Terms And Conditions

Age of admittance 
We cater for children aged three months to five years old.

Hours of opening 
The Nursery is open Monday to Friday from 7.30am to 6.00pm.  

Holidays
The nursery is closed on all bank holidays. During the Christmas period the nursery will close on Christmas Eve at 3pm and will be closed until the first working day of the New Year. 

Unforeseen circumstances
Safe Hands are unable to refund parents if the nursery closes due to bad weather conditions.

Terms of places
We do offer a 1 day place but this is only available on a Monday or Friday due to high demand for midweek days.  For settling purposes we do recommend 2 days minimum.

Registration
To reserve a place for your child at Safe Hands Day Nursery please complete the application form and return with one months fees. This deposit is non-refundable and will be offset against the first month’s fees. 

Sickness
If your child is absent from nursery, please inform us before 9 am.  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. The Nursery’s exclusion policy is guided by Cheshire and Warrington Community Health Care NHS Trust. 
If your child is suffering from a doubtful rash, sore throat, discharge from the eyes or nose or diarrhoea please keep the child at home until the doctor has certified that the symptoms have disappeared. 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. The Nursery will make every effort to notify parents should their child become sick at the Nursery. Senior staff reserves the right to remove the child to hospital in an emergency. 

Medicines
The parents of children, who are taking medicines, should complete a medication form available from the Nursery Manager or Officer in Charge. The Medication should have clearly labelled instructions about dosage, this will be stored in an appropriate place, e.g. cooled storage for antibiotics. We are not allowed to give non-prescribed medicine eg teething gel or cough mixtures.  We are allowed to administer antibiotics but the child has to have had the medicine in their system for 24 hours before coming back to nursery.  We are also allowed to give Calpol if a child is suffering from a temperature although you are needed to sign a permission form and we will also ring for consent.

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. All Parents will be informed and required to sign the accident book. 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. 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 Parents wishes if we have not been informed otherwise.

Delivery and collection of children
At Safe Hands parents and staff members identify themselves by using a thumb scanning system called Easydentic.  We have the system on site and all parents are asked to have their thumb scanned when their child starts at nursery.  Anyone who has not had their thumbprint added to our system will be able to gain access.
Children should be delivered by parents/carers into the care of a Nursery Staff Member. Children will not be released into the care of anyone other than those named on the registration form unless authorised by the parents personally, by telephone or in writing. In addition, a personal visit of introduction by the parents, of anyone who will be collecting the child on occasions is encouraged so we are able to confirm their identity.


Milk feeds and nappies 
Formula bottle feeds should be supplied, prepared and labelled by parents and brought to the Nursery each day where they will be stored at the correct temperature until required. Bottles will be rinsed and sent home every evening for sterilisation. Parents are asked to provide supplies of their preferred nappies when required. These will be tagged with each child’s name.

Clothing and personal property 
The Nursery does not accept responsibility for loss or damage of personal property brought on to the premises by children or parents. Parents are requested to send children in easily washable, clearly labelled clothing which is appropriate to the weather conditions. We also ask you to provide a complete change of clothing which can be left at nursery.
Please discourage your child from bringing items of value to the Nursery. 

Child protection 
Any child who attends the Nursery, irrespective of their racial origin, gender, physical or mental impairment, class, religion or cultural background have 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. 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. The nursery has a full written policy on Child protection is available if requested.

Criminal Records Bureau
All Safe Hands staff are fully cleared by the Criminal Records Bureau. This clearance last for 3 years however our staff sign an annual disclaimer stating that if there have been any change since their last clearance.

Complaints
If you have a concern or complaint please make it without delay to the Nursery Manager. 

Payment of fees 
Fees are collected by direct debit only on the 3rd day of each month. Fees must be paid on the first day of attendance in advance and are calculated on a 51 week basis divided by 12 months to include bank holiday deductions. 

Non Payment of fees
Non Payment of Fees by the end of the month will result in termination of your childcare contract and loss of childcare place. 

Sibling Discount
Where parents have more than one child at the Nursery, a 10% reduction in fees is allowed for the second and subsequent children taking a full time place. 
Absence
Fees remain payable for periods of absence as the child’s place is kept open and staff and associated costs continue to accumulate. 

Early Years Grants
Early Years grant payments for children aged 3 year + will have their term entitlement deducted monthly from their invoice. Voucher payments will be accepted on a month in advance basis i.e. if your wage date falls after the 25th of the current month the voucher payment will be deductible from the following months invoice. This is due to voucher companies taking 2 weeks to process voucher payments.

Discipline
At Safe Hands nursery we encourage positive behaviour by praising, reinforcing good behaviour, encouraging sharing, negotiation and making sure staff set good examples about what is right and wrong. Under no circumstances will physical punishment be carried out. 

Termination of Contract 
If you no longer wish to maintain your child’s place at the Nursery you will be required to give one calendar months’ notice in writing and full fees will be charged for that period. The Proprietors reserve the right to exclude a child from the Nursery for any breach of contract. 

Cancellation Policy
Cancellation of a childcare place requires one month’s written confirmation by either party. The only exception is failure to pay nursery fees which will result in immediate breach of contract and subsequent immediate termination of childcare place. Prior to commencement of place the deposit held to secure the place will only be refunded if sufficient notice has been given of more than one months notice and if the place has been offered to an alternative child. One months notice is required to reduce days.

Administration Charges 
Late Child Collections after 6pm £10.00 per breach. 
Returned Direct Debit mandate £10.00 per breach. 

Off premises visits 
Staff will occasionally take the children for walks or visits off premises during the course of their sessions in accordance with statutory staffing requirements.

Car park 
Users are asked to drive slowly and be cautious before setting off. Vehicles are parked in the Nursery car park at their own risk