Nursery won't change dates. What to do?

[Nikitasol]

A nursery based query. I'm trying to change a few nursery dates over the summer with a fair bit of notice (switching for some dates in the autumn) but have been told this isn't allowed. Has anyone else had this?

It means paying for 6 days that won't then be used so will be fairly costly as a result. I'm pretty cross about it but not sure if that's a policy in nurseries in general. Although they did let me make a couple of changes last year with notice.

Can anyone advise before I go back to them again about it? I thought they'd at least let me switch some dates.

They've been so crummy I'm almost feeling like looking for another nursery.

I'm a freelance single parent so it almost means no break away with DC if it can't be changed.

Our nursery won't swap days or sessions no matter what. Pretty normal I think OP. Sorry it's not what you want to hear.

My nursery won't swop sessions either.

Ours won't swap days either. You can pay for extra sessions if they have space but they won't let you swap.

I think this is completely normal

Thanks. DC goes Tuesdays and Wednesdays every week but he'll miss 6 days over the summer for various reasons. I'd hoped with enough notice we could switch for dates in the autumn and winter.

They did let me switch a few dates last year but not now.

I just wasn't sure if that was the norm or no.

They will have very strict and regulated child to adult ratios. If for any emergency reason they breach these ratios they have to telephone Ofsted to let them know on the day. Nursery staff are very hold to appoint now, as the salary is poor - they won't have a spare member of staff to bring in for the day.

Our nursery won't swap either and I don't blame them. I tell them about the days my kids will be away on holiday and if that means they can allow an extra child that day then that helps them keep our costs sensible. Any extra days I need I have to pay for. Seems fair to me otherwise it would be far to complex for them to organise!

It's nothing new. We had the same thing 15 years ago. DS went to nursery Mon to Wed and we still had to pay every holiday when DH was off (university hols) despite DS not going in.

Most nurseries allow you to have two weeks holiday from the fees, so you can take your children away. It's not a pay as you use space, the nursery need to keep the space even if your child isn't there.

No, same here. That's why I can't ever swap my work days (I work part time) as I would need to book and pay for an additional nursery day. We can book extra sessions but nit swap our regular sessions.

I wouldn't dream of swapping dates. We pay for loads we don't use when on holiday - same with the childminder if our holidays aren't at the same time. They still have overheads and staff ratios to balance.

Bonus if I can get an extra or different day occasionally but I don't bank on it.

Ours would reduce attendance patterns with the same notice period as for leaving.

They would then refill those hours with a new family and you'd need to go back on to the waiting list to increase hours. Just dipping the number over the summer wasn't an option.

And free sessions because you chose to miss some would never happen.

I'm extra grateful for the nursery I use, now! I emailed to let them know that there would be 4 sessions which DD won't be here for, over the summer. I'd forgotten about their policy so was pleasantly surprised when the manager replied to say thanks for letting us know and that she'd "bank" those sessions. I just have to let her know if I want to book those sessions in for another day (and they will see if they have space).

I will need them over the summer on other weeks so will get to use all the sessions I paid for. The nursery have done this for about 3 years!

Sorry I think it's normal! I was in a situation with my holidays and hers (home daycare) i would have been paying in full for about 6 weeks with only 2 weeks actual attendance
I understood the need to pay to keep the place open but she'd also had my older kid so we'd been clients for years and she had no flexibility at all for us
I understood but ended up taking my kid out and finding alternative care as it just seemed silly in the end

I have to pay for unused days every month due to my work pattern and I try to keep all the positives in perspective. Over the whole year the total cost of childcare and how happy my son is and how lovely the staff are. Like you I don't get paid holiday and no amount of shopping in Lidl is going to make up for it.

Not saying your hope of rearranging was unreasonable just empathising

The nursery we used to use allowed us to swap within the same month e.g. If I had to work 4 days one week and 2 the next, but only if they had capacity.
If they were gong to allow you to defer 6 days to the autumn/winter, how do you imagine they would fill your spaces? They still have to pay all their employees!

Our nursery will swap a day if the staff ratio allows e.g. the day I want is undersubscribed, but only within that week. I cannot swap a day from next week into this week or next month.

They'll always accommodate this if they can so I usually do it if we are going away on a Friday and he'll go in on Tuesday instead. We then lose the whole of the next week we are on holiday and just have to write those off.

It sucks for the parent but you have to see the nursery's POV as they have bills and staff to pay.

Sorry OP.

I could imagine a nursery swapping days within a week during the summer when assorted children would be out but not the scenario you describe. I guess they've tightened up their rules since you last did it.

I had to pay for 6 weeks of unused nursery while DD was ill.

As others say, if you want to keep the place you have to pay for sessions whether you use t hem or not. Those that have some capacity to swap/bank sessions sound very lucky!

Ours used to swap days if they had enough staff but have found it was getting too complicated when issuing invoices to continue.
They would probably do it that far in advance though for a one off.

Thanks all. It seems that this is the standard nursery approach and that I've just had unrealistic expectations about what can work given the circs. A shame but understandable I see now. Appreciate all the input and info from you all.