Terms & Conditions
1. General
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Age of Admittance
0 - to 5 years of age.
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Hours of Opening
The Nursery is open Monday to Friday from 08:00am to 6:00pm, 51 weeks a year excluding bank holidays. This means that we are closed for 5 working days over the Christmas period as well as the bank holidays, such as Christmas Day, Easter Monday, May Day etc. There is no charge for these closures.
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Changes
We reserve the right to make amendments to the terms and conditions of your childcare contract without notice. However, we will always provide notice whenever practicable.
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Change of Details
You must immediately inform us of any changes to your registration details.
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Court order
You must inform us if your child is the subject of a court order and provide us with a copy of such order on request.
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Nappies
Please provide nappies, wipes and cream if required for your child.
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Off Premises Visits
Team members will occasionally take the children for walks or visits off premises during the course of their sessions in accordance with statutory staffing requirements. By signing this contract, you are providing us with your consent to do so.
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Mobile Phone
To ensure the safety and well-being of all children who attend our nursery we enforce a no personal mobile phone usage within our setting. Please do not use or carry your phone whilst at the nursery.
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Equal Opportunities
We are an equal opportunities organisation, which makes decisions without regard to race, colour, sex, religion, national origin, age, disability, marital status or sex change status or any other factor protected by law.
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Nursery Closure
The Nursery is closed on public Bank Holidays and over the Christmas and New Year period.
If the nursery has to close or we take the decision to close due to events or circumstances which are outside our control, we shall be under no obligation to provide alternative childcare facilities to you.
If the closure exceeds 3 days in duration (excluding any days when the nursery would otherwise be closed), we will credit you with an amount that represents the number of days the nursery is closed in excess of 3 days, for which your child would have been attending.
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Complaints or Concerns
If you have a concern or complaint, please speak to the Nursery Manager or alternatively you can email admin@limetreealton.co.uk . If you have any concerns regarding the services we provide, please discuss these with your child’s key worker. If these concerns have not been resolved to your satisfaction, please contact the Nursery Manager.
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Employment or Solicitation of Staff
If, during this childcare contract and for a period of 6 months after the termination of this contract, you (directly or indirectly) employ or otherwise engage the services of any member of our staff who has had contact with your child under this contract then you will be liable to pay and you will be invoiced a fee of £2000.00 as payment to us recruiting and training a suitable replacement member of staff.
Nursery Policy and Procedures
Please read the nursery policies and procedures and ensure that you keep yourself updated with these, as they are regularly updated and reviewed. By signing this contract you are stating that you accept these and will keep yourself updated with them.
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2. Medical
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Emergency Treatment
Any child who attends Nursery and has an accident whilst in our care will be given basic first aid treatment by staff. This will include the treatment of minor cuts, bumps or bruises.
Any emergency treatment or medical advice will be permitted unless a parent states in writing otherwise. The Nursery does not accept any responsibility for treatment given against parent's wishes if we have not been informed otherwise.
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Accident Book
All Parents will be informed and required to sign the accident form. In the case of a more serious accident or incident a child will be taken immediately to a doctor or the nearest hospital and parents will be informed.
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Sickness
The Nursery will make every effort to notify parents should their child become ill at the Nursery. Senior staff reserves the right to remove the child to hospital in an emergency. Please note minimum exclusion periods apply and must be adhered to. Our policy and guidelines are available from the nursery manager.
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Contagious Disease
For the benefit of the other children in the nursery, you must not allow your child to attend the nursery if they are suffering from a contagious disease which could easily be passed on to another child during normal daily activities of the nursery.
The Nursery reserves the right to refuse to accept children until the Nursery is satisfied they are not infectious. This is to protect other children from cross infection. We follow the Guidance on Infection Control in Schools and other Childcare Settings to determine when and for how long children need to be excluded from the nursery.
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If in doubt
If your child is suffering from a doubtful rash, sore throat, discharge from the eyes, nose, diarrhea or any similar symptoms; please keep the child at home until the doctor has certified that the symptoms have disappeared.
You must inform us immediately if your child is diagnosed with any allergy or intolerance.
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Antibiotics
If your child is prescribed antibiotics, please keep them at home until 48 hours dosage has been administered in case of adverse reaction to the medication. Antibiotics and medicines will only be administered by Nursery staff after the child has been taking them for more than 48 hours at home, and only then with written authorisation from their parent. All antibiotics must be prescribed by a doctor.
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3. Child Protection
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Child Protection
Any child who attends the Nursery, irrespective of their racial origin, gender, physical or mental impairment, class, religion or cultural background has a right to protection from neglect, physical, sexual or any other abuse and it is our priority to keep children safe from harm whilst in our care.
The Nursery has a full written policy on Child protection which is available from the nursery manager.
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Delivery of children
Children should be delivered by parents/carers into the care of a nursery team member and entered into the attendance register.
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Collection of Children
Children will not be released into the care of anyone other than those named on the childcare registration form unless authorised by the parents personally, by telephone or in writing. We use a password protection system in cases whereby another person is due to collect a child. If we are not reasonably satisfied that an individual is allowed to collect your child, we will not release your child into their care.
In addition, a personal visit or introduction by the parents, of anyone who will be collecting the child on occasions is encouraged so we are able to confirm their identity.
You are required to inform us immediately if you are unable to collect your child from nursery by the official collection time. All collections must be by an adult over 18 years of age.
