Nursery Admission Policy

Children on our waiting list will get priority for vacancies in the nursery. We are obliged to accept students from our waiting list on a first-come, first-served basis.

CLOSURES

Allen’s Montessori Nursery is open throughout most of the year, with the exception of:

• All Bank Holidays

• Parents’ Open Day

• One week in December

• Up to two staff training days

We will provide notice/reminders of non-public holiday closures in advance.

We may also close for up to one further week during the school year (between 1st September and 31st August the following year). This will only take place if any emergency work is required to maintain the high standards of the premises. We will endeavour to provide parents with adequate notice of any closures.

If a nursery closure is due to uncontrollable circumstances wherein staff cannot attend (e.g. snow or floods), the nursery will be closed due to health and safety reasons. We will notify parents by telephone, email or post details on our website of these emergency closures.

Equally, if the nursery needs to close for maintenance or alterations, all fees are payable as normal.

CHILDREN AGED 2–5 YEARS

Once your child turns 2 years old, changes will be put into place accordingly.

Daily reports will not be provided. However, a Foundation Stage record will be kept in the nursery, which will comprise daily observations. Upon request, these can be accessed by parents to read.

Meals will not be given in the afternoon; however, a snack will be provided for children aged 2–5 years old.

Sleeping bags will be required for your child.

Your child will be required to wear a uniform.

CLOTHING & EFFECTS

No toys or sweets are to be brought into the nursery, and no jewellery is to be worn by children.

The nursery will not accept responsibility for any lost or damaged items. Pushchairs may be left in the locked nursery shed, but it is understood that these items will be left at your own risk. Allen’s Montessori will endeavour to safeguard all items; however, we cannot accept any responsibility for items left in the forecourt.

Children over the age of 2 years will need to wear a uniform when attending the nursery. These can be purchased from:

Bubblegum (Thornton Heath)
113 High Street
Thornton Heath
CR7 8RZ

Open: 9:00 am–7:00 pm
Tel: 020 8683 2773

The nursery uniform consists of:

• Woolly hat with nursery name print for winter

• Polo shirt with nursery logo (to be worn during winter)

• Jogging bottoms with nursery name print/logo

• Sweatshirt with nursery logo

• A cap for summer with nursery name print

• T-shirt with nursery logo (to be worn during summer)

• Shorts with nursery logo (to be worn during summer)

• Spare clothes bag (can be bought from any uniform shop; this needs to be a plain blue drawstring bag)

We advise parents to LABEL ALL ITEMS of their children’s clothing and belongings with their names.

We do not take responsibility for any unnamed lost items.

ILLNESS

The nursery will require you to sign and return a form providing written consent for nursery staff to administer any prescribed medicines.

We do not administer any unprescribed medicines, with the exception of Calpol/Nurofen/liquid paracetamol in the event that a child develops a fever and is awaiting collection from their parents/guardians while in discomfort.

The nursery may make suitable medical decisions and/or seek medical help if we are unable to make contact with any of the individuals listed on your registration form.

The nursery reserves the right to refuse to administer certain medications.

We strictly follow the exclusion procedure for illness/communicable disease policy as outlined within the Nursery Starter Pack.

CHANGE OF CONTACT DETAILS

It is imperative that you notify the nursery of any contact information changes. We need to have accurate records of these at all times, for the safety and well-being of the child.

EMERGENCY SITUATIONS

Your child’s best interests are always put first.

In the rare case of a serious emergency within nursery hours, we will always attempt to reach a child’s parent or guardian, referring to our list of emergency contacts. However, we will take steps to initiate an emergency response and take your child to hospital without your knowledge if required. Staff will continue to try to reach you throughout the proceedings.

I give permission for Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery staff to take my child to hospital in the event of an accident within nursery hours.

I also give permission for medication or treatment to be administered by a doctor in my absence, and permission for a First Aid-certified member of Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery staff to administer Nurofen/Calpol/liquid paracetamol to my child in my absence to treat a fever and accompanying symptoms.

Child’s Name: __________________________________________

Date: //______

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

LOCAL OUTINGS

Children will be taken on local outings, e.g. to the library, parks and supermarkets. We will always let parents know when and where an outing is planned.

