Terms and Conditions
Inspiration for Creative Minds
Nursery Terms and Conditions and further information for Parents/Guardians
Location, 7 Escrick Business Park, Escrick, York, YO19 6FD
Tel: 01904 728700
Email: info@youngdiscoverers.com
Website: www.youngdiscoverers.com
Ofsted Reg: EY389730
Opening Times
7.30am – 6.15pm Monday to Friday
Open 52 weeks per Year (closed Bank Holidays)
Philosophy
“Inspiration for Creative Minds”
At Young Discoverers we value every child and place importance on learning through play, which is promoted through the wide variety of activities and experiences both indoors and outdoor by highly qualified and caring practitioners. A Child’s most enduring educator is their parent(s) and we believe that we can only do the best for that child if we work closely with their parents, so we can better understand and plan for each child’s unique learning journey.
Approach
In the moment
“Young children live in the here and now, if adults are to make a real different to their learning they need to seize the moments when children first show curiosity, and support their next steps immediately”. (Anna Ephgrave)
We have trained our staff to support children in a way that allows the child to lead and Practitioner to support, then plan their next steps of development based on the child’s interests. This approach enables the child in their care to live, play, learn and develop in the here and now. Our enabling environment is supported by clear rules, keeping records and makes use of a variety of materials.
“When children are allowed to select where, with what, and how to play, they are truly invested in their play, they become deeply involved and make dramatic progress”. (Anna Ephgrave)
This approach adopted has inspired our Practitioners to support, work spontaneously and react in the moment.
Curiosity
Continuing with our explores approach we have developed our areas with items that will encourage our children’s curiosity. This approach is threaded right through all our rooms and areas at Young Discoverers. Although a relatively new saying Curiosity with Nursery’s it has always been at the heart of our approach here at our Nursery. The Curiosity approach enables children to think about the object in imaginative play. We give the children the opportunity to choose which resources they wish to explore encouraging decision making and independence. Objects that have been designed suggest the designer has had the fun during the design process and have effectively stolen the creativity from the children. We provide a balance of resources that mixes old and new therefore giving the children choices.
Here at Young Discoverers we are mindful of the breadth of possibilities and have many open ended objects in every room. These loose parts encourage children to develop their thinking skills during their creative play. Our environment both inside and outdoor enables children to invent construct, evaluate and modify their own fun creations.
Loose parts have no fixed outcome which means there is no right or wrong way to interpretate their function resulting in children developing their play and imagination to another level. Whether it be corks, costume jewellery, metal washers, cones, cardboard cones, feathers, pipes, ribbon or crates, tyres, planks we have it here for children to explore with.
Our refurbished rooms are designed to provide calm tranquil spaces and zones. Natural materials and cosy zones also add to this amazing environment. To support children becoming less anxious and becoming more confident, the Nursery has been designed with the Mental Health of children at the heart of our approach.
Our extremely experienced Team are welcoming, friendly caring and offer genuine care for your child taking the time to listen to their individual needs and those of parents.
The Curriculum
Young Discoverers follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) Curriculum for England and Wales, which is a statutory document that provides an umbrella which our full range of children will fall with regard to their educational provision. Staff will use this guidance when they observe and gather information on each child’s progress. The significant range of activities and experiences we provide enable children to explore, make choices, and develop independence. We operate a free flow system between the environments in all weather on a daily basis for all children regardless of their age, so we ask parents to provide suitable clothing for children to enjoy experience. Our Learning Journeys are available for parents to access and contribute to online, seeing updates as they happen, and sharing information for the benefit of each child’s development.
Revised Home visit/Settling in
Due to restrictions and reducing the risk of transmission of COVID 19 our Policy has been adapted to minimise risk.
