Refundable deposit payback - contract breach

I removed my child from Sagewood school due to a number of problems that the school was undergoing at an executive level. The school refuses to pay back my deposit of R9000 because I have not given them sufficient notice of my son's transfer to a new school. There is no stipulation in their contract that states that the deposit is forfeited if a child is removed without giving notice. However, their contract does state that if I remove my child from the school without giving them a term's notice, I will be liable to pay the entire 4th terms fees, which I have duly done. I need help to get my money back as the school is now in breach of contract. I do not wish to go the legal route as the school is already in a bad space but I am ready so is my legal representative to proceed with a legal case. It seems that the executive and the accounts department are trying to interpret the contract and they are all not understanding it's stipulations. I have a copy of the contract that I signed as well as numerous emails sent to them since last year, including assurance from their Chief Executive that my matter would be dealt with in December of 2015. To this day they refuse to pay back my money