Hopscotch Terms & Conditions
The following terms and conditions form the Parent Agreement with Hopscotch Day Nurseries (hereinafter referred to as Hopscotch) regarding the provision of early years care and education for your child.
Registration
To request a place at Hopscotch a registration form must be completed. Upon confirmation that a place is available a non-refundable registration fee of £30 is payable alongside a deposit of £100 and payment of the first month’s fees. The first month’s fees will be offset against the first month’s invoice value and the deposit will be returned when your child leaves, subject to there being no outstanding fees and Hopscotch receiving one month’s written notice of your child leaving. We require two months’ notice prior to the original start date for changes to sessions or to the start date. If the required notice is not given, any reduction in fees will not be reflected in your invoice until the following month and the fees for the month following your original start date will remain due, e.g. if you request to change your start date from 1st May to 1st June on 30th March, you would be charged for the sessions originally booked for the month of May. The £100 deposit would normally be deducted from your child’s last invoice but if circumstances do not allow, it will be paid direct into your bank account within two weeks of your child leaving.
Health and Care Requirements
Prior to your child starting, you agree to complete and provide to Hopscotch in writing all relevant health and care requirements (including any allergies/intolerances or medical conditions) relating to your child. Any food allergies and/or intolerances must be supported by documentary evidence from a GP or specialist. It is your duty of care to notify Hopscotch of any changes or additions to this information on an on-going basis. You will also provide up-to-date contact details for you and any authorised carers alongside any Court Orders, custody arrangements or safeguarding information relevant to your child.
Opening Hours and Collection
The nurseries are open Monday to Friday each week and are closed for public holidays. Please check with the relevant nursery with regard to opening hours. Only you or authorised persons who are over eighteen years old may collect your child from Hopscotch. If the child remains at nursery after the specified closing time, we will make every effort to contact you or authorised persons to agree your child’s collection. Late charges may be applied as the nursery has to be vacated by the designated closing times in line with our Ofsted Registration conditions.
Safeguarding
We have a duty of care to ensure that any significant concerns about the children in our setting are reported to the local authority. This can be without parental permission whilst we seek further advice. Refer to the child protection and safeguarding policies for further information and requirements.
Policies
Our policies can be viewed on our website and in the nursery reception. Individual copies are available upon request.
Nursery Fees
Our fees are based on a weekly amount and are dependent on your child’s attendance pattern as detailed on the fee sheets. Hopscotch reserves the right to review the said fees at any time and will give a minimum of one month’s notice in writing.
Our standard fees are calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year (51 weeks) and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments. A School Contract are calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year (46) and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments. The 5 weeks holiday that you are entitled to must be taken during school holidays and in minimum periods of 1 week. This contract is reviewed annually and Hopscotch reserve the right to renew the contract onto a 51 week attendance giving a minimum of 1 months’ notice in writing. Any other contract agreed between a parent and Hopscotch is calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments.
No refund will be given for periods where your child is absent from the nursery due to illness or holidays whilst Hopscotch is open or when it is not possible to open due to matters out of our control, i.e. transport strikes, acts of terrorism, infectious disease, epidemics, adverse weather conditions (snow/floods), unforeseeable repairs or any failure of public or utility services. Hopscotch is closed on public and bank holidays and fees will be chargeable at the normal fee rate.
Payment of nursery fees for your child’s attendance at Hopscotch shall be made in advance on the third day of each month (Due Date) by direct debit. Any alternative payment method must be agreed in writing with the Finance Department.
We may also accept childcare vouchers and Tax Free Childcare schemes for all or part payment of the fees. If Hopscotch accepts childcare vouchers, the voucher payment must clear into our account by the Due Date. Otherwise we reserve the right to apply it to the next month’s fees and we will consider the current month’s fees outstanding.
Hopscotch reserves the right to charge the following surcharges; late pick up fees of £5 per 5 minutes outside of booked session times, late payment fees will be charged at a rate of £5 per day for all fees outstanding after the Due Date, a monthly administration fee of £5 if fees are not paid by direct debit, voucher or tax-free childcare. You agree to pay all fees as applicable to you.
Hopscotch reserves the right to charge interest 2% above Bank of England base rate on any late Nursery fees. We may also charge for all other associated costs related to non-payment or recovery of any nursery fees. Hopscotch reserves the right to terminate or suspend your child’s place with immediate effect if you do not pay the fees by the Due Date or you have outstanding nursery fees. Hopscotch’s notice to so terminate the agreement shall be regarded as a formal demand for all outstanding monies owing. In the event Hopscotch applies any discretionary discount to nursery fees, this discount will be solely as a gesture of goodwill and will not constitute any variation to this parent agreement.
