Corona and giving notice to prep school this week

[coronareality2020]

Have named changed to to out myself.
Currently with DC in prep in London. Including one in Reception year, and we are a bit underwhelmed by what will be the provision this term, despite fees (25% discount and have furloughed TAs).
Is anyone giving notice to their prep this week? Although we do not know if we want to leave (or better said, can stay) yet, I was thinking of giving provisional notice to the school, in a way that I give them notice but signal that I may stay.... anyone doing this or anyone with legal knowledge if I can do this?
Any other ideas of how to manage? as if we do not give notice by tomorrow, we lose the chance on the fees next term...

OP, all you have to do is giving 'rolling notice.'

Have you got a State school to move them to in September, OP - is there one near you that is likely to have spaces?

It's worth asking for rolling or conditional notice, they'll either say yes or no. I think in current circumstances they are likely to say yes, even the usually full with waiting lists for all year group popular London ones who would say no in normal times.

But you will need to work out asap where your DC will continue their education.

OP, you will be 1 of many, if you give provisional or rolling notice today you are removed from having to pay Autumn term fees and you have until late August to find another place if you want to. The current school may ask where you are moving to and you can answer that you are joining state school waiting lists.

It will depend on how much the demand for the school is. In the circumstances they may agree a rolling notice anyway out of compassion for the current situation. IF they say no to rolling notice and it's a highly desired school you'll obviously have to make a firm decision and see if you even have a good state place to go to.

@coronareality2020 is the issue you may not be able to afford fees in September or you think they aren’t doing enough.

If it’s concerns about fees. My children’s school is waving the terms notice, but also trying to assist with repayment methods.

If it’s your not happy with the online provision is your concern if schools don’t reopen in September? Would you move them to another school? You could say got the school that was your concern and again they may waive terms notice.

So if it’s fee concerns I would say speak to school and see what options are.

thanks for the updates and tips. we have a chance at a local school but joining waiting list and all depending on distance. I imagine there will be other parents also making the same move, so chances are reduced versus the normal circumstances.

@StrawberryBlondeStar to answer your question a bit of both.

On fees we don't know yet what all of this means for us as it is so fluid for both of us at work. If we see there is a permanent change of circumstances, we may have to leave.

On the school, there has been a change of ownership so we are watching behaviour closely now. Not happy with the lockdown provision, and wonder what other changes are making in September or later on. So I would not mind even changing to another prep, IF we could afford it. Thing is, to change to another prep, you have to visit them etc and without a bit of exploration, which we were planning to do in March but were unable to make, you may get from bad to worse.... but even if we could afford fees, I am starting to question the value for money, if you see what I mean?

I am not sure I am understanding you here.

So you don't want to pay for Prep anymore and therefore want to give notice so you are not liable for September fees, but you haven't really made your mind up?

I am guessing it would depend upon which state school you were offered then, on whether you want to leave?

Honestly, I am not sure your current Prep will agree on a rolling notice. Depends, I suppose, on how sought after places are. If they have any sort of waiting list for the years your DCs are in, then expect them to say no and you'll have to make a proper decision.

@coronareality2020 I think a lot of people have similar concerns. You probably know this, but you are probably going to want to get your kids down on waiting lists if you want to move to the state sector. Be warned you may have problems, particularly with your reception child. You may find you may get one in somewhere and another child elsewhere.

Private you’ll have more options as a lot of shocks are likely to have spaces come September, but if you are concerned about fees I wouldn’t worry about looking round other places.

My view would be see if school will waive terms notice. Get your kids on state waiting lists.

I would put alternative private options to back of your mind at this stage.

Schools not shocks

thanks @StrawberryBlondeStar for the honest advice. it is also a bit we are working on the transition on what we wanted to do in March, pre CV and now a different reality with more uncertainties psot CV.

yep, sent off letter giving provisional notice this morning. Am sure we are not the only ones. Don't want to be liable for autumn fees in case schools don't even reopen properly in September!

It depends on the school, you can give notice and they may keep you on for September if they have a place.

I can't imagine how schools are managing online with reception though - most of them have the attention spell of a gnat. My year 4 is bad enough.

