Terms & Conditions

The Nursery operates within the bounds of the Abacus Ark Nursery School Policies and Procedures. 

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• An abridged version of Policies and Procedures are available on the company website;

• The Nursery has an “open access to information” policy and therefore Parents/Carers have access during normal opening hours to view the full details of all the Policies and Procedures under which it operates;

• The Nursery will care for their Child in accordance with these policies and procedures and the Parent/Carer consents to Abacus Ark Nursery School caring for their Child within this framework.

The Parent/Carer agrees to aid the Nursery in upholding all Policies, including the following:

Food and Drink Policy

No food and drink can be brought into the Nursery. Only food provided by Abacus Ark may be permitted on the premises.

Children with Long-term medical conditions

Parents/Carers will contribute to a risk assessment. They should be shown around the Nursery, understand the routines and activities and point out anything which they think may be a risk factor for their child.

Achieving Positive Behaviour

Our Nursery believes that children flourish best when their personal, social and emotional needs are met and where there are clear and developmentally appropriate expectations for their behaviour.

Children need to learn to consider the views and feelings, needs and rights, of others and the impact that their behaviour has on people, places and objects. This is a developmental task that requires support, encouragement, teaching and setting the correct example. The principles that underpin how we achieve positive and considerate behaviour exist within our programme for promoting personal, social and emotional development.

Maintaining children’s safety and security on premises

We maintain the highest possible security of our premises to ensure that each child is safely cared for during their time with us.

Confidentiality

In our Nursery, staff and managers can be said to have a ‘confidential relationship’ with families. It is our intention to respect the privacy of children and their parents and carers, while ensuring that they access high quality early years care and education in our Nursery. We aim to ensure that all parents and carers can share their information in the confidence that it will only be used to enhance the welfare of their children. There are record keeping systems in place that meet legal requirements; the means we use to store and share that information takes place within the framework of the Data Protection Act (2018) and the Human Rights Act (1998).

Equality, Inclusion and Valuing Diversity Policy

Abacus Ark Nursery School will ensure that our service is fully inclusive in meeting the needs of all children, particularly those that arise from their ethnic heritage, social and economic background, gender, ability or disability. Abacus Ark Nursery School is committed to anti-discriminatory practices to promote equality of opportunity and valuing diversity for all children, families and staff.

Parent/Carer Involvement

We believe that children benefit most from early years education and care when parents and Nurseries work together in partnership. 

Our aim is to support parents as their children's first and most important educators by involving them in their children's education and in the full life of the Nursery. We also aim to support parents in their own continuing education and personal development. 

Some parents are less well represented in early years settings; these include fathers, parents who live apart from their children, but who still play a part in their lives, as well as working parents. In carrying out the following procedures, we will ensure that all parents are included. 

When we refer to ‘parents’ we mean both mothers and fathers; these include both natural or birth parents, as well as step-parents and parents who do not live with their children, but have contact with them and play a part in their lives. ‘Parents’ also includes same sex parents, as well as foster parents. 

Settling a child into Nursery life is fundamental to their overall success within the Nursery. Beginning life in a new environment such as a Nursery, whilst both social and fun, can also be daunting and confusing for children. It’s therefore important that we manage the handover of responsibility from Parent/Carer to Teacher in a manner and pace that suits the child. It is for this reason that, as standard, the Nursery runs a set two week-long settling-in period. For Pre-School age children, the settling-in period may be one or two weeks.

Whilst we will accommodate the views of the child’s Parent/Carer, the Nursery will have the final say on whether a child is ready to begin their registered sessions. This will only occur in the instance that the Nursery Manager is of the opinion that the child is not yet settled and may benefit from a settling-in period extension.

The Nursery will:

• Make every effort to help the child of the Parent/Carer settle into the Nursery with the least stress possible for both Child and Parent/Carer;

• Provide the Parent/Carer with settling-in dates with a duration of two weeks, with the aim of the Child being ready to begin independent session on an agreed start date;

• Provide sufficient support/guidance to aid the settling-in process;

• Provide the full extent of settling-in required, free of charge, with no commitment to continue if the Parent/Carer decides that they no longer wish to continue using Abacus Ark. 

