a question from a nursery amateur

[sausagerolemodel]

is it normal to have to pay for nursery even when it isn't open?

I understand that on bank holidays or training days that full fees would be payable anyway, but I was quite surprised to be charged for my normal 3 day week on the first week of January when nursery didn't reopen from the xmas break until Thursday 7th, so DD was only able to attend for 2 days, and none of the days it was closed were bank holidays.

But then it didn't charge for the whole week it was closed for Christmas week, so I don't un'tderstand the logic behind what closures they charge for and what closures they don

In the nursery T&Cs (which I have now been pointed to), it says

"full fees are payable when your child is absent and during nursery closure. The nursery regrets that refunds cannot be arranged in the case of the child's absence pr nursery closure for INSET days, bank holidays or nursery closure"

I was just a bit gobsmacked that they can still charge the fees when they won't even open to take your kids, but maybe I am just not used to the system?

We pay all year round, even though they close for a week at Christmas. Until recently I thought we were paying for those days, but I've just found out that actually, we only pay 51 weeks' fees a year - but they average those out so we pay the same every month. So it feels like we're paying for days we don't get at Christmas, but actually we pay slightly less every month to make up for it.

It might be worth double checking that's not the case with your nursery, as my nursery has similar T&Cs. That's why I always assumed (and moaned to others) that we were paying for those days.

In answer to your main question, it seems to depend on the nursery. Some have generous holiday allowances, some charge you for everything, even if they're closed or you're away. So it's not unusual, but there are plenty of nurseries that have fairer policies as well, it just depends which you choose.

It's very normal. IME, it all works out to the same costs anyway - those that don't charge you for holidays/closures just add more to their normal rate to compensate

dd has attended 2 nurseries. both charged all year round except christmas week. but the amount was averaged out over the year. for bank holidays we still had to pay but we could move the day. she only attended mondays and thursdays so on a bank holiday week she would do tuesdays and thursdays. both places let us do this. no good if your child attends full time though i suppose.

OK thanks very much. I obviously just need to adjust to the system !
Thanks all.