Terms & Conditions
Equal opportunities: Dicky Bird's Nurseries operate an equal opportunities policy.
WAITING LIST
Registration: A child's name will be placed on the waiting list for the chosen nursery/ies on receipt of a completed registration form and non-refundable registration (administration) fee at our Head Office (HO) via our website www.dickybirds.co.uk. Admission and entry will be subject to the availability of a place.
Waiting list policy and procedure: A child is placed on the waiting list in the order of the date on which a registration form is received by HO. HO will contact the parent/guardian to confirm the availability of a place 12 to 4 weeks in advance of a requested start date for a Full Day Care place and 1 full term in advance of a requested start date for a Pre-School/Breakfast After School Club place. In some circumstances HO may be able to contact the parent/guardian earlier than the periods stated above and reserve the right to require a decision from the parent/guardian based on this early notification. The parent/guardian is responsible for ensuring that HO have up to date email/telephone and address details to ensure that contact can be made.
Priority for places and waiting list fluidity: Priority for nursery places is given to certain categories of child. Therefore a child's position on the waiting list is subject to change. Please see our Admissions Policy for details.
Availability of places: Places are subject to availability and Dicky Birds cannot guarantee nursery places.
Offer of a place: HO will attempt to contact the parent/guardian 3 times via email/telephone over a period of 5 working days. If we are unable to contact the parent/guardian on the third attempt we will assume that a place is no longer required for their child and will remove them from the waiting list. Please see out Admissions Policy for further details.
Once a parent/guardian has been offered a place for their child they will be given a deadline date to confirm the place. Failure to confirm the place by the deadline date will result in the place being offered to the next child on the waiting list.
Refusal of a place: The Parent/Guardian has the right to refuse any places offered for their child by up to 5 times. After the 5th refusal the parent/guardian will be obliged to contact the HO once they are ready to confirm a place, rather than HO contacting the parent/guardian. Places will be subject to availability.
For further information see our Admissions Policy.
ADMISSION
Securing a place: For a Full Day Care place; a Child Entry Form (The Agreement) completed online / paper form, a deposit (details of the current deposit are set out in the Fees List) and 1 full month and applicable part-month fees in advance will be payable upon acceptance of the offer of a place. For Pre-School / Breakfast & After School Club place; a completed and signed Confirmation of Acceptance form (The Agreement), deposit (details of the current deposit are set out in the Fees List) and 1 full term's fees in advance will be payable upon acceptance of the offer of a place. When the child leaves the nursery the deposit will be repaid without interest to the parent/guardian by means of Bacs online payment and any outstanding fees will be deducted from this sum.
Cancelling Acceptance of a Place: The deposit and fees are non refundable should a child not join the nursery. A child's place is deemed accepted upon receipt of The Agreement. Cases of serious illness or genuine hardship may receive special consideration upon written request.
Attending the Full Day Care nursery for 1 day per week (Full Day Care only): A parent/guardian who wishes their child to attend the nursery for 1 day per week, will be obliged to take a day specified by the nursery. Should a parent/guardian wish to reduce their child's days at the nursery to 1 day per week, they will be required to reduce/transfer to a day specified by the nursery. If the chosen day is not suitable, the parent/guardian will be obliged to give notice. At the discretion of the management this condition may be waived.
FEES
Payment of Fees: For a Full Day Care Place: Payment is due for settlement before the 1st day of each month unless otherwise agreed in writing. For a Pre-School / Breakfast & After School Club place: Payment is due by the 1st day of term unless otherwise agreed in writing. A child may be excluded from the nursery at any time when fees are unpaid and will be deemed withdrawn 28 days after exclusion, after which 2 months' fees for a Full Day Care place or 1 full term's fees for a Pre-School / Breakfast & After School Club place in lieu of notice will be due. Please note fees (including extra days / sessions / Holiday Club and additions*) will not be refunded or waived for absence from the nursery due to sickness, family holiday or any other reason that a child does not attend the nursery on their allocated days.
* Additions = Early Birds, Late Birds, Lunch Supervision, Hot Lunch.
Responsibility of payment: Fees are the responsibility of both parents/guardians of the child irrespective of which parent/guardian has signed The Agreement.
Payment of fees by a third party: An agreement with a third party to pay the fees or any other sum due to the nursery does not release the parents/guardians from any liability under these terms and conditions unless an express release has been given in writing by the owner of Dicky Birds Pre-School Nurseries Ltd.
