2025 14:39

What do you mean he doesn't have a start date yet? You said he should've started in Jan, is that not his start date?

Show quote history

He had settling in days that he missed because of his illness, we need to arrange new settling in days and the he will be given a new start date

OP posts:
JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:40

So do you expect them to just hold his place for free? Til when? You got lucky they didn't just say "fine we will allocate a place to someone else"

BarbaraHoward · 07/01/2025 14:41

I think ours would have postponed your fees starting out of goodwill, but I don't think they'd need to. You had a space being held for you, ready to go. It's not really any different to any other absence due to illness.

MajorCarolDanvers · 07/01/2025 14:42

He was meant to start but is off sick. So yes you pay.

you will probably have your pay in full for the place as well.

SatinHeart · 07/01/2025 14:42

My youngest missed a settling in day due to illness, we were still liable for fees from the start date that was agreed though as the T&Cs said 6 weeks notice was required for any changes in requested sessions.

Completelyjo · 07/01/2025 14:43

They will have an agreement for their lunch numbers.
You also need to pay for the nursery care when you don’t use it due to illness.

redskyatnight · 07/01/2025 14:43

Your son should have been at nursery last week, but he couldn't go because he was ill.
But the nursery will have expected him to be there and therefore they expect you to pay accordingly.

What does your contract say about changing the start date? I am going to guess it probably requires at least a month's notice, you can't just do it on the fly.

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:44

Have you not been invoiced for his actual place? I'd say you've scored there if only being asked to pay for uneaten meals.

GetyourheadoutoftheovenIris · 07/01/2025 14:44

He has a nursery space so you must pay.

Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:58

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:40

So do you expect them to just hold his place for free? Til when? You got lucky they didn't just say "fine we will allocate a place to someone else"

I’m not on about his place! I’m on about paying for food he’s not consuming!

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:58

StormingNorman · 07/01/2025 14:35

were they notified your son wasn’t attending week by week? Otherwise, I’d have thought they would have paid for food for him.

Yes

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 15:00

SatinHeart · 07/01/2025 14:38

Edited due to x-post with OP update:

You said he was due to start in January though? So did he have a notional start date agreed with the nursery before the norovirus hit? If so you will be liable for costs from then.

My DC's nursery didn't invoice for meals separately (it was rolled in to the fee charge) but we always paid full cost for days missed due to illness so I'd say fairly normal. Check the contract/T&Cs to be sure.

Edited

I honestly wouldn’t mind paying if he had officially started and it was a week or two he was having off, however he has no start date yet

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 07/01/2025 15:00

BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 14:58

I’m not on about his place! I’m on about paying for food he’s not consuming!

Show quote history

They will be cooking the same food regardless of whether the odd child is missing.
It's not like going to a restaurant and having your meal individually cooked.

Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 15:01

JimHalpertsWife · 07/01/2025 14:40

So do you expect them to just hold his place for free? Til when? You got lucky they didn't just say "fine we will allocate a place to someone else"

They didn’t want him in because of his sickness bug!

OP posts:
Original poster
BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 15:01

redskyatnight · 07/01/2025 15:00

They will be cooking the same food regardless of whether the odd child is missing.
It's not like going to a restaurant and having your meal individually cooked.

Show quote history

exactly so cook a portion less and not charge the parent?

OP posts:
redskyatnight · 07/01/2025 15:02

BlueMaya · 07/01/2025 15:01

exactly so cook a portion less and not charge the parent?

Show quote history

you do realise that bulk cooking doesn't work that way?

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