The Parent/Carer will:

• Agree to work with the Nursery during the settling-in period to aid in this process by following the “Abacus Ark Settling-In guidance and procedures” document;

• Acknowledge the risk that, due to each child being unique, a two week settling-in period may not be sufficient to fully integrate the Child into Nursery life and therefore may need to extend the settling-in period beyond this and therefore start their registered sessions at a later date than originally planned;

• Acknowledge that the final decision on whether a child is ready to begin their registered sessions rests with the nursery.

Please note, in order for a child to complete their settling period early, this must be agreed between the Nursery Manager and Parent/Carer. 

Abacus Ark Nursery School has a requirement that a Child must be registered for and attend a minimum number of days and sessions, which may vary between the Abacus Ark Nursery locations. This minimum requirement is enforced for the following reasons:

• To allow for a consistent routine;

• To allow the Teacher to support a more effective learning journey for the child; and

• To support more regular observations, assessment and monitoring of the child’s progress.

Increasing Sessions

If required, increasing regular sessions is an option and should be communicated in writing after agreeing verbally with the Nursery Manager. Once requested, the increased sessions will commence on the week following confirmation of the sessions being available. 

The Nursery will:

• Subject to availability, allow an increase in regular sessions attended by the child;

• Provide written confirmation of any additional sessions.

The Parent/Carer will:

• Provide written notice to the Nursery Manager.

Additional Hours

The Parent/Carer may occasionally request for their Child to stay for additional hours at the Nursery.

The Nursery will:

• Subject to availability and a minimum of 24 hours notice, provide additional hours of care at an additional cost which is set out in the applicable Fee schedule. 

Please note, due to staffing and food requirements, if 24 hours’ notice is not provided, the Nursery may not be able to accommodate the request. Additional hours of care cannot be guaranteed and is subject to availability.

Decreasing Sessions

Subject to availability and the Nursery’s minimum session requirement, you may increase or decrease your child’s registered sessions. To reduce the number of registered sessions, you must give the nursery at least one calendar month’s advance written notice. Any reduction in sessions will only commence from the 1st of the month. 

The Nursery will:

• Provide written confirmation of any changes in sessions.

The Parent/Carer will:

• Provide written notice to the Nursery Manager. 

Parent initiated

Meetings to discuss the work and records of each child can be arranged with Key Teachers at the request of the Parent/Carer. 

The Nursery will:

• At a time, agreeable to the respective Key Teacher, conduct a meeting with the Parent/Carer to discuss the work and records of their child. In exceptional circumstances, this can be held outside of normal working hours.

The Parent/Carer will:

• Provide an indication to the Nursery about the required topic of discussion in advance of the consultation;

• Ensure they punctually attend any pre-arranged consultation.

Teacher initiated

From time to time, a Key Teacher will request a meeting with the Parent/Carer of a child. 

The Nursery will:

• Provide an indication to the Parent/Carer about the required topic of discussion in advance of the consultation;

• Make every effort to find a convenient time to meet.

The Parent/Carer will:

• At a time, agreeable to the respective the Parent/Carer, attend a meeting with the Key Teacher to discuss the work and records of their child;

• Ensure they punctually attend any pre-arranged consultation.

Periodic consultations

“Parent and Teacher” meetings will take place periodically throughout the year. The aim of these meetings is to keep regular channels of communication open and to ensure an effective partnership between those responsible for the safety, wellbeing and development of each child. 

The Nursery will:

• Provide sufficient notice of impending “Parent and Teacher” meetings.

The Parent/Carer will:

• Ensure they punctually attend any pre-arranged consultation. 