A meeting between Kathy Wainwright (Manager) and Parent with child will take place out of hours at the Nursery to discuss requirements for settling in. The information will be cascaded down from the Manager to the Key Person, communication can take place by phone or at the Entrance with the Manager or Key Person to discuss any further actions/concerns/support needed once the child has started their journey at Nursery. We will do everything possible to ensure your child settles into Nursery with Support from our staff. We will support you and your child to reduce anxiety and stress with the transition and increase our online activity which will enable you to track progress more frequently. Stay and Play sessions will be limited for the foreseeable future, Parents may be required to wear PPE and respect Social Distancing Measures.
Home visit/Settling in
It is important for us to get a know each child and their family prior to them joining Young Discoverers so we offer a home visit to every child before they start. The Key Person and the Room Supervisor will arrange a convenient time to come to see you where they can take time to find out all about each unique little one. We ask about routines, things that upset or worry your child, how they like to be comforted and what they can do developmentally before they join us. It is important that we follow your routines as closely as we can and discussions with you will continue once you join us as routines will change over time. This is also the time for us to begin to understand what each child can do and where their next steps for learning are, this contributes to our entry assessment.
The welfare, safety and protection of your child are at the heart of everything we do. To enable us to make the best provision for your child we are officially required to ask for information to be provided to us. Please understand that there are sound reasons why we are required to ask these questions.
Settling in
We value each parent as their child’s most enduring educator. Each child is designated their own Key Person who will have visited you at home at a time convenient to the parents, usually early evening. This is an important part of our settling in process and something we really enjoy doing as it helps us to get to know you and your child, and a time for you to share your concerns and worries about starting Nursery, and a time for us to provide you with the reassurance that we will give your child the love care and fun that they deserve. The home visit also helps us to better understand each child’s preferred learning style and to assist us in making our Early developmental judgments in line with the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage).
We encourage parents to come along as many times as they wish for stay and play sessions (at no charge) and to join us for lunch, as all children are unique and all need different amounts of settling in time with us.
Please note this has been temporarily adapted in line with Government Guidance
We follow the EYFS (Early Years Foundation Stage 2012) which is a non-statutory guidance material which supports practitioners in implementing the requirements of the EYFS. If you would like to download your own copy it is available on the Foundation Years website as well as the Department of Education website. www.education.gov.uk/publications
Your child’s allocated Key Person will undertake a range of observations that provide the evidence of a child’s understanding across the EYFS and this enables the staff to plan for the next steps in their learning ensuring all children are making good progress with us. The development statements are a checklist as children develop at their own rate and in their own ways and staff will discuss your child’s progress regularly. We use an online provider to enable us to send all observations, videos and assessments directly to parents via their smart phone, tablet or PC, Parent Zone is part of Connect Childcare and ensures parents never miss a moment in their child’s development at Nursery. We will provide you with the details of this free service when you join us.
The Welfare, safety and protection of your child are at the heart of everything we do. To enable us to make the best provision for your child we are officially required to ask for information to be provided to us. Please understand that there are sound reasons why we are required to ask their questions.
COVID19 Children’s Policy
Children maybe likely to become infected with Coronavirus (COVID 19) at roughly the same rate as adults, but the infection is usually mild.
The Government announced on 23rd 2020 that the UK would enter a stricter period of social distancing to delay the spread of the virus. We have now been authorised to re-open our setting in line with Government policy. To ensure the risk of the spread of the virus to children and staff is as low as possible we will follow the procedure:
- Parents will not be able to enter the building; they will hand their children to a staff member at the entrance to the setting.
- Parents must keep a safe 2 metre distance outside from other Parents when dropping off or collecting their child.
- Any travelling aids such as car seats and buggies will not be permitted to be left on the premises.
- Only in exceptional circumstances regarding the wellbeing of the child will toys or comforters be allowed to enter the Nursery. If the items are deemed to be necessary they must be disinfected before entering the building.
- Any child who presents with a dry cough and a High temperature will not be allowed to attend their temperature will be taken to confirm this.
