Our Terms
1 – Opening Hours
Our opening hours are between 8.00am and 6.00pm on Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday and between 8.00am and 5.00pm on Monday and Thursday for 51 weeks per year.
2 – Meal Times
Breakfast 8.00am -8.30am
Mid morning snack 10.45 am
Lunch 12.00pm
Mid afternoon snack 2.30pm
Tea 4.30pm
These times may vary slightly.
3 – Dress
Please send your child in normal day clothes. All parents are asked to provide a change of clothes for their child. In order to help us identify personal belongings, please ensure all garments are clearly labelled.
4 – Sickness
Children should not attend Tiddlers Nursery is they are suffering from sickness, diarrhoea, an infectious disease, or have any unspecific rashes until they are symptom free or cleared to return by the nursery or a doctor.
If a child becomes ill whilst at nursery, a parent will be telephoned to tell them of the childs illness and if necessary will be asked to arrange collection of the child as soon as possible. If the nursery is unable to reach the parents they will call other authorised contacts. If necessary, the nursery will contact the childs GP. In the event of an emergency, the nursery will administer first aid as appropriate and/or take the child to the nearest hospital, accompanied by a senior member of staff, who will act ‘in loco parentis’ until a parent arrives.
Medication may only be given when prescribed by a GP, dentist or homeopathic practitioner. A separate medication form must be completed.
If a child needs to receive regular, prescribed medication whilst at Tiddlers Nursery, full written details must be provided and the medication clearly marked with the child’s name and dosage instructions. Attending the nursery whilst on medication will be at the discretion of the nursery manager.
Tiddlers Nursery, at its sole discretion, may implement temporary or permanent policies relating to pandemics, infectious diseases or other operational issues. These policies will be effective on the date issued and subject to change.
5 – Safeguarding children, health and hygiene
Tiddlers Nursery are inspected by Ofsted. Suspected instances of child abuse or neglect are dealt with in accordance with government regulation and with the support of the local safeguarding children team. Our nursery has a nominated person who is responsible for safeguarding children, equality and diversity and health and safety. Tiddlers Nursery ensures high standards are kept for hygiene and food preparation.
6 – Special Requirement
Where your child has a severe allergy or medical condition, please speak to a member of the management team at the earliest opportunity. A meeting will be arranged with you to discuss the condition and fill in relevant forms etc prior to your child starting at Tiddlers Nursery.
7 – Lost Property
Parents are encouraged to clearly label all their children’s belongings to avoid items going missing or being misplaced. Unless we have acted negligently, Tiddlers Nursery does not accept any responsibility for the loss of property in the nursery.
8 – Tiddlers Nursery Fees
8.1 – Fee Payments and securing your place
Tiddlers Nursery accepts payment by standing order or childcare vouchers. Fees are payable monthly in advance. Fees may be paid by cash or cheque only by arrangement with the management of Tiddlers Nursery. Fees for the month should be paid on the 1st of the month. Although the nursery is open for 51 weeks per year, Tiddlers Nursery calculate yours fees by taking our weekly charge, multiplying it by 48 (weeks) and dividing it by 12 (months). This calculation allows you to pay a regular amount each month, whether there are four or five weeks in the month. This calculation will be adapted in certain situations; for example – if your child attends during term time only your weekly fee will be multiplied by 38(weeks) and divided by 12(months). If your child will not be attending Tiddlers Nursery for a complete year i.e. they start at the nursery in January and will be leaving to attend school in September the calculation will be adapted to suit. A clear payment plan will be agreed with you before your child attends Tiddlers Nursery. The calculation of fees takes into account that Tiddlers Nursery is closed for some days of the year, for example the Christmas period and bank holidays. We also allow two weeks holiday for children attending Tiddlers Nursery full time. Please let Tiddlers Nursery know of your holiday dates as soon as possible.
8.2 – Fee Rates
Tiddlers Nursery will review its rates annually and give parents at least 4 weeks written notice of any changes. If the fee rate is due to change as your child moves up an age group the new rate will take effect from the first of the month following your childs birthday.
