New Beginnings Day Nurseries (“New Beginnings Nurseries”) aim to work in partnership with parents and carers to create and maintain a safe, caring, stimulating, and educational environment for the children in its care. All parents/carers/guardians wishing to make use of the service offered by New Beginnings must strictly adhere to the terms and conditions outlined below and sign this document as evidence of their acceptance and agreement. Suggestions and discussions on improving our services are always welcome.

Nursery Operations

• Nursery Year and Opening Times: The nursery year runs from September 1st to August 31st. The nursery operates Monday to Friday, 7:00 AM to 6:00 PM (depending on the location), except for bank holidays, weekends, and the days between Christmas and New Year.
• Special Closures:
  • Complete or early closures may occur on Christmas Eve (1 PM), nursery events (e.g., graduation parties, 4 PM), or training days (4:45 PM).
  • Closures due to risk assessments, extreme weather, or events outside our control (e.g., power outages) may occur. Refunds or session swaps are not available for such closures.

Registration and Booking

• Registration Requirements: A completed electronic application form, a non-refundable registration fee (per child, including siblings), and an agreement on a fixed number of weekly sessions are required.
• Booking Rules: Although there is no minimum booking requirement, we recommend at least two sessions per week for continuity and routine.
• Settling-In: Settling-in sessions will be scheduled upon receipt of the first month’s fee.
• Session Logistics: Parents must provide nappies, formula milk, wipes, and other individual items.

Nursery Fees and Charges

• Fee Calculation: Fees are calculated by multiplying the weekly attendance fee by 51 chargeable weeks and dividing by 12 for equal monthly payments and no deductions shall be made to full time nursery fees to take account of public holidays.  Fees are payable in advance on the 27th of each month by bank transfer, standing order, or voucher. Cash payments are discouraged and when discretionally agreed will incur a 2% surcharge.
• Discounts: A 5% sibling discount applies only to full-time (five days weekly) bookings.
• Late Payments: Payments overdue beyond the 27th incur surcharges of £10 after three days and an additional £10 after 10 days. Persistent non-payment may result in service suspension or termination.
• Refunds: No refunds are given for absences due to illness, holidays, or other reasons. Extended absences due to sickness may be considered at the Director’s discretion.
• Fee Increase: The nursery may from time to time increase fees or other charges by giving none less than one month’s written notice of such increases. 

Financial Hardship Support

• Parents experiencing financial difficulties should contact the Manager and finance team confidentially. Supporting documents (e.g., bank statements, proof of benefits) will be required for payment plans or short-term financial aid consideration.

Funded Places

• Eligibility: Funded places are available for children aged 9 months and older, depending on family circumstances.
• Patterns of Delivery: Attendance must align with New Beginnings’ delivery patterns, and a minimum of 5 hours per day is required.
• Parent Contributions: Consumables and meals are subject to a parent contribution fee, payable monthly in advance. Contact the office for current rates.
• Attendance Monitoring: Absences above acceptable levels will be reported to the appropriate authorities as a safeguarding measure.

Cancellation and Termination

• Before Attendance: Cancellations with 8 weeks’ notice before settling-in sessions may receive a refund (excluding the registration fee). Cancellations after settling-in incur a charge equal to one month’s fees.
• After Attendance Begins: Termination requires one calendar month’s notice in writing. Failure to provide notice incurs a charge equivalent to one month’s fees.
• Funded Places: Terminations of fully funded places require six weeks’ notice and take effect only at the end of a term. Non-compliance may result in liability for the monetary value of the place.

Key Person System

• Each child is assigned a primary and secondary key person. Key person lists are reviewed termly to ensure continuity and attachment.

Safeguarding and Reporting

• Compliance: We adhere to the EYFS framework, “Working Together to Safeguard Children 2018,” and statutory safeguarding requirements.
• Concerns: Any concerns about a child’s welfare may be reported to social services without prior parental consent if necessary.