- Children who present with Covid 19 symptoms such as a dry cough and High temperature during a session will be isolated with a member of staff known to them to wait for collection. Parents will be notified; your child will wait with a member staff in a designated room with ventilation to reduce the risk of spreading the virus to others. Fees will still be payable for the full contracted sessions booked.
- Parents will be asked to complete a new registration form to ensure we have up to date contact information should we need to contact them. In addition to previous information requested we will require details of employment and contact details as a further contact.
- Any child who is unwell with suspected Covid 19 symptoms will required to self-isolate to contact 111 for more information if required, fees will still be payable.
- Children will be encouraged to wash hands frequently and will be supported by a member of staff. They will be supported to practice coughing into their sleeve and songs will be introduced when handwashing to educate them on the correct procedure. Parents will be asked to continue this practice at home.
- Children will only mix their allocated groups, staff will support children social distance where possible minimising risk.
- Social tables will be restricted to 3 children seated at any one time, to discouraged from sharing food, drinks, equipment and toys.
- Faces will be cleaned using wipes which can be safely disposed of.
- Children will sleep on mats which are spaced at a suitable safe distance from one another.
- Bed linen will be sent to laundry after use and the sleep mats will be cleaned with an antibacterial spray or disinfectant after use and stored away from children.
- Staff will wear disposable aprons and gloves to deliver personal care e.g nappy changing.
- Tablecloths will be disinfected after use a mealtimes and removed away from children.
- Toys, chairs, tables, work tops to disinfected frequently through out the day, soft toys to be removed from the setting as more difficult to disinfect.
- Dummies to be stored away in separate containers clearly labelled and disinfected after use. Please provide storage containers for your child’s dummies with your child’s name clearly marked.
- Staff will wear PPE in line with Government recommendations to reduce the risk of transition between staff and children.
Cleaning and Infection Control Policy
In line with government guidelines on the control of the spread of the Coronavirus (Covid 19) we have a duty of care to our staff, children and parents to ensure we react effectively to reduce the risk of infection. To safeguard our children and staff we will conduct the following procedure in the setting.
- Good basic hygiene practices such as regular handwashing (practitioners and children).
- Staff will have access to sanitiser gels on their person and at designated areas across the setting.
- Supervise young children to ensure they wash their hands for 20 seconds more often than usual with soap and water.
- Clean and disinfect regularly touched objects and surfaces using anti-bacterial spray or wipes which must be disposed of appropriately.
- Staff must follow instructions on the use of the antibacterial sprays as some require the spray to remain on the surface for a 5 minute period before wiping.
- Waterproof dressing to cover on any existing wounds or lesions.
- Personal protective equipment (PPE) such as aprons and gloves are used as necessary.
- Regular stock checks to be made and the manager informed in good time to enable products to be ordered to avoid stock not being available.
- Work surfaces to be cleaned regularly and floors swept and mopped as required.
- Immediate cleaning of spillages of blood and other bodily fluids and disposed of in a double bagged system and placed in bins outdoors.
- Only the designated cook should enter the kitchen. The cook will wear PPE when transporting the meals throughout the setting. Hands must be washed when returning to kitchen and sanitiser applied.
- Any items that come into contact with mouths such as cups, bottles and straws should not be shared and must be placed in the dishwasher for cleaning.
- Disposable aprons and gloves to be worn when cleaning and disposed of when duty completed.
- If a child wo is unwell has been isolated in the staffroom, the window must be left open. Once the child has vacated the setting, the room should be cleaned, tabletops, work surfaces, door handle and light switches, the staff member must wash hands and sanitise before returning to duty.
- Children will be discouraged from touching plates and cups, they will be handed to them by a staff member, they will also not be permitted to self-select foods from shared containers, staff will hand this to them.
- Comforters for children are to be discouraged. If they are required, they must be placed in an airtight clear bag and stored away from other children and only used at sleep time. Once used it must be returned to the bag. Parents are to be informed of this practice prior to their child attending.