8.3 – Collection of children
Children may not be left at Tiddlers Nursery before 8.00am or collected after 6.00pm as this contravenes our Ofsted registration and our insurance. Children must be collect promptly at the end of each session. For every 15 minutes after this time a flat rate fee of £5.00 per 15 minutes will be charged unless a parent has contacted Tiddlers Nursery and an arrangement has been made. For security reasons children may only be collected by authorised contacts as named on the registration forms. Changes to the authorised contacts must be made in writing. Children cannot leave the premises unaccompanied or with an unauthorised person and the person collecting children must be over the age of 18. This does not apply for parents under 18.
If your child remains in the nursery after the specified time and Tiddlers Nursery has had no contact from a parent, we will first telephone you and then the authorised contacts. We will stay with your child as long as possible, but if after a period of time we have not been able to make contact with you or an authorised contact, we may call the local social services office.
8.4 – Securing a place for your child at Tiddlers Nursery
To request a place with Tiddlers Nursery a registration form must be completed and returned to us with a £20 non-refundable registration fee. In the event that a place is not available for your child at the time requested we will contact you to arrange start dates.
Once we have confirmed your place in writing, you will need to pay your first months fee’s by cheque or cash. Tiddlers Nursery requires subsequent fees to be paid by standing order and/or childcare vouchers. If an arrangement is made to pay fees by cash or cheque then one months fees will be required as a deposit, in addition to the first months fees. Tiddlers Nursery will refund this deposit once all fees are paid and within six weeks of your child leaving Tiddlers Nursery.
After your place has been confirmed, Tiddlers Nursery require one months written notice if you decide not to send your child to Tiddlers Nursery or would like to delay their start date. If you fail to give one months written notice, Tiddlers Nursery reserves the right to charge you for any un-notified period. Any changes to your start date will be subject to availability.
8.5 – Reduction of sessions
You may reduce, increase or change the number or sessions per week, subject to your new block of sessions being available. To reduce the number of sessions, at least one months written notice is required and you will only pay for the reduced number of sessions.
8.6 – Notice of termination
A minimum of one months written notice is required if you wish to terminate your childs place at Tiddlers Nursery. Tiddlers Nursery reserves the right to terminate a childs place with immediate effect if a serious breach of these terms and conditions occurs, or if termination of a place is considered by the nursery at its sole discretion to be in the best interests of the nursery and/or the continuing care of the child or other children at the nursery. Examples of this are parents using foul language or being abusive to staff and serious breaches of the agreement would include failing to pay fees
8.7 – Late Payment of Accounts
Tiddlers Nursery also reserves the right to terminate your childs place with immediate effect and without further notice, if accounts are outstanding by more then 30 days from the date of invoice. Tiddlers Nursery reserves the right to refuse any booking for additional services or sessions, booking for siblings, and/or suspend your child if accounts are outstanding. We reserve the right to charge an administration fee for outstanding fees including bounced cheques, standing orders and non receipt of childcare vouchers. This fee will be £50 per month.
8.8 – Refund for non-attendance
Tiddlers Nursery will not refund your fees. If your child is absent due to illness, holiday, or as required under a Tiddlers Nursery Policy or if the nursery closes due to an ‘act of god’, infectious diseases, pandemics or environmental factors (such as snow) beyond our control.
9 – Other
Tiddlers Nursery may change these terms and conditions where such changes arise from regulatory issues, changes in legislation affecting Tiddlers Nursery, proposed changes in invoicing procedures or in the reasonable opinion of Tiddlers Nursery it is in the interests of nursery and/or children attending nursery, Tiddlers Nursery will give you at least four weeks written notice of such changes.
Tiddlers Nursery will not be in breach of these terms or otherwise liable to you by reason of any delay in performance or non-performance of its obligations due to any event outside its reasonable control including ‘acts of god’ fire, floods, snow, lightening, war, act of terrorism, infectious diseases, pandemics, strikes and other industrial action.