LEYF Terms & Conditions

The London Early Years Foundation Terms and Conditions of Admission These terms and conditions constitute a binding contract, the acceptance of which are requirements of admission and continued attendance at a LEYF nursery.

All enquiries should be made to the Nursery Manager who has the right to refuse admission. LEYF retains the right to change these terms and conditions of admission at any time and parents will be informed of any changes.

The London Early Years Foundation (LEYF) is a registered charity (No. 299686) and Social Enterprise. LEYF aims to provide a welcoming and inclusive environment for all children.

1. DEFINITIONS: References in these Terms and Conditions to ‘parent’ includes a parent, guardian, carer or any authorised adult.

2. SUPPORTING CHILDREN’S NEEDS: LEYF strives to provide a service that will meet all children’s needs. Progress is reviewed regularly to monitor both children’s development and their welfare. Under some circumstances it may become clear that a child’s needs cannot be met within the nursery. On these occasions the Nursery Manager may recommend alternative childcare or terminate the placement.

3. PARENTAL PARTNERSHIP: LEYF promotes a principle of parental partnership which is based on mutual respect and an understanding of the different roles and responsibilities of both the parent and the nursery. In order to promote the positive development of a child, parents are required to co-operate and work together with practitioners during the child's time at nursery.

4. STANDARDS: LEYF provides safe and suitable premises with suitably qualified staff.

LEYF is registered with OFSTED and complies with the requirements of the Early Years Childcare Register and the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage. Our OFSTED certificate of registration is displayed at each individual nursery.

5. OPENING TIMES: Opening dates and times may vary between individual nurseries and these can be provided on request. LEYF reserves the right to amend these from time to time and will seek to provide parents with reasonable notice of any changes.

6. REGISTRATION FEE AND DEPOSIT: a non-refundable registration fee and a deposit of half a month’s fees is payable by the parent on acceptance of a place. The deposit is non-refundable if the child does not take up the nursery place after acceptance. At the end of a child’s time at nursery, the deposit will be transferred to the parent’s fees account as a credit.

7. FEES: Fees for the nursery place must be paid monthly in advance of attendance at the nursery on or by the 1st of each month. Fees should be paid by bank/credit card, bank transfer or a childcare voucher. Fees may vary between individual nurseries and details are available on request. LEYF reserves the right to amend fees from time to time and will provide reasonable notice of any changes to parents.

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The nursery reserves the right to charge interest on fees paid after the 1 st of each month at the rate of 3% per annum above National Westminster Bank Base Rate. For re-presented payments a charge will be applied on each occasion.

If fees are in arrears by two weeks or more, a child’s place may be suspended or terminated. LEYF aims to work in partnership with parents, so if you find yourself unable to pay nursery fees, please inform your nursery manager immediately as advice and support may be available to assist during a difficult period.

8. SUSPENSION / TERMINATION OF PLACES: terminate a place at any time.

LEYF retains the right to suspend or

9. ABSENCE: Payment must be made to cover periods of absence of the child from nursery due to parental choice, sickness or holiday. Parents must inform individual nurseries of absences as soon as possible.

10. ATTENDANCE/ LATENESS: Children must attend regularly, with prior written notice given to the nursery manager of any holidays, appointments or other absences. It is essential that children are collected on time as late arrival and collection is disruptive to the smooth running of the nursery. Late collection will result in a late collection fee being administered and could lead to termination of your child’s nursery place.

The details of all charges and fees and the circumstances in which they may be applied are available from individual nurseries on request.

11. PLANNED CLOSURE: In addition to Bank Holidays, there are five planned days in the year when the nursery is closed: three days between Christmas and New Year and two separate training days. These days are already costed into LEYF’s fees and so no refunds are given.

12. EMERGENCY CLOSURE: Should the nursery need to close due to circumstances beyond the control of LEYF fees shall remain payable. This is to ensure the sustainability of LEYF, which is dependent on parental fees. Examples of this would include, but are not limited to, severe weather conditions, national emergencies or an instruction to close from the local authority, emergency services or a government department. LEYF will offer childcare at an alternative LEYF nursery where possible to reduce disruption.

13. COLLECTION OF CHILDREN: Written parental permission is required if a child is to be collected by someone other than a known parent/guardian/carer/authorised individual. Anyone under the age of 16 will not be allowed to collect children from the nursery.

14. LEAVING THE NURSERY: At least 1 month’s notice must be given in writing to the Nursery Manager in advance of a child leaving the nursery. If 1 months’ notice is not given, a further 1 month’s fees will be payable by you. Please note this payment is also applicable in the case of place termination due to non-payment or persistent late payment of nursery fees.

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15. CHANGING HOURS: If a parent wishes to change the number of hours spent at the nursery they should inform the Nursery Manager as soon as possible. The Nursery Manager has total discretion over whether to accommodate this.

