Dropping off and Collection policy

Drop off and Collection Policy

If you need to arrive at a different time from the agreed contracted time, please let me know in as far advance as possible. If you unexpectedly arrive early, I may not be ready to care for your child. If you are late, I may not be able to wait for you. I am happy to accommodate where possible

It is usually not a problem if you want to drop off later or collect earlier than the contracted hours. Although, you will still have to pay for the contracted hours. It is not fair for the other children to cut short an outing because your child will be dropped off late/collected early, therefore if you need to collect or drop off your child earlier/later you may be required to meet us where we are at the time. I will always make sure I am at home for usual drop off and collection times as this will help children to establish routines.

It is important that parents or carers arrive at the contracted time to collect their child this is important because children, even at a young age learn our routine and know when their parents or carers are due. It can cause a child to become distressed if their parents or carers are late. I appreciate sometimes delays are unavoidable. If you are delayed, for whatever reason please contact me and let me know when you expect to arrive, this will then help me reassure your child. I will usually be able to accommodate the additional care; however, if I am unable, I will contact other adults from the authorised list and ask if they are able to help with collecting your child. I will ensure your child is reassured and will let them know what is happening and let them know if someone else is coming to collect your child. I will arrange other activities for your child if necessary.

If a child is not collected, I will wait for 30 minutes before contacting the parents. If I cannot contact the parents, I will try the list of emergency contact numbers. I will not stop caring for your child. If I am unable to contact the parents or emergency contact list after an hour of the designated collection time, I will contact the Local Authority Duty Social Worker and follow their advice.

If collection time is missed by a parent frequently by more than fifteen minutes, I will have to charge for an extra hour. I will not charge however for the occasional late collection as I understand sometimes things pop up. Late fees will be charged at my discretion.

Making sure children are safe when leaving my care;

Children who are in my care will only be released from my care with individual’s other than the parents/carer or to someone named and authorised with a safe word agreed with the parent.

A safe word will need to be agreed between us to confirm identity if the person collecting the child is not previously known to me. I will check with the person who is collecting, their name, and relation to child and ask them to confirm the safe word. I will ask the child who the individual is before bringing the child out to gather their belongings.

Children who are in my care will not be released into the care of anyone that I believe is under the influence of drugs or alcohol.