Apologising to nursery for rude email

[Zenlifeforme]

Our nursery shut my kids room for two weeks cos of a covid outbreak.
They emailed in the second week (on Monday) to say they will open the week after and it was clear there were no refunds on fees.
I was raging and sent a rude email to them. (I’m under a bit of strain, on top of usual covid related stress of having to work with a toddler at home).

I sent it around 9am yesterday then around 8pm I sent an apology for my anger, gave a brief excuse then said I would behave professionally in future about the matter. (I didn’t say I took it all back, as I still want to talk about it, just that I shouldn’t have done it rudely).

How much do you think they hate me right now? Do you think I need to do anything else? I don’t want to appear grovelling but I also want to ensure I’ve appropriately made amends for being rude.

🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

It depends how rude you were.

If it was along the lines of "This simply isn't good enough!" then they'll be ok.

If you swore or called them derogatory names...well...not so good then.

Depends on what you said. If you said anything personal or swore at them it'll be very tricky.

You’re probably not the only one OP.

It depends on how rude you were really.

Ok thanks. I wasn’t overly rude or derogatory. But I did that thing where I asked a series of why questions, which reads aggressively 🤦🏽‍♀️🤦🏽‍♀️

I think you're fine. They will understand you are frustrated and the fact that you have bothered to apologise will go a long way.

Why are nurseries allowed to charge parents full fees when they shut temporarily thou? It seems really wrong to me. Especially as those on low incomes who have to self isolate (eg nursery workers) are eligible for government grants.

I feel really confused about it all (I do have early pregnancy haze too tho).

Thank you @Lamentations

@Zenlifeforme

Why are nurseries allowed to charge parents full fees when they shut temporarily thou? It seems really wrong to me. Especially as those on low incomes who have to self isolate (eg nursery workers) are eligible for government grants.

I feel really confused about it all (I do have early pregnancy haze too tho).

They're commercial businesses OP. Not like a state school or something.

The contract you enter into will usually explain things. Read this.
www.gdlaw.co.uk/site/services/individuals_services/individuals_family/covid19-shutdown-can-my-childs-nursery-charge-100-fees

Because nurseries still have full running costs and staffing costs while bubbles are closed, there is no financial support from government for this. Many nurseries are on the verge of financial collapse due to serious financial issues during COVID. I say this as someone who works in a school with a children's centre. The meetings about early years provision and how they are going to survive are grim and depressing.
Is it crap you have to pay when closed- yes, but is it fair that the nursery should run into financial difficulty because they have to close because of COVID- no.
Be aware that if they did not charge parents fees during this time, and the others where they need to close for 2 weeks, that would constitute a significant loss of money- that may result in reducing staffing, resourcing etc to help recoup costs- and as I said earlier, possible closure.
You may need to consider what kind of provision you want your child to have, if any, when considering the request of the nursery for fees- it does not come a place of greed, or a lack of understanding of the difficulty this causes parents, but from a need for the nursery to survive.

I’m finance manager for a nursery. Don’t worry you won’t be the only one and they will probably appreciate the fact you’ve apologised. These are stressful times for us all.
Please be aware with regards fees- many are having to charge full fees to continue trading. For many it’s either parents continue to pay fees or they go bust sadly.

Why are nurseries allowed to charge parents full fees when they shut temporarily thou?

Dig out your contract with them and see if what they have done is within the terms of the contract, then deal with it factually rather than emotionally.

They still have to pay their overheads &staff!
They’ll be professional to you next time they see you.

@Zenlifeforme

Why are nurseries allowed to charge parents full fees when they shut temporarily thou? It seems really wrong to me. Especially as those on low incomes who have to self isolate (eg nursery workers) are eligible for government grants.

I feel really confused about it all (I do have early pregnancy haze too tho).

What makes you think the nursery staff will get grants? Most people who apply for the grants do not get them, and to qualify you need to be on benefits. I doubt the nursery staff will get a grant.

Do you want the nursery to stay financially viable? How will they pay rent, bills, wages, insurance every time they have to close if they refund all the fees?

Thanks for clarifying things.

Just to be clear, I only asked for two of my days to be refunded. I was willing/happy to pay for the 10 days of isolation my child had to do. I didn’t want all fees back.

I also spoke to a mum who has a baby in the same nursery. Her room shut back in November. They were told they had to pay full fees but if the room shut again they wouldn’t charge them again.
Seems like if they can’t afford to do it, why are they saying they can they afford it if it happens again?
Why not charge parents 50% as a blanket policy.?! Covers them next time too....

Thank you for that article @FortunesFave

Our nursery isn’t charging us for closures due to isolations, neither are my sisters and about 5 friends nurseries.

I wouldn’t pay personally, you don’t have to.

I’m not sure that they can charge full fees. They are the ones not able to offer the service, obviously after the 10 day isolation. As PP have suggested check your contract, it might explain expectations on there

There aren’t any laws or guidance around it so each nursery will be choosing what they do, or doing what they have to do.
My nursery is charging 20% if we have to close. This includes if we don’t have enough staff to cover the room ratios due to isolation.
If parents choose to keep their child it’s full fees as were open.
But I do know of some who are charging full fees just to be able to stay open.
Grants aren’t available for the majority of nursery workers as they don’t meet the criteria.

www.gov.uk/government/publications/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law/nursery-and-early-years-sector-covid-19-restrictions-and-consumer-law-advice

This might be worth a read

I’ve been a bit baffled by mumsnets general response to anyone who dares suggest that they don’t want to pay the nursery for a service not provided.
I booked a holiday which I couldn’t go on because of covid..... I got my money back as the service wasn’t provided.
Same with my gym membership, direct debit was suspended until they reopen automatically. These companies are struggling and might not reopen and the staff might end up out of jobs. What’s different about a nursery? It’s a business.

If my dds nursery closes I won’t be paying as I will have to take unpaid parental leave and I simply can’t afford to pay them if I’m not working.

@Samcartys

I’ve been a bit baffled by mumsnets general response to anyone who dares suggest that they don’t want to pay the nursery for a service not provided. I booked a holiday which I couldn’t go on because of covid..... I got my money back as the service wasn’t provided. Same with my gym membership, direct debit was suspended until they reopen automatically. These companies are struggling and might not reopen and the staff might end up out of jobs. What’s different about a nursery? It’s a business.

If my dds nursery closes I won’t be paying as I will have to take unpaid parental leave and I simply can’t afford to pay them if I’m not working.

Presumably because it matters much more to most parents that their nursery/childminder survives this than that their gym does.

No childcare means being unable to work for most parents.

If you don’t pay you won’t have a place for your child so that’s your choice. It’s nothing like a gym membership or holiday - they don’t have limited places based on ratio. Silly analogy really.

@FuckyouBrennan

Some people don’t get paid if they don’t work, so if the kid can’t go to nursery , they can’t work so don’t get paid so can’t pay nursery