16. ILLNESS: Children with an infectious illness will not be admitted to the nursery.

They must remain at home until the infection is clear (normally a minimum of 48 hours). On return from any absence, the Nursery Manager has the right to request a doctor's certificate confirming that the child is no longer infectious. No child with a notifiable disease or from a home where there is a notifiable disease will be admitted to the nursery. A letter from a doctor stating the child is fit and well will be required on their return. Parents are required to treat children with head lice before returning them to nursery to avoid cross infection. The Nursery Manager retains the right to send a child home if that child appears unwell. This is for the safety of all children at the nursery. In this event, the Nursery Manager will contact the parent to inform them. The parent must collect their child immediately subject to the collection of children procedures above.

17. MEDICINES & SUNSCREEN: Staff will only administer prescribed medicines. Parents must sign a consent form before any medical treatment can be administered.

Individual written consent is required for each and every medicine to be administered. Medicines will only be administered in accordance with the LEYF Medicine and Treatment Policy. However, where children have been prescribed antibiotics and treatment for infectious illnesses such as conjunctivitis, they will be excluded from the nursery during the first 48 hours to reduce the chance of crossinfection. Staff and parents must complete the ‘Administering Medicines’ form which will identify the correct administrative guidelines. Medicines must be clearly labelled, prescribed by a doctor and in original containers. LEYF will not allow children to go outside in sunny weather without protection of sunscreen or other form of sun protection.

18. EMERGENCY TREATMENT: The parents must sign the emergency treatment consent form provided on admission to the nursery. If this has not been signed for any reason, any emergency treatment is deemed given by the acceptance of these Terms and Conditions including hospital attendance if necessary. In the event of an emergency the Nursery Manager will, as a matter of urgency, try to contact the parent at the contact details provided by the parent.

19. INSURANCE: LEYF maintain employer’s liability and public liability insurance as required by law. Copies of LEYF’s policies are on display at the premises of individual nurseries.

20. LOSS & DAMAGE: LEYF cannot take responsibility for loss or damage to property and/or personal items.

21. SUITABLE CLOTHING: A child should be dressed in hardwearing clothing which can be washed and withstand the nursery day. Children should not wear expensive jewellery. Jewellery and expensive items are left at nursery at the discretion of the parent and LEYF will not take responsibility for loss or damage.

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22. RECORDS AND INFORMATION: Parents must provide accurate up-to-date contact information and immediately advise individual nurseries of any changes, particularly telephone numbers. These are especially important in the event of emergencies.

Parents must provide a copy of either the child’s birth certificate or passport.

Parents must sign the attendance register when dropping off or collecting their child.

23. CODE OF BEHAVIOUR: Everyone who attends a LEYF nursery is expected to behave in a responsible and respectful way while on the premises. Parents agree to abide by the Code of Behaviour policy, which is available from individual nurseries on request.

24. CHILD PROTECTION/SAFEGUARDING CHILDREN: LEYF operates child protection procedures based on the premise that the welfare of every child is paramount. LEYF observes its legal obligations and best practice in relation to safeguarding children.

25. TRIPS AND OUTINGS: All trips and outings are subject to LEYF’s ‘Transport, Visits and Outings’ policy. Children may be taken on walks and visits in the local area i.e. within a 2 mile radius of the nursery and permission will not be sought from parents.

All other outings outside of the local area will require permission slips signed by parents.

26. PHOTOGRAPHS: Photographs and video recordings are frequently taken by the nursery as a record of activities and events. Such multimedia content may be reproduced both in print and digitally to support the children’s development, as well as staff training and general nursery promotion. The nursery retains all rights, title and interest in any photographs taken of the children and will only use them for the purposes described above 27. COMPLAINTS: Should parents have any concerns or complaints about any matter, they should write to the Nursery Manager in the first instance. If the complaint relates to the Nursery Manager, the complaint should be sent to the Area Manager.

Any complaints will be dealt with in accordance with the LEYF Complaint Policy which is available on request.

28. DATA PROTECTION ACT 1998: LEYF will collect personal data in the course of providing childcare services. Any personal data will only be used by LEYF for the purposes of carrying out its obligations under these Terms and Conditions and will be kept strictly confidential. LEYF is registered with the Information Commissioner as a Data Controller and aims to process personal data in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

29. PARENTS RESPONSIBILITY: Parents are responsible for their children as soon as they arrive at the nursery to collect their child. When accompanying the nursery on outings outside the nursery, parents are reminded to act responsibly in respect of all children and in co-operation with nursery staff and agree to act within set boundaries.

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THESE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF ADMISSION MAY BE ALTERED FROM TIME TO TIME

BY LEYF IN THE INTERESTS OF GOOD ADMINISTRATION AND BEST PRACTICE. YOU WILL BE NOTIFIED OF ANY ALTERATIONS MADE.

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