Opening times
The nursery will be open Monday to Friday, 8 am-6 pm for approximately 50 weeks each year, closing at the end of the school term in December, between Christmas and New Year, all bank holidays and 3 staff training days (dates will be given in advance).
Full fees are payable during closure periods (except the Christmas period) refunds/alternative sessions will not be given if, a child is absent for any reason e.g. Holidays, illness or if the nursery has to close due to reasons outside our control e.g. extreme weather conditions. The nursery does not accept responsibility for any loss or inconvenience suffered by parents/carers arising directly or indirectly from a temporary closure of its premises or a result of the non-admission of a child for any reason. Fees will be charged for all reserved sessions regardless of holidays, sickness or temporary closure.
Parents/Carers are requested to arrive no later than 10 minutes prior to the end of the session to allow time for feedback and collection. Late collection on more than 2 occasions will be subject to a late charge (refer to Late Collection).
Kidz Choice Nursery does not allow staff to babysit for clients of any of our nurseries.
The Enrolment process/Securing a nursery place
Here at Kidz Choice, we believe the way in which children and families are welcomed into a setting is crucial. Managed well, the move from home is a great time to begin building positive relationships, and establishing a two-way dialogue with parents about learning. An appointment will be arranged for a Nursery visit which will give you an opportunity to meet the staff team, get a feel of the Nursery environment, see some of the activities we offer and ask any questions. A virtual tour will be made available if you are unable to attend an appointment.
All parents/carers need to complete a registration form and return it with a non refundable administration fee of £55 per child. If no place is available, the child will be placed on a waiting list, however, registration does not guarantee a space. You will then receive a parental contract and full terms and conditions.
Changes to registration requirements must be made in writing and may result in a further £55 administration charge. A minimum of 2 full days is required in the babyroom.
Parent/carers of children accessing free entitlement spaces only, will be required to sign a Parent and Nursery free entitlement agreement, which includes a fee for food (alternatively, you can provide a packed lunch/tea independently without charge).
All parents/carers will be required to fill in a “Getting to know you” pack for your child.
We then ask parents/carers to make themselves available for at least 2 days to help settle their child at the nursery. During this period parents/carers are encouraged to spend a small amount of time within the setting to reassure their child as they settle. It is a good time to see how your child interacts with their peers and to see how children play and learn. The approach is flexible, with parents/carers able to move away when their child seems ready, as long as they remain nearby and readily contactable.
Term Time
Kidz Choice provides full time day care, however we will accept children on a term time only basis, under the following terms.
• Term time places are offered to children who attend funded hours only.
• If your child attends combination days or Monday – Friday full time and request a term time only place, a retainer fee per day will be chargeable during all school holidays.
If your child attends term time only, a funding term date schedule will be provided. Any days of attendance outside of these dates will be at the full daily charge.
If your child attends funded hours only, as per government directive, settings cannot claim funding for your child’s absence, if longer than 2 weeks. The borough will withdraw funding for the period your child was absent and the nursery fees for that period of absence, becomes the responsibility of the parent/carer. Non-payment may result in your child losing their nursery place.
Deposit
Prior to starting at Kidz Choice Nursery, your refundable deposit of one month’s fees is required, without exception, to secure your child’s place. Once your payment has been made, an offer letter will be sent to you confirming your space.
If you increase your sessions at any time, you may be required to pay the increase in deposit.
When your child is due to leave the nursery (with the appropriate notice) your deposit will be offset against the final invoice and any other charges that may have been incurred.
First Payment
Parents will be invoiced for the first month or part thereof, on the first day of the settling week, due for payment by the end of the week. Subsequent monthly fees will be set out in a payment schedule and will be due on the 1st of every month. You can obtain Invoices by request.
Should a mutually agreed start date be postponed by parents, the nursery reserves the right to charge from the original start date as indicated on the nursery registration form.
Fees
All fees are due on the 1st of the month and are monthly in advance. Parents/carers must pay by BACS, childcare vouchers, Childcare grants/student finance or via the tax-free childcare scheme. All these methods of payment must be set up and ready for payment on the 1st of the month. Please leave a minimum of 3 working days to reach our bank account. Refunds for overpayment via vouchers cannot be made, the refund will be given directly to the voucher Company.
Please note that Kidz Choice Nursery is not responsible for payment collections from 3rd parties e.g., universities/colleges, voucher providers or grant funding agencies. You will be responsible for any outstanding sums of money that have not been paid.
Late payment penalties will be incurred if payment is not received on time: £50 or 10% of monies due, whichever is the greater. Our fees will be reviewed annually and at least one month’s notice will be given to parents/carers of any change in fees. Kidz choice will also give one month’s notice of any changes to terms and conditions, legislation, or policies and procedures.
Fees for your child will change one month after they move into the next age bracket.
Sessions can only be changed from the 1st of the month if you want to decrease your sessions. Change of sessions is not permitted mid-month. Any other sessions will be treated as extras sessions until the 1st of the month.
Kidz Choice will prioritise siblings on our waiting lists. A 5% sibling discount is available, applicable to the fees of the eldest child and will commence after the first 3 full months of attendance by the younger sibling, unless the child is receiving any free entitlements.
