Frequently Asked Questions

 

Yes. We are open every day from 7.30am until 6pm for 50 weeks per year (excluding weekends, Bank Holidays and INSET training days). You can choose times to suit your family’s requirements, subject to availability.  Please note that all children must attend a minimum of 3 sessions (a full day counts as 2 sessions).

  

Does this mean I can leave my child for the whole day if I need to?
No. We offer these hours to give flexibility to working parents.  However, in line with recognised best practice, we are unable to take any child for more than 10 hours per day.

  

I would like my child to attend term time only, is this possible?
Yes. We offer parents a choice of monthly or termly contracts with us.

  

My child will be attending mornings only on a term time basis, can I book additional afternoon sessions or days during the school holidays if I need to?
Yes. Subject to availability and a minimum of 48 hours notice.

  

No. We have very limited parking available and at certain times of the day we need every space.
Therefore, to be fair to everyone and to ensure children’s safe arrival and departure we would ask parents not to leave cars in our car park during the day.

  

What adult/child ratios do you operate?
These are as follows:

FLEDGLINGS (Under 2’s) - 1 adult to every 3 children
ROBINS (Under 3’s) – 1 adult to every 4 children
SKYLARKS (3 +) – 1 adult to every 8 children.

OAK (4+) - 1 teacher and 1 teaching assistant for each class.

  

What are your procedures for settling – in new children?
We operate a staged approach to settling-in and this varies according to the age of the child but will always be planned to make induction as relaxed as possible for both parent and child.  We prefer children to start in September to ease the settling in process. However, in special circumstances, children are able to join their groups at the start of the spring and summer terms.

  

Can I book sessions on an ‘ad hoc’ basis?
Ad hoc additional sessions can be booked if required.  However these are subject to availability and require 48 hours' notice.  To permanently alter sessions a terms notice is required. 

  

How much notice should I give if I no longer require a place?
If you have a termly fee payment contract with us the notice is 1 term.
If you have a monthly fee payment contract with us the notice is 1 term.

The only exception is for those children transferring from Skylarks to Oak Reception where two terms' notice is required as detailed in our Terms and Conditions first updated in April 2016.

Failure to give due notice as detailed above will result in a term's fees being charged in lieu.

  

What do you do if my child has food allergy?
We have thorough procedures for ensuring children are not given foodstuffs that they are allergic to. All staff including, kitchen staff are made aware of individual children’s allergies.

  

What happens if I am running late when picking up my child?
We operate a strict non-collection policy and would ask that all parents keep us fully informed if they are held up when travelling to collect their child. There is an additional charge of £15 per ten minutes or part thereof if your child is collected after their booked session.

  

What opportunities do I have to discuss my child’s progress?
Parents may talk to their child’s key-person throughout the year by a mutually convenient appointment. Every child has a Learning Journey which is made readily available for you to read and enjoy.  More formal ‘Parents’ meetings are held twice during the year to share each child’s developmental records and to discuss their progress. In addition, a written report is sent out at the end of the academic year.