Late Payment: The right is reserved to charge penalty interest for late payment at a rate of 5%. Interest will be accrued on a daily basis for each day of late payment.
Instalment arrangements: Any agreement by the nursery to accept payment of fees by standing order or any other arrangement for payment of fees by instalments is concessionary and will cease automatically in the event of any default for 30 days or more. On ceasing, the full amount of fees then due shall be payable forthwith as a debt and interest for late payment will accrue on a daily basis.
Late pick up penalty: Parent's / Carers who persistently pick up their child late from the nursery will be charged a £25.00 late penalty for each late pick up.
Christmas and bank holiday closure: The nursery is closed for 5 working days over the Christmas period. Our fees reflect a 51 week year and exclude the 5 days we are closed for the Christmas period. We are closed for all bank holidays.
Bank holidays, sick days and holiday periods are non-refundable.
EXTRAS, CHANGES TO DAYS / SESSIONS
Extra Days / Sessions (Term Time): Extra Days / Sessions must be booked directly with the nursery and an Extra Days / Sessions Form completed by the parent/guardian. Once the Extra Days / Sessions form is signed the parent/guardian is liable for the payment. Payment of fees for extra days / sessions must be made within 24 hours of booking. If payment is not received within 24 hours the place will not be held. 5 working days notification must be given to cancel an extra day / session.
Additions - Early starts (Early Birds), late finishes (Late Birds) and lunch time supervision (Lunch Birds): The Full Day Care nursery is open between 8.00am and 6.00pm and the Pre-School nursery is open between 9.15am to 12.15pm and from 1.00pm to 4.00pm. The above sessions may be arranged directly with the nursery and are available on request at an extra charge. Payment for one off additions must be made in advance. Payment for regular and any outstanding additions will be invoiced monthly. 2 working days notification must be given to cancel an Early Bird, Late Bird or Lunch Birds. Please note: Persistent late collection without prior arrangement may result in a penalty fee being charged.
Holiday Club: Holiday Club must be booked directly with HO via email by the parent/guardian. Once the Holiday Club booking has been confirmed by HO with an email the parent/guardian is liable for the payment. Payment of fees for Holiday Club must be made within 24 hours of booking. If payment is not received within 24 hours the place will not be held. Holiday Club bookings are non refundable. Where possible Holiday Club sessions may be changed subject to availability and at the discretion of the nursery management.
Swapping or increasing days / sessions: Requests to swap or increase days / sessions must be made in writing by email/post to admissions@dickybirds.co.uk / Dicky Birds Head Office, 39 Woodlands Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3UL. In the event that the swap cannot be made imminently the child will be added to our Internal Waiting List. Please see our Admissions Policy for further details. The swapping and increasing of days is subject to availability and may be dependant on availability per room / group. Once a swap or increase in days / sessions has been confirmed by our Head Office an Agreement email will be sent to the parent to confirm the change. The parent must by reply within 3 working days to secure the change. Once the Agreement email reply has been received by the Head Office, the swap or increase in days / sessions is confirmed and we will require 8 weeks notice to cancel the change.
Swapping and booking adhoc days / sessions / Holiday Club: We are unable to swap a child's days / sessions from the pre-agreed days set out in The Agreement or subsequent written agreements made with our HO. Adhoc days / sessions / Holiday Club may be booked directly with the nursery at the normal day / session rate subject to availability. Where possible Holiday Club sessions may be changed subject to availability and at the discretion of the nursery management.
EVENTS REQUIRING NOTICE
Reducing days / sessions: A minimum of 8 weeks written notice for a Full Day Care child and 1 full term's written notice for a Pre-School / Breakfast & After School Club place is required to reduce days/sessions. Notice must be made in writing to our Head Office by email/post to admissions@dickybirds.co.uk / Dicky Birds Head Office, 39 Woodlands Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3UL. In lieu of notice fees charged will be 2 full months' fees for a full day care child, 1 full term's fees for a Pre-School child, or at the rate that would have applied had the child attended the nursery. Once written notice has been received the notice date is final and cannot be brought forward or put back. Receipt of notice will be sent to the parent/guardian within 5 working days. If a receipt is not received within this time period the parent/guardian must contact Dicky Birds Head Office immediately as the notice may not have been received. The notice is not deemed accepted until a parent/guardian has been sent a receipt.
