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Original poster

I am so angry with nursery............

43 replies

happy1 · 21/06/2004 15:59

My ds goes to nursery on a monday and tuesday. When I picked him up today the manager approached me and told me I owed them money, which surprised me as I always pay every monday morning. But she said I had to pay for bank holidays, even though they're closed on bank holidays! As one of his days is a monday, thats alot of bank holidays. I'm so mad, why should I pay for a day when they're closed and enjoying themselves? And they've left it until now to tell me when we've had 3 or 4 bank holidays in the last 3 months. Does anyone else have to pay for bank holidays when the nursey is shut? Do you think I should pay? I can't begin to describe how angry and upset I am, I'm seriously considering removing him from the nursery.

OP posts:
prettycandles · 21/06/2004 16:05

While it certainly sounds unprofessional only to tell you this now, it does sound normal, I'm afraid. My ds goes to nursery part-time, and if he attends even only one day out of his normal week then I have to pay for the full part-time week. Similarly if the nursery is closed for a training day and that day happens to be one of my son's days, then I still have to pay the full week's worth. If he doesn't attend at all for a week, then I have to pay a half-week fee, whether it was because we were on holiday or the nursery was closed.

It's a bummer. Perhaps you can change his nursery days to, say, Tuesday and Wednesday to get better vfm?

Piffleoffagus · 21/06/2004 16:07

I never had to pay for bank holidays!!! If DS was off sick on his nursery day then I paid that but never was charged when they were not open, that is a scandal!

Piffleoffagus · 21/06/2004 16:07

I never had to pay for bank holidays!!! If DS was off sick on his nursery day then I paid that but never was charged when they were not open, that is a scandal!

gingernut · 21/06/2004 16:09

Yes, we have to pay for Bank Holidays at ds's nursery. After all, they still have to pay their staff. However, it should have been made clear to you at the start. Like prettycandles, we also have to pay for days he misses for other reasons, e.g. holidays and illness.

sponge · 21/06/2004 16:11

Doesn't sound right to me.
DD is full time so we pay whatever. We certainly pay if we take her out for whatever reason (e.g. we go on holiday during term time) but during half terms and holidays we only pay for the days we actually attend as long as we give them notice.
They do not charge part timers when they are closed and they do not charge for staff training days.
I would be angry, especially as they've only just chosen to let you know.

Original poster
happy1 · 21/06/2004 16:16

Gingernut, is your nursery open on a bank holiday?Surely they don't pay their staff if they're not working?

OP posts:
dinosaur · 21/06/2004 16:17

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

JulieF · 21/06/2004 16:20

They would have to pay their staff for bank holidays BUT they could if they wished still open and ask their staff to take timeoff in lieu.

I think its scandalous, would refuse to pay and find alternative childcare.

Original poster
happy1 · 21/06/2004 16:27

Dinosaur, If they are not working then I don't think they should be paid, my dp doesn't get paid for bank holidays, and I don't like the idea of paying someone to look after my child when they're off work and I have to stay home with him! Although I do think its unfair if they want to work but they can't.

OP posts:
dinosaur · 21/06/2004 16:29

This reply has been withdrawn

This has been withdrawn by MNHQ at the poster's request.

aloha · 21/06/2004 17:24

I agree with dinosaur. Why shouldn't nursery staff have paid holidays like everyone else? When my ds was in nursery I paid a term upfront for his three half days and I paid for bank holiday and of course for times I took him out or when he was ill. After all, the staff are on salaries which have to be paid whenever. This was sometimes inconvenient for me, but I thought it was fair.

aloha · 21/06/2004 17:26

Is this not in the contract you signed when you put your ds into nursery?

hana · 21/06/2004 17:31

If it's a private nursery they can do what they like and I do believe that their staff should be paid - I'm paid for bank holidays myself but don't have to go into work.
Doesn't mean I like it - DD only goes to nursery on a Friday and we've had to pay for Boxing Day and Good Friday even though the nursery was closed. Sigh......

Batters · 21/06/2004 17:32

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

WideWebWitch · 21/06/2004 17:37

I feel sure it's common practice to pay nursery staff for bank holidays - all other workers (well, most) get paid this, so I don't see why it wouldn't apply to childcare. To be fair, it's not their fault there are a lot of bank holidays and that your chosen days are Mon and Tues. Agree that they should have made this clear at the time though. I doubt you'll find a nursery that won't charge for bank holidays tbh.

tamum · 21/06/2004 17:42

I agree again- we always paid for bank holidays, and I thought that was only fair. Sorry.

Slinky · 21/06/2004 17:54

My nursery doesn't charge for Bank Holidays - but the staff do get paid for BHs - and why shouldn't they??? Everyone else does for goodness sake!!

But it's not unusual for nurseries to charge - many others locally do, several friends nurseries charge them for BHs.

maisystar · 21/06/2004 17:55

yes i pay for bank holidays etc. don't pay during the holidays but it's a term time pre school so isn't open.

there has been a christmas party and a farm trip both of which were on fridays(not ds usual day) and i didn't have to pay for those.

i should think they didn't mention it cos it's normal practice but hopefully they will be understanding and let you change the day to another.

hoxtonchick · 21/06/2004 18:52

We pay for bank holidays, & 3 inset days a year which are always on Mondays. Since ds only goes to nursery on Mondays & Thursdays this is a pretty big chunk. It's a council/sure start nursery. I agree with everyone else about needing to pay the staff.

Tissy · 21/06/2004 19:13

we don't pay for bank holidays when the nursery is closed, but we do pay for bank holidays if the nursery is open, but we keep dd at home. (She is booked for full-time care) This is a private nursery, and I don't know if the staff get paid for a BH. Hope so.

Jimjams · 21/06/2004 20:08

You must have been given terms and conditions when you joined- check on there and see if it mentions the charge.

I'm not sure whether we pay for bank holidays or not. We pay half for sick days if we tell them before 8am, and half for days we've booked off in advance. , BUt that is unusual. At ds1's old nursery we paid the full whack for any days missed whatever the reason.

lailag · 21/06/2004 20:16

I also had to pay for bankholidays and sickdays.

SofiaAmes · 21/06/2004 20:21

I work part time and get paid on a pro-rated basis for bank holidays (and holiday pay). I would have thought that in absence of a contract with the nursery, it would be reasonable for you to pay for 2/5 of the bank holidays. And perhaps it would be smarter to move your ds to a non monday day so that you don't get unduly affected by the bank holidays. I do think that it's inappropriate that they have waited this long to let you know, if in fact there was no contract. If there was a contract that stated this, then I'm afraid that I think it would have been your responsibility to understand it.

nutcracker · 21/06/2004 20:42

At my Dd's nursery if the nursery is shut then you don't pay as it is their choice to be closed.
I would completly agree with paying if they were open but you didn't send your child but IMO this is wrong.

littlerach · 21/06/2004 21:00

The nursery that I work in does not pay staff BH's, but it does not charge for them either. Same for other holidays.