- Dummies must be provided in an appropriate container clearly labelled by the parents. These will be stored in a designated cupboard and only used for sleep or distress. The children will not be permitted to walk about with a dummy in their mouth and supervised to ensure they are not used by other children.
- Staff will not make physical contact with each other e/g handshakes or hugs and will be reminded not to touch their faces. If this occurs, they must handwash immediately.
- Only one staff member will access the staffroom at anyone time and they must ensure all utensils they have used are returned to the kitchen after use.
- Where the staffroom is in use and another staff member wishes to take a rest period, they will either be asked to wait or use their vehicle as a place to rest if appropriate or outdoors.
- Staff will wash hands before entering the staffroom and again before returning for duty.
- Staff must not travel together to the workplace and if using public transport, follow the government advice.
Reference to other policies: Sick child, Baby change procedure, Health and Safety Policy, Dummy Policy, Food and drink policy.
Absences and Sickness
It is important that we are informed that your child will not be attending the sessions as soon as possible. Any child suffering from a doubtful rash, sore throat, discharge from their eyes or nose , diarrhoea, vomiting or any other suspected illness, must be kept at home for the required incubation/exclusion period. Children who are prescribed with antibiotics must be excluded from nursery for 24 hours after taking the first dose of medication. Please could you ensure you notify us of any absence on 01904 728700 during our normal opening hours, if we do not hear from you the Manager on duty will attempt to contact you to ensure both you and your child are safe.
Medical Matter/Safeguarding
The safety and welfare of all children in our care is paramount, therefore all our policies and practices are in place to ensure this occurs. The Manager and Deputy Manager are our designated Safeguarding professionals who will act upon any concerns.
- If your child requires any medicine to be administered whilst they are in our care, it will be necessary to complete one of our consent forms, with specific instruction on administering the medication, either prescribed or non-prescribed, and handed to your child’s Key person or member of staff in charge in their absence. If a child is prescribed antibiotics, they will have to stay away from Nursery the first dose. If a child is prescribed antibiotics, they will have to stay away from Nursery for the first dose. Calpol is only given in extreme cases as unwell children need to be at home, therefore if we contact you by telephone for consent to administer and we will ask for this to be confirmed in writing via an email before it is administered. A first aid box is situated at the Nursery for minor injuries, all our Staff hold a Certificate in Paediatric First Aid. All accidents are registered in the accident book, which parents will also need to read and sign any entry made for their child.
- All children are welcome at our Nursery, we work closely with parents to identify areas of need for individual children and will meet to discuss and implement the appropriate support. Where a child joins us with complex medical needs, we will access the training and resources required and set up a care plan prior to the child starting Nursery.
- In the case of a serious accident or illness occurring during the session, which requires medical attention, we will call for an ambulance, and your child will be accompanied by a member of staff known to them. The person in charge will then inform the parent of the situation. It is vital that parents sign the relevant consent from as part of the registration process in this regard, along with the emergency contact details. Your online parent zone account to record your child’s learning must also be updated by you with any change in contact details as they happen. We will never give consent for medical treatment.
- Where a child attends Nursery with an injury that has occurred out of the Nursery, the parent will be asked to explain the injury and complete a Pre-Existing form, this is part of our Safeguarding procedure.
Child Care Costs (to be reviewed July 2020)
Morning session 7.30-1-00 inclusive of breakfast, healthy snack and cooked lunch
Afternoon session 1.00-6.15 inclusive of healthy snack and tea time meal
Full day session 7.30-6.15 inclusive of breakfast, cooked lunch, tea time meal and healthy snack
For all children in our Nursery, regardless of age, we charge £29.50 for a morning session, £25.50 for an afternoon session, and £50.00 for a full day session. We are a registered provider of 2,3 and 4 year old funded places providing up to 30 hours per week term time only (stretched over the year to 22.5 hours at Young Discoverers) of free childcare for qualifying children. Further details are available on this scheme, which we offer on a flexible basis to work with each family’s requirements.