Collection and Late Collection
Children will only be allowed to leave the premises with authorised contacts. New contacts must be added to your registration form and suitable notice should be given to your keyworker. If another person will be picking up your child, we will have a password system in place, but unless it is an emergency, you must call the nursery to let us know.
All children should be collected promptly at the end of sessions. There will be a late collection charge levied, as per LATE COLLECTION. In the case of extremis, the police and social services may be involved.
Frequent late collection of your child may result in your child’s place being terminated.
Change of session/Termination of contract
We require one calendar month (from the 1st of the month) written notice to reduce the number of sessions attended by your child, if less notice is given, you will be charged as per your original registration form.
Fixed sessions cannot be swapped but extra sessions for the day you require, can be requested, subject to availability. If you have booked an extra session and find that you do not require it, you will be charged unless you give at least 24 hours notice.
Sessions can only be changed from the 1st of the month if you want to decrease your sessions. Change of sessions is not permitted mid-month. Any other sessions will be treated as extra sessions until the 1st of the month.
The contract shall last until it is terminated by either you or us giving to the other, in writing, at least one full calendar months’ notice (i.e. notice received on the 1st of a month could end the contract on the last day of the month, but notice received on the 2nd of a month, would only be able to end the contract on the last day of the following month).
Change of sessions are not permitted during the final month notice period of leaving the nursery.
Kidz Choice reserve the right to terminate a nursery place, with immediate effect, if:
• You are in breach of any of our terms and conditions set out in this or our full terms and conditions (which you will receive with your parent contract) for example, frequent late collection of your child, or regularly failing to pay fees
• You are in breach of any of our policies and procedures (available on request)
• Your behaviour is unacceptable toward staff or children (we will not tolerate any physical or verbal abuse)
• Your child’s behaviour is unacceptable or endangers the safety and wellbeing of any of the other children or staff at the nursery
Sickness/Illness and medication
No child should attend nursery if they have sickness, diarrhoea, an infectious illness or an undiagnosed rash (please refer to government guidelines on Managing specific infectious diseases). Many of the above have a 48-hour or more exclusion period from the last time symptoms disappeared.
Children will NOT be able to attend nursery if they have been given any temperature reducing medication e.g. Calpol, before coming to nursery.
If a child becomes ill during nursery, a parent/carer will be contacted and asked to collect the child. If a child has a very high temperature, we can administer one 5ml dose of Calpol. This can only be administered if parents/carers are on route to collect their child or may need to call their emergency contact to collect their child, if they are more than 1 hour away.
Children who receive any immunisation need to remain absent from the nursery for 24 hours after receiving it.
In the case of an accident or emergency, the nursery will contact the parent/carer, if we are unable to make contact with the parent/carer, other authorised emergency persons will be contacted. If the child needs to be taken to the hospital, they will be accompanied by a member of staff who will act ‘in loco parents’ until a parent/carer arrives.
If a child receives a minor bump to the head the nursery will notify you via text message, the accident book will need to be signed when your child is picked up.
Kidz Choice staff will not administer any medication to children, including antibiotics, and unprescribed medicines, this includes oral medication drops and ointments. (We will only administer Calpol in the case of a very high temperature as per the above). The exceptions to these rules are:
• Nappy creams (such as Sudocrem)
• Bonjela (or other teething gels)
• Inhalers or creams prescribed by a General Practitioner
• Antihistamine syrup such as Piriton
• EpiPen injections in the case of life threatening anaphylaxis,
• long term medication which is required for a child due to a chronic medical condition such as cystic fibrosis.
If a child has to receive regular, prescribed medication, a healthcare plan will be put in place to ensure the safety of both the child and the staff member. Kidz Choice will not administer any medication that has expired.
It is very important that you inform a member of staff if your child has had ANY medication before arriving at nursery.
Safeguarding
Kidz Choice has an obligation to report to relevant authorities, with or without parental consent, any instances where we consider a child to be in danger or have concerns of abuse. For further information please request a copy of the Safeguarding policy.
General
All parents/carers will have to supply their child's nappies, wipes, creams, and any formula milk.
All children need a labelled spare set of suitable clothes, in a named shoe bag, soft shoes, and a water bottle.
Children should not bring their own toys to the Nursery unless requested to e.g. show and tell. Whilst staff will exercise all reasonable care to ensure that children’s belongings are not lost or damaged, the nursery cannot be held responsible for any loss or damage that might otherwise occur.
Prams and buggies should be folded and securely put into the buggy shed at the front of the building, no buggies or prams should be left unfolded and out on the front entrance.
Trips
We go on regular local trips and the whole nursery go on a large yearly trip (usually by coach). On whole nursery trips, you will have the option for your child to attend, however, the nursery will close for the duration of the trip and there will be no refund for the children who normally attend on these days, but who do not wish to attend the trip.
Kidz choice will take any complaints received very seriously. We have a full and comprehensive set of policies and procedures, available on request.
Late Collection
From pick-up time
The charge is £5 for every 5 minutes late
A £15 charge will stand after 15 minutes of lateness
From 15 minutes – 30 minutes the charge is £30. Thereafter it is £8 for every 5 minutes.
Any late fee must be paid via Direct Bank transfer the same evening and referenced with the child’s first name followed by Late fees.