Illness, Infections, and Wellbeing

• Exclusion Policy: Children must remain home for at least 48 hours after symptoms of infectious illnesses (e.g., diarrhoea) resolve. Public Health England guidelines determine exclusion periods.
• Medication: Only prescribed medications are administered with a signed consent form.
• Emergencies: In the event of an accident, New Beginnings reserves the right to take a child to the hospital.
• The nursery reserves the right to refuse to admit or provide childcare to any child in accordance with the nursery’s policy on Medical Conditions as notified to parents/guardians from time to time.
• In line with its illness policy (in its absolute discretion) the nursery reserves the right to refuse to admit a child if he/she appears to be unwell.
• If a child becomes unwell during the course of the day, the parent/carer must make arrangements for the child to be collected as soon as possible upon notification from the nursery.
• In the event of a pandemic, parents/carers must comply with all government advice in conjunction with the setting’s operational policies to ensure the safety of all staff and other families.

Use of Mobile Phones and Devices

• Mobile phones and recording devices are prohibited on nursery premises to safeguard children. Unauthorised recordings will be deleted.

Reporting Neglect, Abuse & Attendance Monitoring 

• Should we have any concerns about your child’s wellbeing, we reserve the right to contact social services as part of our safeguarding responsibilities.
•  We have an obligation to report to the relevant authorities any suspicions we have that your child has suffered neglect or abuse, and where necessary we may do so without your consent and/or without informing you. Please refer to the nursery’s Safeguarding Policy
• We ask Parents/carers to complete the holiday booking form if they wish to take their child out of nursery for holiday or long-term absence. 
• If Parents/carers do not notify us of their child’s absence, we will ring, text or email to ask about the reason for the child’s absence.  
• If a child is absent due to long term health issues, we may ask to make a welfare visit to the child at home or hospital.

Gifts, rewards, and non solicitation of team

We would like to keep all relationships between you and our representatives / practitioners cordial and professional; to enable them maintain confidentiality, and deliver a service that is fair and uniform across the board. By signing our contract, you agree:

• Not to give ingratiating gifts of significant value or regularity to staff (a  card or something below £20 at any one time if you so wish is acceptable)
• Not to give any gift to our staff that might be construed as a bribe by others, or lead you to expect preferential treatment.
• Not to solicit any member of our staff for your own purpose
• Not to recruit or make an offer of employment to any member of staff whilst employed by us or within 6 months of termination of their employment with us. If you do this you will you be liable to compensate us to the tune of 3 months salary for that employee.
• Not to solicit or add our staff on social network such as Facebook, Instagram, twitter etc; (we have a nursery owned social media platform for this purpose)

Force Majeure

• Definition: Includes events such as natural disasters, epidemics, or government-mandated closures.
• Implications: Services may be temporarily suspended without liability. Efforts will be made to resume operations promptly.

General Information

• Parents must inform the nursery of changes to personal details, allergies, or any condition affecting their child.
• Sufficient nappies, wipes, and pull-ups must be provided. Nursery supplies will incur additional charges.

Data Protection

• New Beginnings processes personal data, including sensitive data
• Data is processed under the UK GDPR and Data Protection Act 2018. Information is retained securely and shared only with authorised parties.
• New Beginnings is registered with the ICO

Liability Limitation

• New Beginnings accepts no responsibility for losses arising from temporary closures, property damage, or injuries due to negligence.
• The nursery shall have no liability whatsoever to any parent/guardian or child in relation to loss of or damage to the goods or property of any parent/guardian or the goods or property of any child admitted to the nursery (even if such loss is caused by the nursery’s negligence). 
• New Beginnings accepts no liability for any property brought by the child or the parent/guardian to, or left by them at the nursery, this is done so entirely at their own risk. 
• New Beginnings accepts no liability for the use of the car park and your car and contents. Parents/Guardians should only use the disabled bays in the car park if they are a registered badge holder
• Practical clothing is recommended, and personal items should be labeled.

Security

• Children will only be released to authorised individuals. Proof of identity is required for new collectors.

Relationships and Conduct

• Parents agree not to:
  • Give significant gifts to staff.
  • Recruit or employ nursery staff during or within six months of their employment.
  • Engage staff on personal social media platforms.

Agreement

These Terms and Conditions represent the entire agreement. Updates will be communicated with one month’s notice and deemed accepted through continued use of nursery services.