|
TERMS OF ENROLMENT
You and your child are very important to us and we strive to build a
relationship between parents, children and
the nursery, founded on trust.
Nursery Aims
The nursery aims to provide a safe, caring and stimulating environment for the
children in our care. It is our
desire to offer parents a reliable and quality service that will, where
possible, respond to their needs for
childcare. The nursery will at all times operate within the guidelines as
defined by OFSTED, though prioritising
the safety and welfare of the child above all else.
Food
Children receive nutritious, well-balanced meals. Daily Menus are displayed for
parent's information on the section notice boards . Should children have special
dietary requirements they will
where possible be accommodated.
Sweets are not freely available in the nursery and we ask parents not to send
sweets in with their child. It
should be noted that we are not being unkind, some children have severe
allergies and it is for this reason that
we would ask you honour and support our request.
In the event of a birthday we ask parents to supply fresh fruit for children
again this supports children's individual
dietary requirements.
Policy on Discipline
We have a policy of encouraging constructive and positive social behaviour.
Disapproval of unacceptable
behaviour will be shown consistently, in a positive manner. No child will be
disciplined by smacking, shouting or
through humiliation.
Settling in
This can be an emotional time for both the child and parents. We have found from
experience that a number of
short settling periods in advance of a child starting can ease this situation.
It is not unusual for a child to
appear unhappy when initially being left in, though once the parent leaves, the
distress rarely lasts for more
than a few minutes. The excitement of their new surroundings and the other
children quickly attracts their
attention. Parents can feel reassured that if their child shows any undue
distress, they will be advised and a
number of alternative settling approaches will be suggested. On enrolment the
management team will discuss with
parents various options for the settling in period. We are happy for parents to
telephone at any time for an up
date on their child.
Clothing
Children are encouraged to join in all activities. In having fun children will
undoubtedly get dirty and parents are
asked to provide a spare change of clothing to be retained at the nursery for
such events. We would advise
parents not to send their children to the nursery in “special outfits” as they
will get dirty and we would not want
such clothing to inhibit play. All clothing should be named.
Nappies
We provide pampers nappies for children attending 4 hrs or more each day. If you
wish your child to have any
other form of nappies such as cloth nappies staff are happy to use these but we
request you provide and
launder them.
Daily Report
Catkins and Pippins provide a daily diary system. This is a two way
communication
and you are welcome to
write details of events you have been involved in with your child. This build
into a long term keep sake of your
child's early years. Each section also completes a food chart detailing what
your child has eaten and will
discuss how well they have slept if they sleep whilst in our care. Staff are
available at the beginning and end of
each session to chat about your child's day but if you wish a more detailed chat
please come along to our termly parents 'evenings'.
Illness
The nursery is required by regulations not to admit or retain children while
they are ill and parents will be
expected on these occasions to have alternative caring arrangements. This is to
prevent cross infection with
other children. Should a child develop symptoms of illness (rash. high
temperature, vomiting, diarrhoea etc)
while at the nursery, parents will be advised immediately. In such an event you
will be asked to implement your
alternative care arrangements no child may be brought back
into Birch Farm until the child has been fit and well for 48 hours.
If a child has been prescribed medication (antibiotics) staff are able to
administer these, you will be
asked to complete a medication form on a daily basis detailing the medication
and how and when to
administer it to your child.
Complaints
In the event that you are concerned or unhappy about any aspect of the nursery
service please advise Sarah or Nick as
soon as possible. Only by knowing that there is a concern can we respond to it.
Should you not feel satisfied with any aspect of the nursery's response to your
complaint, please feel free to discuss it with Mini Shakespeare the site owner
or you can
contact Ofsted using the complains number displayed on the poster in the office.
Arrivals and Departures
The nursery can only accept responsibility for a child when they have been
handed over to a member of staff.
Parents are asked to ensure that a staff member is aware that a child is being
left.
Departures are a much more difficult scenario and the nursery considers that
once a parent removes their child
from the room of safe containment that they are accepting full responsibility
for their child. Parents are asked
to discuss issues surrounding their child with staff while in the containment
room thereby ensuring the safety of
their own child. Parents are asked not to discuss such items with staff while
standing in the hall, corridors and
stairways as it can distract them from their duties.
REGISTRATION FORM & DEPOSIT
To
secure your child’s place at Birch Farm a £100 deposit will be required along
with a completed Registration Form. This £100 deposit will be deducted from
your final invoice. Children only using government funded sessions are exempt
from the £100 deposit.
FEES
The nursery will always have staff available to care for your child for the
agreed period of care. In the event that
your child does not attend the nursery on those agreed times, for whatever
reason, fees will still be payable.
Fees are charged on a 51-week basis and you will be invoiced on a monthly basis.
Public holiday closures will not
be charged for. The nursery is happy to accept payment by cash, childcare
voucher, cheque or standing
order. A deposit is required to secure a place. Your deposit is
refundable and will be deducted from the
final month's fees subject to one months notice period being adhered to and all
payments being up to date.