We ask for permission in advance for your child’s participation in these excursions through completion of a short consent form:

I give my full permission for suitably qualified members of staff of Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery to take my child on local outings.

Child’s Name: __________________________________________

Date: //______

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

We will also host one annual nursery outing every year, where parents are encouraged to attend.

Fees for the annual trip will be calculated by adding up all costs, such as entry and transport, before dividing the total between the number of attendees.

FEES UPDATE

Any increase in a child’s days will mean an increase in the initial deposit. This deposit is refundable when a full calendar month’s notice is given prior to your child leaving the nursery.

For any change in the fee structure, we will endeavour to give you at least 2 months’ notice.

All your fees should be paid in full.

FEES

Should you wish to register your child for a place at Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery, please complete the ENROLMENT FORM and return it with these T&Cs to the nursery, together with a non-refundable registration fee of £50.

Please make any cheques payable to Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery Ltd.

Once your child is accepted and a commencement date agreed, a two-week deposit is payable immediately in order to secure the place. This deposit is refundable, providing a full calendar month’s written notice is given prior to your child leaving the nursery.

All fees (including those paid in vouchers) must be received in advance, no later than the 5th of each month.

Failure to pay fees by their due date may lead to the removal of your child from the nursery.

Please note there is a £10 charge for all unpaid bills, with a further daily fee of £5 until overdue payment is received (unless otherwise arranged with the Manager under exceptional circumstances).

We are registered to receive the nursery education grant.

Your employer may also offer a childcare scheme which can provide payment or part-payment of your child’s monthly fees. Any childcare grant vouchers must also be in our possession by the 5th of the month at the latest, or the charge of £5 per day will apply here. Please ask nursery management for more details. It is not our responsibility to chase up any late vouchers.

Parents must provide a full calendar month’s written notice if you wish to reduce or change your child’s days of attendance. Any changes are subject to the availability of spaces.

If a child is absent due to sickness, their fees will be payable as normal. Their exclusion period will depend on the type of sickness they have. Please refer to the Child Sickness Policy included within your Nursery Starter Pack for reference.

AGREEMENT OF FEES

• I understand that failure to give a full calendar month’s written notice of withdrawal from the nursery will result in the deposit not being refundable and a month’s nursery fee being charged.

• I agree to provide a full calendar month’s written notice if I wish to reduce or change my child’s days of attendance. Any changes are subject to the availability of spaces.

• I will pay fees by the first of each month and certainly no later than the 5th, by standing order or cheque, unless other arrangements are made with the Manager.

• I understand that weekly payments will only be accepted in cash and in the full amount.

• I am aware that any changes to arrangements are subject to agreement by the Manager.

• I acknowledge that a £10 bank charge will be levied for any unpaid bills, with an additional administrative charge of £5 per day until overdue payment is received. I understand that the removal of my child from the nursery may still be possible in addition to these charges.

• I am aware that requests for photocopies of lost newsletters or other documents will incur a £5 administration fee.

• I am aware that costs for the annual trip are variable and will be calculated by adding up all costs and dividing them by the number of attendees. All fees are still payable as normal.

• I acknowledge that the nursery closes promptly at 6:00 pm and I will be charged if late. The charge is £10 per 15 minutes, payable upon arrival.

These terms and conditions form your agreement with Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery for providing nursery care for your child.

By signing this agreement, you are agreeing to comply with nursery policies and procedures which have been made available to you.

Please sign below only after careful consideration of our terms and conditions.

We want you and your child to be happy during your stay at Allen’s Montessori Day Nursery.

Child’s Name: __________________________________________

Date: //______

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

Signed: ___________________________
Relationship to child: ______________________

COMPLAINTS PROCEDURE FOR PARENTS

• If a parent has an issue either involving their individual child or the nursery as a whole, they should, in the first instance, raise this issue with either their child’s key worker (class teacher) or the Deputy Manager.

• Should the matter not be resolved, the issue will be brought to the attention of the Manager, who will meet with all parties involved.

• Should the matter still remain unresolved, it will be raised with Ofsted.

Ofsted Tel: 0300 123 1231
Website: www.ofsted.gov.uk

• At all points throughout these processes, the parent/guardian will be kept informed of progress.