Nursery Places And Bookings
The Nursery must receive a signed and fully completed Pre-Registration Form before a place can be considered and the child starting. Full and part time sessions must fit in to the session times detailed on the application form; however, we will attempt to meet individual needs where necessary.
Registration Fees And Deposits
A £30.00 non-refundable fee is required upon booking a place. This is payable at time of registration.
Fees and Invoices
Nursery fees are payable in advance by cash, bank transfer, direct debit or workplace vouchers on the last working day of each month. All invoices will be sent out at least five working days prior to the 1st of the month for the month ahead. If invoices have not been received by the last working day of the month it is the responsibility of the parent to inform the Nursery. Any late payments delivered after this date will incur a late payment charge of 10% of the previous invoice amount. Other than if we are in breach of these Terms and Conditions, all sessions booked must be paid for, regardless of whether the child attends. No refunds will be given for sessions missed due to holidays or sickness. Failure to meet payments will result in the termination of the Nursery place and in such circumstances the parents will not be entitled to a refund of any fees. A holiday discount rate of 40% is warranted provided the Nursery receives written notice of the dates required in line the dates printed on the invoice of the previous month e.g. ‘Please inform us of holiday requests for April by March 18th’. There is no restriction on how many holidays can be taken. If parents are claiming the ‘free’ childcare funding, the setting needs written confirmation for every absence, including holiday. One month’s written notice is required if you wish to take your child out of the Nursery and for any other variations in the sessions agreed in the Pre-Registration Form. The Nursery offers a reduction fee of 5% for the youngest sibling in each family on a regular booking pattern. The company works with BFL Solutions to claim any outstanding fees.
Operating Hours
Little Steps is open from 7:15 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. If you are late collecting your child from the Nursery, a late collection charge of £20.00 will be applied. Please be punctual.
Nursery Closure
The Nursery is open as specified on the Application Form. The Nursery will be closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day and those Bank Holidays associated with these days, i.e. if Christmas Day, Boxing Day or New Year’s Day is on a Saturday or Sunday, the relevant Bank Holiday(s) will be carried to Monday / Tuesday. For 2024 and 2025 other Bank Holiday (s) during the year the nursery will be closed on a trial basis.
In the event that the nursery is closed by government due to the Coronavirus Pandemic, families will be contacted via e:mail and regular communication maintained in this way.
Behaviour Management
Staff all receive training in child development and behaviour management. The Nursery has a Behaviour Management Policy which staff will happily share with parents.
Insurance
We hold extensive Insurance cover – full details of the Insurance is available upon request, from the Nursery Owner.
Personal Property And Belongings
We cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage to children’s property. Every reasonable effort will be made by the Nursery staff to ensure the children’s belongings are not lost or damaged. Practical ‘inexpensive’ clothing is strongly recommended for children attending Little Steps Nursery. It is the parent’s responsibility to name and clearly label all items of clothing. We suggest that all toys, books or other equipment are left at home.
Termination / Cancellation / Change
One month’s notice is required, in writing, should you wish to terminate a nursery place for any reason. Parents remain liable for fees throughout the notice period. If a parent withdraws their child during this notice period, the fees shall still remain payable. We reserve the right to terminate a nursery place with immediate effect if any fees are not paid by the due date, or if a parent, carer or child displays abusive, threatening or otherwise inappropriate behaviour. In all other circumstances we will give you one months’ notice, in writing, should we wish to terminate a nursery place for any reason. If the parent for any reason postpones a start date, we reserve the right to charge from the original start date stated on the application form. If a parent wishes to change the number of sessions taken at nursery, one months’ notice, in writing, must be given via email.
Liability
We accept no responsibility for any loss suffered by parents, arising directly or indirectly, as a result of the Nursery being temporarily closed or the non-admittance of your child to the Nursery for any reason. This applies to absence due to sickness, holidays and Bank Holidays. We accept no responsibility for children whilst in their parents care on Nursery premises, i.e. prior to arrival or after pick up. We will not be liable to parents and / or children for any economic loss of any kind, for damage to the child’s or parents property, for any loss resulting from a claim made by any third party or for any special, indirect or consequential loss or damage of any kind. We will make reasonable endeavours to keep parents and / or children’s property in good order. Liability for damage of such property is excluded except where caused by our negligence.
Accidents And Illness
We reserve the right to administer basic first aid and treatment when necessary. Parents will be informed of all accidents and will be required to sign an accident form. For accidents of a more serious nature, involving hospital treatment, all attempts will be made by Nursery to contact the parents but failing this, we are hereby authorised to act on behalf of parents and authorise necessary treatment. We will administer prescribed medicines if parents complete a ‘Medicine Consent’ form; however, the first dose of medicine must be given at home and parents must take all medicines home at the end of each day. We may require parents to withdraw their child from Nursery, in the event that they require special medical care or attention, which is not available or refused by parents or it is considered that the child is not well enough to attend Nursery. We may also ask parents to withdraw their child from Nursery, if we have reasonable cause to believe that they are or maybe suffering from or has suffered from any contagious disease/infection and there remains a danger that other children at the Nursery may contract such a disease/infection. We accept no responsibility for children contracting contagious diseases/infections. Parents are requested to inform the Nursery if their child is suffering from any illness, sickness or allergies before attending Nursery. We have a realistic attitude to the needs of working parents but we reserve the right to contact parents if their child becomes ill during nursery hours. Public Health Wales advise all nurseries that a child should not return to a setting until 48 hours after their last episode of sickness and diarrhoea. The nursery will rigorously enforce this advice.
Since March 2020, our setting has been evaluated in line with welsh government and public health wales guidance in relation to the Coronavirus pandemic. This has resulted in comprehensive policies and procedures added to the usual files. These are available at the setting or can be e:mailed to families on request.
Security
Under no circumstances will the child be allowed to leave Nursery with anyone unknown to nursery staff unless the parent has previously arranged this. If the parent has made alternative arrangements by telephone, the nursery will require the name, address and telephone number of the person permitted to collect the child and proof of identity will be required upon arrival at the Nursery. A list of responsible adults who are authorised to collect the child should be completed in the ‘All About Me’ Form and given to the Nursery Manager. The Nursery does also use a password system.
General Information
Parents are requested to inform the Nursery of any food, medicine, activity or any other circumstances that may cause the child to have an allergic reaction/ allergy. Parents must provide details, in writing, of the severity of the reaction/ allergy and must continue to inform the Nursery of any changes/progress to the condition, in writing, when they become aware. Parents are requested to inform the Nursery of any changes to all information kept in the Nursery. No smoking or vaping on the premises at any time.
Agreement
This document runs alongside the Childcare Agreement and the All About me form. All three are confidential and legally binding. Any other understandings, agreements, warranties, conditions, terms or representations, whether verbal or written, expressed or implied are excluded to the fullest extent, permitted by law. We reserve the right to update / amend these Terms and Conditions at any time. Two months’ notice will be given of any changes made.