Question Re Childcare Fees

DD goes to daycare 2 days every week (Tuesdays and Fridays). When I picked her up on Tuesday this week, I saw a sign saying that the centre would be closed over Easter (Friday - Tuesday, opening on the Wednesday), which means that it will be closed on two days that DD usually attends.
We pay a daily fee for each day that she attends (we make fortnightly cash payments to the centre director). Yesterday I got an email from the centre saying that even though the centre will be closed, fees for those days will be charged as normal. Am I tripping, or does this seem really unfair?? I understand that if DD does not attend on one of her regular days when the centre is open that we would still be charged, but if the centre is closed, how can they charge the daily fees? Is this legal?

Yea it's legal and it's fairly standard.
It's unfair though :(
Ours did not start charging for public hols til last year, but they do now.

Yep that's the way it is and it is legal. The centre still have to pay staff for a public holiday.
Unfortunately it is just bad luck. My two go to creche on a Tuesday as well, still have to pay full fee even though that day is a public holiday this year.

I work part time and still get paid if it just so happends a public holidays falls on one of my work days, it is my good luck that this year Tuesday after Easter is a public holiday :dance:

totally normal (and yes, it sucks, but as has been said, they still have outgoing expenses on those days)

what makes it worse is places that close but parents still need to find alternative care as they don't get public holidays off (sooooo many places will still be open on anzac day for example) - so they have to pay normal fees, they need to pay higher fees for occassional care if they can get it as well

Yep sucks doesn't it. Especially when you pay such high fees in the first place - we changed the kids recently to a new place, really happy with it but for 2 days a week we are paying almost $100 a week more :0 Stings a bit when they are sick or on PH.

Bummer. :( Thanks for letting me know.
I still don't understand how they can charge for a service that they're not providing, but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do...
RE paying the staff - surely if they are paid an hourly rate, they would not be paid for public holidays. I remember when I was studying and doing casual work, I would hate public holidays as I would not get paid for those days. Has this law chaged, or is this something that only happens in childcare centres??

There would be some staff who were on a permanent basis, and would therefore be paid for the PH anyway.

I hate it too! :(

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There would be some staff who were on a permanent basis, and would therefore be paid for the PH anyway.

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yup

and it's not just about staff payments. they still have property rent that needs to be paid, insurances etc...

Yes it is normal and unfortunately the way that most centres work. Most staff are permanent employees so they do have to pay them for the public holiday and as others said they also still have to pay the rent and bills as well.

If they didn't charge for the public holidays then it is likely that the centre would have to increase the fees across the board.

I must say, my childcare centre is great on this stuff. We still pay on these days but we get a make up day for any day that we would normally be there but it's closed.

So handy to have these up my sleeve for any one off needs on the days that we are normally at home.

Have the same days as you. I think they do not charge for public holiday, but I better double check.

I understand why they would charge it, I know most of the staff at our centre are permanent, but I do think it is quite tough on those of us who miss the days.

Yep ours is the same - although they shut down for two weeks at christmas time and those two weeks fees are waived (which is kinda handy having a bit more cash around christmas) but it means that we have to beg our workplaces for leave (which is difficult in our industry)

It's pretty standard

A little off topic how ever you gals will know

Are creche fees charged via how much you and your DH earn in a year ? Do you get a rebate from the govt, or is it all outa pocket ?

Bengal the fees are set, then you get a % rebate depending on your income. You then also get 50% back at each quarter. For eg. our fees are $88 a day per child. Our percentage is 55% so that means that we pay around $60 per day per child. At the end of each quarter we then get back 50% back! Hope that makes sense, if you call FAO - they will be able to tell you the percentage you will pay based on your combined income. BG will probably pop in and explain this with much more clarity than I, in which case, skip over this post ;)

yeah I still get charged too for MOnday that week and i really need a babysitter for the thursday but they cant swap days or anything :(

Bengal-

The fees are different for every centre. Have a look around to find one that fits your budget, and if you are eligible for the child care benieft through centrelink you will receive a % off your fees.

My DD1 daycare is the same. I will say though that DD day care are really great. DD1 goes on Wednesdays and Fridays. With Australia day this year on a wednesday, they let me swap the day for a Tuesday that week and for good Friday they let me swap to the Thursday. DH is currently overseas and I really need these 2 days of DD1 at DC. I know all places can not do this because of numbers, but it nevers hurts to ask. This way your getting your moneys worth.

You know what dd2 has been going on a Monday for 12 months and I am
not sure if we pay for the public holidays. I have probably just assumed we don't. Will check the bill when we get it this week.

Feeling decidedly miffed here that Sam's days are Tuesdays and Fridays. The only saving grace is that DH also gets the public holidays so I won't be at home alone with him tearing my hair out!

BW

As said, pretty standard accross the board practice. We do try and provide a makeup day where possible to families falling on these days, however that is only possible if rooms aren't full. My families sign a an agreement on enrolment that covers a pile of things, including agreeing to pay for all booked days including days of absence, public holidays, etc, so I imagine other centres would do the same.

Ours only started charging last year for public holidays, but it is just one of those things..

As a parent it sucks, but from a business perspective

60 chn at $70 a day with three days of one pay week as a ph would be at
~ 12 thousand dollar loss to the centre.
+ they pay staff anywhere between 100 and 175 hours per day (depending on ratios and centre set ups)with likely average rate of $19.
A conservative estimate for that three days of wages is $7500.
As they must roster as per it being a normal working day (the same as any workplace).
Not including cook or management that are also permanent staff.

That is a lot of money to 'waste' in three days.
Thinking of the exorbitant rent, weekly food, nappy, supplies, resources, bills it is a damn lot of money for centres to lose.

Public holidays are factored in to the costs for care.
It is legal because the centre is not choosing to close,
Unlike Christmas holiday periods, for example.

Yes, of course most child care staff are permanent -
it is how we provide continiuty of care & keep fees lower.
Casual staff would likely put a 25% rise on your fees because they are required to be paid 25% more.

Thanks for posting that Dragoncookie - its good to look at it from another perspective

Personally I am a big fan of DSs centre, and I want them to be able to have the funds to replace equipment, toys, resources etc so I am happy to pay them (as work is still paying me for the public holidays anyway luckily)

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I must say, my childcare centre is great on this stuff. We still pay on these days but we get a make up day for any day that we would normally be there but it's closed.

So handy to have these up my sleeve for any one off needs on the days that we are normally at home.

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Samewith our childcare centre I think this is a fair way of going about it. When we want a makeup day, you need to book it to check that there is a space available though (so they dont go over the ratios). we also dont have to pay for the 2 week holidays over christmas.

Thank goodness.