We offer shorter sessions from age 2 in addition to our usual sessions to provide parents with additional flexibility. A two’s day session, or Pre-School sessions 9.00am-4.30pm, including lunch will cost £38.00. This can also be accessed as a funded only session with a top charge, the Government funding doesn’t not cover the cost of any of the sessions therefore this is necessary to cover the cost of the place the Manager will work this out for you.
Additional options for children using their 3 &4 year old Government 15 or 30 hours funding.
We offer the government funded sessions of up to 30 hours a week to all qualifying children. As a year round setting, this is provided on a stretched basis, as the funding only covers term time. Thus 30 hours a week becomes 22.5 and 15 becomes 11.25 hours a week. This can be used for any part of or to pay for any of the sessions listed above and additional top up fee is required to cover the cost of the place in full. This stretched calculation also takes account of bank holidays (which we are closed). Bank holidays are payable as we still have staffing costs., these days are occasionally used to develop staff skills and their training.
Term time only Options
We are now able to offer a limited amount of places to children aged 3 or over only, the option of accessing our service on a term time only basis. This offer is subject to the child using all of their government funding (if they qualify for it) at our setting (our stretched offer is available to children who wish to split their funding between 2 or more settings). Our prices for term time only sessions are as follows:
Morning Sessions 7.30am – 1.00pm inclusive of breakfast, healthy snack & cooked lunch £31.00
Afternoon Sessions 1.00pm-6.15pm inclusive of healthy snack and teatime meal £27.00
Full Day Session 9.00am-4.30pm including a cooked lunch £50
Short Day Session 9.00am-4.30pm including a cooked lunch £40.00
Plus any additional costs to cover the sessions.
We charge a registration fee of £45 which is payable when you wish to register your child. This charge covers our administration costs and will confirm your place. In addition, we will conduct a home visit and provide a welcome pack, all included in the registration fee.
We charge a late collection fee of £28 for every 15 minutes you are late in picking up your child. This is particularly important for all booked sessions and departure times, not just closing time, as this may delay us in being able to accept a child in, or staff from going home after their shift who are paid hourly. We remind parents that Nursery closes at 6.15pm, therefore we ask that parents collect prior to this time as all children must be off the premises by 6.15pm.
Fees for regular sessions are payable one month in advance on 1st monthly. Any additional ad hoc sessions to the regular sessions will be invoiced the following month, and also payable within 7 days of invoice issued. Fees are chargeable 52 weeks per year. If you wish to take your child out of Nursery for a holiday or for any other reason we still need to know for safeguarding reasons, so parents are asked to let us know as soon as possible. We are closed for Bank Holidays fees are payable. We use these holidays to subsidise our Staff training sessions.
A late payment fee of £28.00 will incur if your invoice falls overdue of 14 days after invoicing, late payment will also attract a further £28.00 fee if the invoice remains unpaid after 21 days. We will where necessary, refer the debt to a debt collection agency for recovery if the debt remains unpaid after 30 days of invoicing along with debt collection fees payable.
We are able to accept payment by Childcare Vouchers, Tax free Childcare, or electronic bank payment. We ask payment by cash or cheque are avoided please.
Notice Period
Parents must give one calendar month’s advance notice of their intention to remove their child and pay one months fees100% in lieu of notice, this will apply to Notice given during any unforeseen closure period. We also require one calendar month’ notice of a request to change any regular sessions to different or fewer days. Notice is required for children who have reserved their place and are yet to start sessions, as well as for existing children. Where we are able to accommodate a request for additional sessions within a shorter timescale we will endeavour to do so if a parent requests this for any ad hoc sessions, once booked, we require payment in lieu of the session, if the session is subsequently cancelled.
