Is the nursery DD goes too the only one in the country to make you pay for 5 days when you only use 4?

[SydneyB]

Is the only one local to me that does but just wondering. Presently battling with what to do when we have two when paying for 5 days when we only want 4 will just be totally out of the question. Just curious really and wondering whether this is something I can argue with nursery about?

that's just mad

If we are on holiday we have to pay when we are away , our dcs go 2 days a week, we just pay for those 2 days not the whole week!

I think you will find this is fairly standard, as they will find it difficult to fil just one day. My friend has to do this.

Some nurseries do not offer one day a week places so would make sense they would not do 4 either, however is unusual in my experience.

Would they do 3 days, would this be managable for you?

Ultimately they can insist on whatever they want to do (sounds harsh) as they are a private business. Having said that lots of nurseries are struggling at moment (another topic completely) so might be worth asking them to reconsider.

Hope you get something sorted.

The thing is that you are allowed to just pay for 2 or just pay for 3 but not 4. And yes, the reason they give is that they can't fill one day. Which I know is not true as I have met two mothers there who have 2 days and want a third when there supposedly isn't one! Shame I can't sublet mine as we never use it. Have absolutely no problem with paying for inset days, holidays, when DD ill, all the usual things but there is a massive difference between paying for 4 days and 5 - £250 a month and it just feels mean to me. But then again there are many other nursery practices that I find unfair i.e the practice of charging £40 to register on a waiting list which is non-refundable even if you don't ever get offered a place. Heigh ho.

Mummywannabe - we could afford 3 days a week for both of them but I need to go back to work 4 days a week so that would mean sorting something else for the 4th day. Shame of it is that DD is very happy at this nursery but that I might have to move her to another one so that I can afford to have them both in one place. But yes, you're right I'm going to see if there is any room for negotiation! No sibling discount either!

The nursery i manage does offer one a week places but it does make life difficult as the children generally need to be the same age and then if one leaves its harder to fill, having said that in my experience these odd days are usually filled by exsisting parents.

Re: registration fee - have always thought this was a rip off, we only ever charge a deposit when a place is offered and secured.

I would negotiate, good luck!

So Mummy, you manage a nursery? Have you ever agreed to negotiated rates for different parents? I just wonder if I'll get anywhere that's all..

I do manage a nursery, but on maternity leave at moment hence lots of MN!

I wouldn't set one rule for one and one for another, however I am always open to people's suggestions and to be honest if i thought i would lose 2 x 4 day per week children i might be more happy to give in!

Thanks Mummywannabee, I'll definitely give it a go then!

How did you get on SydneyB? Any luck?