Notice to leave the nursery: The notice period required for a child to leave the nursery is a minimum of 8 weeks written notice for a Full Day Care child and 1 full term's written notice for a Pre-School / Breakfast & After School Club place. Notice must be made in writing to our Head Office by email/post to admissions@dickybirds.co.uk / Dicky Birds Head Office, 39 Woodlands Avenue, New Malden, Surrey, KT3 3UL. In lieu of notice fees charged will be 2 full months' fees for a full day care child, 1 full term's fees for a Pre-School child, or at the rate that would have applied had the child attended the nursery. Once written notice has been received the notice date is final and cannot be brought forward or put back. Receipt of notice will be sent to the parent/guardian within 5 working days. If a receipt is not received within this time period the parent/guardian must contact Dicky Birds Head Office immediately as the notice may not have been received. The notice is not deemed accepted until a parent/guardian has been sent a receipt. Once all fees are settled the deposit will be refunded. Dicky Birds nursery reserves the right to deduct outstanding fees from nursery funding and deposits.
INSURANCE & PROPERTY
Liability and Insurances: The nursery does not, unless negligent, accept responsibility for accidental injury or loss of property. The nursery undertakes to maintain those insurances which are prescribed by the law. All other insurances are the responsibility of parent/guardian to include the child's personal property whilst at nursery or in transit to or from the nursery or on any nursery sponsored activity off- site. The nursery is not the agent of the parents/carers for any purpose related to insurance.
Children's Personal Property: The parent/guardian is responsible for ensuring that all such property is clearly marked with the child's name.
COMPLAINTS
Concerns and Complaints: If you have any cause for serious concern as to a matter of safety, care or quality of education, you must inform the nursery manager within 24 hours.
STAFF & BABYSITTING
Non solicitation of Dicky Birds Nurseries Ltd staff: The parent/guardian hereby agrees that during the term of The Agreement and for the period of six months following its termination (however so terminated) that they will not seek to employ, entice away or attempt to entice away from the employment of Dicky Birds Nurseries Ltd (hereafter called 'the Company') any person or persons employed by the Company at the date of termination of The Agreement between the Company and parent/guardian or any person or persons who was employed by the Company in the six months preceding the date of termination of The Agreement between yourself and the Company.
If the aforementioned clause is breached then the parent/guardian shall indemnify the Company fully in respect of all and any claims, damages, advertising cost, agency fees and any other costs involved in replacing the said member of staff together with all legal fees and disbursements.
Babysitting:We prohibit staff from babysitting for children that they care for within the nursery. It is unfair and unreasonable for a parent/guardian to approach a member of staff for the purpose of babysitting as to babysit would be in breach of the member of staff's contract and could result in disciplinary action. Babysitting can be arranged through Dicky Birds Nurseries sister company Smart Chicks Recruitment, where a suitable babysitter can be found for the child.
MISCONDUCT
Abusive behaviour towards staff, neighbours and other parties connected to the nursery: We reserve the right to serve notice to any parent/guardian who is abusive towards staff, neighbours and other parties connected to the nursery.
Inconsiderate/dangerous parking: We reserve the right to serve notice to any parent/guardian that persistently parks inconsiderately or dangerously when dropping off or picking up their child from the nursery.
CONFIDENTIALITY
Confidentiality: The nursery will take every precaution to preserve the confidentiality of information relating to each child and his/her parents/guardians. However, upon acceptance of a place in the nursery, the parents/guardians willingly consent on behalf of themselves and the child, to the nursery obtaining, holding, using and communicating on a "need to know" basis, confidential information which, in the opinion of the Nursery Manager is material to the safety and welfare of the child and others. The nursery is duty bound to report suspicions of abuse or neglect to the relevant authorities in accordance with the C.A.F (Common Assessment Framework) set by the DSCF's Local Safe Guarding Children's Board.
T&C REVIEW
Review of Terms and Conditions: We reserve the right to alter our terms and conditions at anytime. Written notification of all revised Terms and Conditions will be given.
Acceptance of Terms & Condition: Our Terms and Conditions are deemed accepted by the parent/guardian upon receipt of a completed and signed Agreement Form for a Full Day Care place and a Pre School (term time) / Breakfast and After School Club Place.
Updated May 2011