Should your child leave Birch Farm with outstanding fees including our notice
period fees and payment is not
received promptly we will place your account into the hands of a debt collecting
agency, this may incur
additional fees that will be added to your account.
These
are to be paid monthly in advance and will be invoiced termly.
Fees
will be invoiced 3 times a year based on the academic year and each invoice
divided into 4 equal monthly payments. Invoices may be paid by ‘standing order–
and
attract a 5% discount
or by cheque or cash
transactions Payments must be received into our bank account by the 1st of
every month. Late payments will incur an immediate £10 penalty and loss of your
5% discount and thereafter £10 per week penalty for each week overdue.
Dates
and payment amounts will be confirmed at the start of each new term . If
you make any permanent change of sessions we will issue a new invoice and
payment plan.
Customers will be liable for all additional costs incurred in the recovery of
any outstanding fees.
If you
require an extra session these are to be paid for before or latest on the day of
booking; we will accept cash cheque or card payments. If the booking is made by
telephone or email payment must be received when you child next attends nursery.
Extra days not paid for in advance will be subject to a £10 surcharge and will
not be entitled to any discounts.
If you
book holiday for your child within the guidelines laid out below we will issue a
50% refund in the following month you have taken the holiday.
A
statement of account will be issued regularly to allow you to review your
account status. These will be placed in your pigeon holes or emailed. If you
wish to discuss the statement when it is issued please make an appointment with
Mini/
Sarah or Nick.
If you
are having difficulty making payments please discuss this with Mini as quickly
as possible to enable us to discuss a possible payment plan.
EMPLOYERS
CHILDCARE VOUCHERS:
We are able to
accept a variety of different employer’s childcare vouchers. These are a salary
sacrifice scheme that many employers are now signed up for and are a tax benefit
to working parents. Should you wish to pay by this method please ask your
employer the name of the company they use and check if we are registered with
them and advise us in writing of the amount you will be paying in vouchers each
month. Voucher payments must be received into our bank account on or before the
due payment date to attract the 5% discount.
DISCOUNTS
Families with more than
one child at Birch Farm are entitled to a 10% discount on the eldest
fees, which will be deducted from each invoice raised. 5% discount is deducted
if invoices are paid by standing order or employers childcare vouchers. Discounts are subject to terms and
conditions being met. Additional affiliated company discounts may be available
please ask Sarah / Nick or Mini.
Government
funding is available to all 3 and 4 year olds see the table below for details of
your child's eligibility. You are
entitled to 38 weeks per year at 15 hours per week. You may use a maximum of 6
hours in
1 day and pay the balance for the days care. Government funding does not cover
cost of meals.
|
If your child's birthday is
between... |
they can start free early learning in the ... |
| 1 September and 31 December |
Spring Term
(the term after the Christmas holiday, which starts in January) |
| 1 January and 30 April |
Summer Term
(the term after Easter holiday, which usually starts in April) |
| 1 May and 31 August |
Autumn Term
(the term after the long Summer holiday, which usually starts in September) |
HOLIDAYS:
Catkins/Pippins
-
six weeks holiday is allowed per annum charged at 50% pro rata - at least four
weeks
notice
must be given to take advantage of these reduced rates.
All holidays will be calculated annually from 1st
September pro rata.
Acorns
–
Full year care - six weeks holiday is allowed per annum charged at 50%
pro rata - at least four weeks
notice
must be given to take advantage of these reduced rates.
Your 50% refund
will be returned the month after you have taken the holiday and either refunded
to your child's nursery childcare account or to your bank account if legally
possible.
Termly care
– no holiday entitlement as operates term time only.
Nursery is
closed on all Bank Holidays and between Christmas and New Year, No charge is
made for these closure days.
SWOPS
AND EXTRAS:
Swops are only
offered to help out in difficult circumstances and cannot be used in lieu of
sickness or holiday. Extras can be arranged but are subject to places within
their ratio and staff availability. Please complete a form at reception.
SWIMMING SESSIONS:
Our swimming sessions are offered
for children aged 2½years
and above in conjunction with First Stokes Swimming School. These are offered at
a subsidised rate of
£2.50 per half hour lesson Payable termly. Your child will
be offered a swimming slot subject to availability, the lessons are termly but
those children receiving all year care will be able to attend a play session
with our onsite life guard and staff at no charge during school holidays these
will be subject to lifeguard being available.
TERMINATION:
Should you wish
to terminate your child’s place at Birch Farm one month’s notice in
writing must be given. If such notice is
NOT received then you will be liable for your child’s next invoice. Should a
child be brought in early or collected late there will be a charge pro rata for
every 15 minutes. The exception being at 6.30pm when an immediate penalty of £10
will be charged, as well as every 15 minutes pro rata.
[Back to the Top]
| 