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• Abacus Ark Nursery School staff are not permitted to administer un-prescribed medication other than as described below;

• Prescribed medication must be in-date, prescribed for a current condition and have a pharmacist’s label on (indicating Name, Surname, Child’s D.O.B.);

• The Parent/Carer will also be required to complete a Medication Consent Form before any prescribed medication may be administered;

• Children’s Calpol (un-prescribed and provided by Abacus Ark Nursery School) can only be administered with the written consent from a Parent/Carer followed by a verbal consent of the parent in the case of a high temperature i.e. between 37.5c – 40c. This is to prevent febrile convulsions and will be given where a Parent/Carer or named person is on their way to collect the Child;

• In an emergency, including where a Child’s temperature exceeds 40c, professional medical treatment will be sought;

• Every attempt will be made to contact them or a nominated person first and that such measures would only apply if they are not available;

• When the Parent/Carer is contacted and requested to collect their Child, the Parent/Carer will make every effort to do so as soon as possible;

• The Nursery staff cannot undertake the care of sick children, in particular those with an infectious disease, diarrhoea, vomiting and high temperatures;

• In the event of the Parent/Carer suspecting or being informed of the above, they are to notify the staff immediately so that appropriate procedures may be put in place to safeguard all other children and staff at the Nursery.

The Nursery will:

• Administer medication related to teething (Calpol, teething gel, Nurofen) only where the Parent/Carer provides Abacus Ark Nursery School with a doctor’s letter stating that the Child is teething, the medication which may be given, how often the medication may be administered and for what length of time.

A doctor’s letter which does not state the exact length of time for which the treatment is to be given will not be accepted. A new doctor’s letter must be obtained for each episode of teething where a Parent/Carer wishes Abacus Ark Nursery School to administer medication.

Sickness Policy

Abacus Ark adopts the guidelines set out in the Public Health England publication “Guidance on infection control in schools and other childcare settings”. See Appendix 1 for a copy of this publication. Where your child is showing signs of rashes, skin infections, severe diarrhoea/vomiting or respiratory issues, we request that you seek medical advice. Once you have noticed symptoms/ received a diagnosis, please refer to Appendix 1 of this agreement for guidelines on the period over which you should keep your child away from the Nursery.

We kindly request that where you do become aware of symptoms or any illness on the list, you inform the Nursery Manager at your earliest convenience. Conversely, in the event that the Nursery has been informed of any illness, we aim to communicate this to parents via email within 4 hours.

Underlying Medical Conditions and Medication

The Parent/Carer will: 

• Disclose all underlying medical conditions of their Child and any medication taken by a Child to Abacus Ark Nursery School;

• Provide an Individual Health Care Plan (IHCP) where requested.

New Medication and Antibiotics

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• If a child has not had a medication before, it is required that the Parent/Carer keeps the Child at home for the first 24 hours to ensure there are no adverse effects, as well as to give time for the medication to take effect;

• Where children have been prescribed an antibiotic, the Parent/Carer is asked to keep them at home for 48 hours before returning to the Nursery.

Allergies

The Parent/Carer confirms that:

• They have provided all information regarding their child’s allergies and intolerances within the child’s “Personal Detail” form.

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• The Nursery will take reasonable measures in ensuring that nuts and seeds/nut and seed products are not used within the Nursery, and as such the Parent/Carer will take reasonable measures to ensure that no nuts or nut products are brought onto the premises.

Additional Needs

While the Nursery has a policy of inclusivity, from time to time certain adjustments or changes to practice required to accommodate additional needs of children will not be possible. In these rare circumstances, it is with regret that the Nursery will not be able to provide childcare services. 

The Parent/Carer confirms that:

• They will accept the outcome of an internal assessment or risk assessments that confirms the Nursery will not be able to provide high quality and safe childcare. 

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• The children are taken outdoors on a daily basis (safety permitting) on walks to the local park, to the local shops, or to the local library;

• Visits to places of interest are arranged from time to time;

• In order for the visits to take place, we will require signed consent forms for their Child to be taken on these outings;

• The Nursery Manager may ask parents to volunteer to help with accompanying the children on such visits to ensure that compliance with our policy of adult to children ratios are met.

