Treetops Policies

Policies & Procedures

Treetops policies and procedures are underpinned by our firm commitment to treat all children as individuals.

We aim to:-

1. Keep your children safe
2. Keep your children healthy
3. Make a positive contribution

Copies of our nursery policies and procedures are available to view in the nursery reception.

Terms and Conditions

Registration

• A non refundable registration fee will be charged for each child at the time of registration.
• A child place will not be guaranteed until the registration fee has been paid and a start date confirmed.
• We reserve the right re-allocate your child place to another family if you fail to take up the place on the agreed start date without prior notification to the nursery manager.

Provision of Childcare

• Childcare facilities will be provided at the Treetops Nursery stated below at the agreed times, except when the nursery is closed (details of days closed can be obtained from the nursery). We will endeavour to provide you with as much notice as possible should there be any changes to the days on which the nursery will be closed.
• Full and part time sessions must fit into the session times detailed in the nursery brochure. We may be able to accommodate individual needs, however we reserve the right give you no less than one months notice if we are no longer able to offer this.
• You are required to register for a minimum of two sessions per child; this could be two half days or one full day.
• Sessions must be agreed with the nursery manager in advance.  Extra sessions however can be booked at short notice subject to availability and must be paid for at the point of booking by debit or credit card.  In the event of a cancellation a refund can only be made if we receive at least 4 weeks notice.
• We require a minimum of one month’s notice of any decrease in the number of sessions your child attends nursery.
• Children must be collected before the end of each session.
• A late collection charge of £5 per 15 minutes or part thereof will be made for children not collected by the end of the session.

Charging of Fees

• Our fees are calculated based on a weekly fee which will be notified to you prior to your child starting at the nursery.
• Fees are chargeable monthly, payable in advance; the monthly fee is calculated by multiplying the weekly fee by 52 and then dividing by 12 to give 12 equal monthly payments.
• We reserve the right to review the fees at any time but will give you no less than one months notice prior to any change taking effect.
• Fees will be charged at the full rate for periods of holiday or sickness.
• In some of our nurseries we have a limited number of term time only places; further details are available from the nursery manager.
• Unless otherwise stated at individual nurseries, fees for morning sessions are inclusive of lunchtime meals and a mid morning snack. Afternoon sessions include a light tea and afternoon snack. (If more detail regarding meals is required please speak to individual nursery manager.)
• The reduced fee rate that applies following your childs third birthday will take effect from the 1st day of the following month.

Payment of Fees

• The first months’ fees are payable by debit or credit card no later than the start date, all nursery fees thereafter are payable one month in advance on the first day of each month  by direct debit.
• We accept settlement of either part or full payment of fees by external funders including recognised childcare voucher providers, however if monies are not received by the agreed settlement date, it will become your responsibility to settle the outstanding fees immediately.
• We may agree to alternative payment method; however it is your responsibility to obtain a receipt from the Manager as proof of payment.
• In the event that fees are not paid by the due date we reserve the right exclude your child from nursery and terminate this agreement without notice.
• In the event that bank charges are incurred by the nursery as a direct result of your non-payment of fees, we reserve the right to charge you an administration fee of £15.00.

What we request from you...

• You must inform the nursery staff as soon as possible if your child has an infectious disease. You must not allow your child to attend the nursery if they are suffering from a contagious disease that could be passed on to another child in the nursery. We reserve the right to refuse admission to any child on health grounds.
• We reserve the right to contact you requesting that you collect your child if he/she becomes ill during nursery hours.
• You will give us full details of anything affecting your childs health, including known allergies, conditions or additional needs.
• All children should have at least one change of clothing. 
• All items of clothing and personal property should be clearly marked. 
• Our nurseries are fully equipped with a wide range of toys and resources for your child and therefore we would ask that your child does not bring their own toys from home as we cannot accept any responsibility for loss or damage to personal property.
• Immediately inform us of any changes to your personal contact details.
• Up to date parent/carer or alternative emergency contact details.
• You must advise the nursery manager immediately if any of these emergency contact details change.
• You must keep the nursery manager informed of any changes to the person(s) authorised to collect your child from nursery (this will be the authorised person(s) as stated on the registration form). We will not allow a child to leave the nursery with anyone other than the authorised person. All parents/carers must comply with the nursery’s security for the collection of children’ policy.
• Where nursery staff deliver or collect children to & from school parents must inform the school in advance and sign a permission slip to authorise the nursery to deliver or collect.  Parents must also be aware of the nursery ‘before & after school   policy.
• That you will complete a medicine consent form if you require nursery staff to administer any prescribed medication. The first dose of any new medicine must be given at home and parents must take their child’s medication home each day.
• You must inform us if your child is the subject of any court order and provide us with a copy of this order.
• Discuss with your childs key worker or nursery manager if you have any concerns about the services we provide – if you feel your concern has not been resolved please refer to our complaints procedure
• You will adhere to all of the terms and conditions outlined in this document.

General

• We are obligated to report to the relevant authorities any circumstances where we consider that a child may be at risk from harm or neglect. We may do this with or without your consent and with or without informing you.
• All of our childcare policies and procedures are available in the nursery reception area.
• In the event that you employ the services of any member of our staff whom you may   have had contact with in the nursery we will be entitled to seek the equivalent sum of 25% of that person’s salary – this will apply during the period covered by this agreement and for a further six months thereafter.

Termination

• If you wish to terminate this agreement, you must give at least one month’s notice by completing the notification of leave date form and you will remain liable for fees throughout the notice period.
• You may end this agreement without giving notice in the event that we breach any of our obligations under this agreement and we have not or cannot put right that breach within a reasonable period of time of you drawing it to our attention.
• We reserve the right to immediately terminate this agreement if:
• you have failed to pay your fees by the due date
• you have breached any of your obligations under this agreement and you have not or cannot put right that breach within a reasonable period of time of us drawing it to your attention
• you behave in an unacceptable manner. We will not tolerate any physical or verbal abuse toward staff, children or customers within our nursery

We reserve the right to amend these terms and conditions and will provide a minimum of one months notice prior to any changes.