I handed notice in today. Very scared. Have zero idea of what we're going to do for September

@marblecarpets get on every waiting list you can in the state sector.

Depending on your circumstances you may want to consider home schooling for a term or two (especially if we are going through periods of lockdown).

As I mentioned above, if you do have the funds, there will be spaces in private schools come September.

I'm so trapped. Dh and I both losing jobs at same time. Landlord wants us out.
We've always had good jobs I have no idea what happens now re credit ratings and renting. I don't suppose it's going to be easy getting a new rent contract.

We're new to the area, have no idea what the schools are like here and also rents at every high so in all honesty will somehow have to move areas first then apply to schools.
We have some savings but no use when we can't get a rent contract. No childcare around means one of us can't work right now. It is what it is I suppose. I've resigned to the fact I'm going to have to take each step as it comes. Am absolutely terrified of what the coming months hold for us though.

Marble, your landlord can't chuck you out now. Approach him and ask for a temporary agreement - he might accept a temporarily reduced rent or you paying in instalments. If he has a btl mortgage his bank will have to offer him mortgage holiday under current legislation. I hope you find somewhere better value with good state schools soon, but you should take enough time to consider your options and make a good decision - your landlord must be patient.

@marblecarpets have you spoken to the school. In ours there's a few parents who have paid full fees (we have for all of ours) and they will cover some of the fess for the parents who can't afford the fees for that term. It's worth getting in touch with the bursar - especially if its a charity and they have a long relationship with you.

If not, it's worth thinking about moving out to a much cheaper area with good links to London - areas around high Wycombe for example - which have grammars.

Thanks for your help. I am trying to negotiate with LL, we haven't even said we won't be paying full rent yet only asked if it's possible for a reduction if we need it and he's suddenly said no off you go!

We will have to get any job we can so don't end up in really hot water, now applying for anything even if it won't cover school fees.

We are usually very strong people but this has shaken us to the core as I'm sure it has many others.
Can't see us getting a good state school as can't even apply without an address but will start the research and see what happens! My dc are so soft I'm dreading a change.

We gave provisional notice and got a reply saying they wouldn't accept it but offered rolling notice instead. However, we have to talk to them on zoom to discuss the terms as there's clearly some strings attached. I suspect they may not offer us the fees discount they finally buckled and offered to everyone. We have only given notice for our reception child. We have one in year 7 and the system seems to work well for him but for reception its a nightmare. We are two days in and can't do anything apart from focus on schooling all day long. We are trouble shooting technical issues as often teachers have done something wrong as they get used to delivering their lessons online, but also many lessons require us to search around for particular materials so its just too demanding when you have other commitments. Hence, we are giving notice because it isn't worth it financially rather than because we can't pay. We could pay but we are going to be poorer in the next year and I don't want to be scraping the money together for an online learning programme that we, as parents, are doing most of the work for.

Our fees discout wasn't as generous as most near us. They've said reception, yr 1 and yr 2 get 20% and all other years get 10% and its not guaranteed, just an estimate which they are allowing parents to deduct from fees. However, they are planning a rebate (or pay back) at the end of July when they know more about what savings they actually made.

@MGMidget what's the difference between provisional notice and rolling notice?

Well its all down to contractual terms and what they say. Provisional notice in our contract is basically giving notice of intention to leave which you can withdraw although it has to be accepted by the headmaster and ours automatically replied to say he wasn't accepting it which they have probably said to everyone. However, they have made the offer they describe as rolling notice (not mentioned in our contract) which would be renewed on a month by month basis. So we would basically discuss with them each month the situation and either side could end the contract. We are going to have a discussion with them on more terms but it sounds to me like a new temporary contract is being offered. The drawback would be that they could just decide to end the contract if they want at the end of the rolling month. They are giving hints they might do that so I guess times are uncertain for them too. I don't think the business is going to disappear but its possible they might decide to consolidate/reduce the number of classes in the lower years for example so they might force a termination on us suddenly or present us with the option of recommitting or immediately terminating when it suits them. Also, I don't know what they are going to say about the discount - I suspect there is a whole negotiation to be worked out on the terms! However, we aren't the only ones, I know that but don't know how many are having these discussions.