The Nursery will:

• Provide information on where these visits will take place;

• Provide information on the days and times that these visits take place prior to such outings.

The Nursery agrees to:

• Provide “All inclusive care” for each child. The extent of inclusion depends on the age of the child and their needs e.g. nappies will be provided to all children who have not yet been potty trained. 

For the avoidance of doubt, “All inclusive care” means:

• Free two week settling-in sessions;

• Nutritious meals and fruit & vegetable snacks;

• Specialist music, drama and sports classes;

• Milk, formula milk, nappies and wipes for younger children.

If for any reason a Parent/Carer would like to substitute the milk, nappies and wipes used by the Nursery with a preferential brand, that is allowable but this must be provided by the Parent/Carer. Please consult with the Nursery Manager before providing an alternative brand. 

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• Photographs and/or videos will be taken of their Child to be used to document their time at Abacus Ark Nursery School;

• The Parent/Carer is not permitted to take any photographs or videos whilst in the Nursery.

The Nursery will:

• Store photographs in the Child’s development records as well as use them to illustrate activities they are involved in;

• Store all photographs on secure devices. 

Mobile phone use is NOT permitted at the Nursery except for in the manager’s office in emergencies. 

The Parent/Carer agrees to:

• Adhere to the no phone policy within the Nursery, meaning that no phone calls can be taken or made whilst in the Nursery, with the exception of calls taken or made whilst in the Manager’s office or the reception area.

Abacus Ark Nursery School does not believe in penalising parents for late pickups, but may be forced to reconsider this position if continued failure to pick up children at the end of their session occurs.

The Parent/Carer agrees to:

• Make every effort to collect their child no later than the end time of their registered scheduled sessions;

• In the event of an emergency, provide notice of lateness as soon as they become aware. 

The Nursery will:

• Provide the Parent/Carer with the first invoice for their Child’s fees at the beginning of the month once their Child has settled in;

• Not charge fees for the settling-in period, even if extended. 

The Parent/Carer will:

• Ensure that all invoiced fees are paid in full on or before the date payable as stated within each invoice;

• Provide one month written notice for withdrawing from your Child’s placement at the Nursery once the Childcare Agreement has been signed. 

The Parent/Carer understands that:

• If one month written notice of withdrawal is not provided, the following month’s fees will be payable;

• No adjustment to fees will be made if parents withdraw their Child from Abacus Ark Nursery School before the end of the current month;

• No adjustment to fees will be made due to illness or holidays taken during the month, whether for the whole or part of the month;

• If a Child is withdrawn from the Nursery, that Child is deemed to have left the nursery. Therefore, if a Parent/Carer wishes to re-enrol their Child at a later date, they will need to pay a new registration fee and a new application form will need to be completed;

• If a Parent/Carer withdraws their Child from the Nursery and then wishes to re-enrol them, the Nursery cannot guarantee that the Child’s sessions will still be available.

As an employer, childcare and service provider, Abacus Ark sees respect for one another as key to delivering a consistently exceptional experience for all people involved in daily Nursery life. It is for this reason that we insist on fostering an environment of respect amongst everyone. This includes treating all staff members with the respect, care and consideration that you would expect from them when dealing with your child.

The Parent/Carer agrees to:

• Address all Teachers within the Nursery as 'Miss’ or ‘Mr’ in order to help the Nursery elevate the status of the highly qualified staff to the level they deserve;

• Conduct themselves in a manner that is respectful to an environment designed for children’s safety and development needs;

• Refrain from any abusive behaviour, either verbal or physical, towards any staff members, other parents/carers and children.

The Nursery and all it’s staff agree to:

• Treat all children, Parents/Carers and colleagues with the respect they deserve and in a manner in which they would expect to be treated;

• Refrain from any abusive behaviour, either verbal or physical.