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Social Services
It is our obligation to require or seek professional advice or actions from the local social services team if we suspect a child is suffering from harm. We have an obligation to report any instances where we consider that a child may have been neglected or abused to the relevant authorities. We may do so without your consent and/or without informing you.
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Behaviour Management
The Nursery has a written policy on behaviour management which is available from the nursery manager. The use of any form of physical chastisement, verbal humiliation, or aggressive handling of a child is not acceptable at the Nursery.
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4. Property and Premises
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Personal Property
Parents / guardians are discouraged from bringing their personal possessions into the nursery, but if this does occur, parents / guardians will be asked to place personal items, including mobile phones, into a lockable cupboard until they vacate the premises again.
The Nursery does not accept responsibility for loss or damage of personal property brought on to the premises by children or parents.
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Clothing
Parents are requested to send children in clearly labelled clothing which is appropriate to the weather conditions. Please discourage your child from bringing items of value to the Nursery. Please provide a spare set of clothing for your child in case of an accident or the need for change of clothing.
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5. Food and Drink
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Water
Fresh drinking water is available to all children throughout the day.
All children will be encouraged by the team to drink water throughout the day as part of our commitment to offering healthy food and drink options.
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Meals & Snacks
Children will be provided with three nutritious, balanced meals daily. Menus are displayed near the entrance. If your child has special dietary requirements, please discuss these with us, so we can come to an arrangement.
For Health and Safety reasons we do not accept children bringing in their own packed lunch, unless an arrangement with the Manager has been made.
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Milk Feeds
Please provide formula if your baby requires this. See our policies and procedures for promoting children’s health for full information on what you need to do with the provision of formula, bottles etc and how we can help you when your baby is ready to be weaned.
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Nut Allergy
As the number of children with nut allergies is increasing with parental support we aim to endeavour to keep the nursery NUT FREE. Parents are requested not to send food or empty food packaging materials into the nursery.
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6. Fees
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Schedule of Fees
Fees are payable a month ahead, so for example, the March invoice will be sent out at the beginning of February. Payment is due within 7 days of invoice issue. Late payment – this will result in a 10% penalty surcharge. Late payment may result in loss of the place for your child.
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Absence
Fees remain payable for periods of absence (Holidays and Sickness) as the child's place is kept open and the team and associated costs continue to accumulate and be met by the nursery.
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Registration Fee
We charge a non-refundable registration fee of £25 to reserve your childcare place.
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Reserving a Childcare Place
We are able to reserve a childcare place and booking pattern no more than 6 months in advance of your child's start date.
Should you wish to extend this 6 months period then you will be required to pay your childcare fees in full from the 7th month onwards to keep your childcare place open.
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Free Childcare Hours
Free childcare is available for all 3 and 4 year old children, regardless of parental income, from the term AFTER a child's 3rd birthday. 3 and 4 year old children will be entitled to 570 hours on the EYE stretched offer. We provide this with the stretched offer, so free childcare in this form is available for all the weeks that we are open (usually 11 hours per week). Please note that children claiming the free Government funded hours must attend the nursery for a minimum of 20 hours per week. Parents will be charged for the additional hours.
Please enquire with a team member about funded places for 2 year olds.
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7. Booking Patterns
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Booking patterns are available on a 51 week basis.
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Sessions
Full days are calculated from 08:00am to 6:00pm,
There are limited spaces for alternative start times of 8.30am, 9am or 1pm and limited alternative finish times of 1pm, 3pm, 5.30pm or 6pm. Please check availability of your preferred start and finish times with management,
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Changes to your Booking Pattern
To increase your booking pattern, we require 48 hours' notice subject to availability.
To decrease your booking pattern, you must provide us with thirty (30) days' notice in writing or by email to the nursery manager.
Should insufficient notice be given then you will be invoiced for the full childcare fees for thirty (30) days' notice from the date of any change as if the hours had not decreased.
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Additional Sessions
If Additional Days have been booked, these will be invoiced either on the following months invoice, or separately. If you book and then cancel you will still be charged for the day/session booked.
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8. Payment of Fees
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Fees
Fees are due monthly in advance in accordance to your booking pattern by the 1st day of each month.
Payment method
We accept payments by bank transfer.
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Childcare Voucher Payments
The voucher company pays the nursery directly.
We accept payment by most voucher companies in the UK, please let us know which voucher company you will be using.
Please ensure all voucher payments are made by the 1st of each month as a late voucher payment may be charged.
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9. Cancellation
Termination of Contract
If you no longer wish to maintain your child's place at the Nursery you will be required to give thirty (30) days' notice in writing or by email to the nursery manager. We reserve the right to exclude a child from Nursery for any breach of the childcare contract. We may terminate your childcare contract if your child’s behaviour at the nursery is deemed by us to be unacceptable or endanger the safety and well-being of other children at the nursery.
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10. Non Payment of Fees
If the payment of nursery fees is outstanding for more than 14 days after the 1st of the month this will result in the termination of your childcare contract and the loss of your childcare place. (Unless prior agreement has been made with the nursery management).
Upon termination of this contract the child shall not be permitted entry to the nursery. This shall be regarded as a formal demand for all outstanding monies and we will issue a final invoice and pass this to a debt collection agency for full recovery. In addition, you will be liable for all associated debt collection fees and court costs.