Closure due to unforeseen Circumstances
If the Nursery is instructed to close due to; Government instruction (Covid 19) or infection control, Young Discoverers Ltd will charge a retainer to secure your child’s place. Invoices of 30% of your fees will be payable during closure, however if Young Discoverers Ltd is successful in obtaining substantial Government Financial Support this % will be reviewed. This policy will also depend on if Government implements a Furlough Scheme, if this scheme is NOT implemented then a higher percentage to cover wages and costs will apply .Any outstanding sessions that have been paid for in full will be translated as a goodwill gesture into extra sessions to the contract that can be used subject to availability and agreement with the Manager at a later date. In the event of these circumstances please contact the Nursery Manager to arrange the sessions. Un used sessions will not be refunded.
If the Nursery is forced to close due to unforeseeable circumstances/ conditions i.e. Snow, or any other circumstances excluding the above Covid 19 policy above, fees will be payable and sessions will not be refunded.
We will where necessary, refer a debt to a debt collection agency for recovery if a debt remains unpaid after 30 days of invoicing along with debt collection fees payable.
Childcare Vouchers
Childcare vouchers are available from a range of suppliers such as Edenred, Busy Bees, Kids Unlimited. Your employer may already be registered with their preferred supplier, so please ask them for details, these allows you to pay for childcare from your Gross rather then Net salary, saving you tax. Young Discoverers is able to accept vouchers from any approved scheme.
Child Tax Credits/Universal Credit
Child Tax Credits are the childcare element of Working Tax Credit and are available for working parents using eligible childcare providers such as Young Discoverers. Eligibility for receiving child tax credits is dependant on your personal circumstances.
Tax Free Childcare
This scheme was set up to replace childcare vouchers or provide an alternative for those who didn’t qualify for childcare vouchers such as the self-employed. Tax Free Childcare and Childcare vouchers can not be used together. The scheme is effectively a savings account that must be spent on childcare, and the government will give you an extra 20% added to what you pay in.
Child tax credits can be claimed in conjunctions with, or instead of using Childcare Vouchers or Tax Free Childcare, and further advice and support on the best option according to your individual circumstances can be obtained by accessing the new Government website set up to help you pay or childcare and receive eligible discounts or payments. www.childcarevouchers.gov.uk
All above fees are reviewed in July and January, this is necessary due to rising costs, Government schemes i.e. increasing the minimum wage, living wage, and increase in Pensions Contributions towards Employees Pensions.
General Matters
- During the summer months, please provide your child with a sun hat and sun cream (please refer to our policy on sun cream). We do have spare sun hats and sun cream available for emergencies.
- We operate a free flow system in all-weather so we ask that you provide suitable clothing for outdoor play in wet and cold weather as well as hot.
- Your child will be involved in many different activities during the day and is very likely to get messy. Please do not be upset if they come home with paint (we do use safe, washable products), etc on their clothes. We make every effort to avoid staining clothes, and use aprons where necessary, however please do not send your child in their best clothes, rather something that it doesn’t matter too much if it does get dirty. We do promise, that they are only messy because they have had a fantastic time but cannot compensate for any damaged or lost clothing.
- No refund can be given unfortunately if your child is absent through illness or any other reason without the notice period we require having been given.
- We reserve the right to suspend or terminate the provision of childcare, and attendance at Young Discoverers in the event that fees have not been paid, or the behaviour of you or your child is deemed by us to unacceptable or endangers the safety and wellbeing of the other children in the setting. We will endeavour however, to work with you to resolve any problems of this nature and see this measure entirely as a last resort.
- We do operate a complaints policy should you have any concerns regarding the services we provide. These can be advised to the child’s key worker or other member of staff and escalated to the Manager as necessary.
- If the facility is obliged to close through circumstances beyond our control, then we are under no obligation to provide alternative childcare or refund the cost of the session please see above under Closure due to unforeseen circumstances. We will always keep you fully informed of such instances and resolve as quickly as possible.
- Information on our Approach, and further policies can be found on our website to go live at the beginning of June 2020.
Young Discoverers Limited, 7 Escrick Business Park, Escrick, York, YO19 6FD
Company Number 06681004, Registered in England & Wales