Unfortunately, young children often fall ill as their immune systems are still developing. Particularly when they first start, as they are being exposed to lots of children and new surroundings, your child may regularly miss nursery due to illness. This does however tend to become a lot less frequent as they get older and their immune systems get stronger.
Table of contents
- Do I get a refund if my child is off sick from nursery?
- Do I get a refund if my child is temporarily excluded from nursery due to illness?
- Do I get a refund from nursery if my child will be off sick for some time?
- Do I still have to pay top-up fees if my child is off sick?
- What leave from work can I take if my child is off sick from nursery?
- Do nurseries require children to be vaccinated?
- FAQs
Table of contents
- Do I get a refund if my child is off sick from nursery?
- Do I get a refund if my child is temporarily excluded from nursery due to illness?
- Do I get a refund from nursery if my child will be off sick for some time?
- Do I still have to pay top-up fees if my child is off sick?
- What leave from work can I take if my child is off sick from nursery?
- Do nurseries require children to be vaccinated?
- FAQs
At a glance
- No refunds for sick days: Nurseries generally don’t offer refunds or fee reductions if a child misses days due to illness, because you are paying to hold their place and staffing costs remain fixed.
- Exclusion policies for infectious illness: Children showing symptoms of contagious conditions (such as chickenpox, high fevers, or vomiting/diarrhoea) may be temporarily excluded without fee reimbursement to prevent spreading infections.
- Long-term illness considerations: If a child faces a prolonged absence or hospitalisation, nursery managers may consider special arrangements on a case-by-case basis.
- Workplace leave options: Parents who need time off to care for an ill child can explore paid annual leave, statutory unpaid emergency leave, parental leave, or flexible working options with their employer.
Nursery fees are a significant worry for families, with one day at nursery costing anywhere between £50 and £120, depending on where you live and the age of your child.
If your child is unable to attend nursery due to illness, it is understandable to expect that you may be offered a refund. However, private nurseries are businesses and need to make sense financially in order to stay open and provide childcare.
This article offers general guidance as to whether you can get a refund if your child misses nursery due to illness. Your child’s nursery will have their own individual policies and procedures in place.
Do I get a refund if my child is off sick from nursery?
In general, nurseries do not offer a refund if your child is off sick. This will be outlined in the Parent Contract you sign when you register your child with the nursery.
Nurseries are required to have a certain number of staff in each day for the number of children booked in. If any children cannot attend due to illness, the staff still need to be paid, along with all the other costs that go into running a nursery.
Therefore, it is not realistic to offer refunds for sick days, particularly given that young children are ill frequently.
Essentially when you book your child into nursery you are paying for their place. You don’t lose that place if they are ill or on holiday, so still have to pay for it.
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Do I get a refund if my child is temporarily excluded from nursery due to illness?
In a nursery, children exhibiting infectious or concerning symptoms may not be allowed to attend nursery until the symptoms have cleared. This is to prevent and control the spread of infection and protect other children and their families.
Common illnesses that often require exclusion include:
- Chicken pox
- Conjunctivitis
- Covid-19
- Ear infections
- Fever of 38 degrees Celsius or above (this number may be different at your child’s nursery)
- Flu
- Hand, foot and mouth disease
- Impetigo
- Unexplained vomiting or diarrhoea
- Tonsilitis
Many nurseries allow children showing mild symptoms of coughs and colds to attend as normal.
Nurseries have individual policies on what conditions/symptoms warrant exclusion and how long for.
Usually, you are not entitled to a refund if your child is briefly excluded due to illness, even if your child caught the illness at nursery. This should be clarified in your Parent Contract.
Do I get a refund from nursery if my child will be off sick for some time?
If your child has been hospitalised or will be unable to attend nursery for some time due to illness, speak to the nursery manager. They can offer advice and a potential solution based on your individual circumstances.
Do I still have to pay top-up fees if my child is off sick?
It’s possible you’ll still have to pay top-up fees if your child is off sick. Check your nursery’s policy or speak to the manager.
What leave from work can I take if my child is off sick from nursery?
If you need to take time off work to care for your child while they are ill, there are a few different options for the type of leave you take:
- Paid holiday
- Unpaid emergency leave
- Unpaid parental leave
You may also be able to request flexible hours, swapping shifts or working from home.
For more information on emergency leave and parental leave, please see your rights as a parent at work.
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Do nurseries require children to be vaccinated?
It’s not a legal requirement that children must be vaccinated to attend nursery, but private nurseries may have their own policies in order to protect children from serious diseases.
If you would prefer your child to go to a nursery that requires vaccination, speak to the managers of nurseries you are interested in or check their policies online.
Next steps
- Review your nursery’s Parent Contract and exclusion policy: Read the terms you signed to check your nursery’s specific rules on sick days, top-up fee payments, and required isolation periods for common illnesses.
- Speak directly to the nursery manager for long-term absences: If your child is facing an extended illness or hospitalisation, contact the setting manager to discuss potential solutions for holding their place or adjusting fees.
- Arrange emergency care leave with your employer: Talk to your manager or HR team about taking unpaid emergency leave, paid annual leave, or arranging flexible working/shift-swapping to cover childcare while your child recovers.
FAQs
Can I take leave from work if my child is ill?
You are legally entitled to some time off if your child cannot go to nursery due to illness and you need to look after them. This includes three unpaid ‘emergency leave’ days per year and additional unpaid ‘parental leave’.
Do I get a refund if my child is excluded from nursery due to illness?
You will probably still need to pay for nursery, even if your child caught their illness at nursery and is not allowed to attend due to illness. This is to protect other children and the nursery as a business.
Do I get a refund from nursery if my child is off ill?
Nurseries do not usually offer refunds if your child is absent due to illness. This is because they have still have to pay their own costs for that day. Some nurseries however do offer a percentage discount for absence.