Additional Care and Change of Sessions
Extra days, sessions and hours outside of your regular booking pattern may be available and can be booked on an ad hoc basis directly with the nursery management team. These must be paid for by credit or debit card at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse the booking of extra sessions and increases to your regular booking pattern, if your child has outstanding fees. We require 48 hours’ notice for any amendments or cancellation of booked additional sessions. If the required notice is not given, no refund will be due for the unused sessions.
We are unable to accommodate swapping your child’s session from one day to another. One month’s notice must be given in writing for changes to booked sessions. In order to secure any amendments to your regular sessions, the additional fees due will be payable one month in advance of the effective start date and will then be deducted from your first revised invoice. If you subsequently change your child’s sessions within the month prior to the agreed amendment date, you will be liable for any additional fees for that month.
Three Year Funding
When your child is eligible for a funded place you will be required to sign related Terms and Conditions which also set out our Extended Entitlement Fees relating to services used outside of the Free Entitlement Hours.
Privacy Notice
Our GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Privacy Notice can be viewed on our website and in the Nursery reception. Individual copies are available upon request.
Parking
In order to comply with our planning obligations and property covenants, parents drop off parking is to be within Hopscotch premises only*. Owing to Hopscotch’s planning covenants failure to comply with these conditions may result in your child being suspended from the nursery. A plan showing the parking/drop off area and/or one-way system will form part of the agreement between us.
*Gosport - In particular, parking in the adjacent residential car parking on Weevil Lane (Gosport) is strictly prohibited.
*Lee - In particular, parking on the High Street or outside the library is strictly prohibited.
Suspension
We may suspend the provision of childcare to your child if at any time;
Notice of Termination
Each party must provide a minimum of one calendar month’s written notice to terminate the child’s place. Hopscotch reserves the right to terminate your child’s place with immediate effect and without notice if you breach this Parent Agreement, have outstanding nursery fees owed, or if we at our sole discretion consider termination of your child’s place to be in the best interest of Hopscotch and/or the welfare of your child, other children at the nursery or staff. Notice must be in writing and addressed to the Nursery Manager.
Employment of staff
The parent/carer of the child, the subject of the registration form, hereby agrees that during the term of this agreement and for a period of six months after the termination (howsoever terminated) not to (directly or indirectly);
If a Hopscotch staff member leaves our employment in order to work for you, you agree to pay Hopscotch a figure representing 20% of the relevant member of staff’s gross annual salary at the time they left our employment. This figure represents the costs to Hopscotch of the recruitment of another member of staff. If you choose to have a Hopscotch staff member care for you child during their non-working hours, we do not sanction any arrangement made between you and the Hopscotch staff member. Therefore Hopscotch will not be held accountable for any liability, loss or damages you incur as a result of any such arrangements.
General
Hopscotch communication will either be text or email and it is your responsibility to inform Hopscotch of any change in contact details as we will otherwise assume safe receipt of any communication.
Hopscotch is not responsible for any items left by you at the nursery, including without limitation, push chairs, prams, car seats and clothing.
Hopscotch may unilaterally change any provision of this Parent Agreement without notice to you where such change arises from regulatory or legislative requirements.
Hopscotch maintains insurances required by law, details of which are available from the Nursery Manager. Copies of current Employers Liability and Public Liability are displayed at the nursery.
This Agreement will be governed by English Law and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Acceptance
Acceptance of a nursery place with Hopscotch indicates that the parent/carer has read and understands the Terms and Conditions and registration documents and undertakes to be bound by the same.
Registration
To request a place at Hopscotch a registration form must be completed. Upon confirmation that a place is available a non-refundable registration fee of £30 is payable alongside a deposit of £100 and payment of the first month’s fees. The first month’s fees will be offset against the first month’s invoice value and the deposit will be returned when your child leaves, subject to there being no outstanding fees and Hopscotch receiving one month’s written notice of your child leaving. We require two months’ notice prior to the original start date for changes to sessions or to the start date. If the required notice is not given, any reduction in fees will not be reflected in your invoice until the following month and the fees for the month following your original start date will remain due, e.g. if you request to change your start date from 1st May to 1st June on 30th March, you would be charged for the sessions originally booked for the month of May. The £100 deposit would normally be deducted from your child’s last invoice but if circumstances do not allow, it will be paid direct into your bank account within two weeks of your child leaving.
Health and Care Requirements
Prior to your child starting, you agree to complete and provide to Hopscotch in writing all relevant health and care requirements (including any allergies/intolerances or medical conditions) relating to your child. Any food allergies and/or intolerances must be supported by documentary evidence from a GP or specialist. It is your duty of care to notify Hopscotch of any changes or additions to this information on an on-going basis. You will also provide up-to-date contact details for you and any authorised carers alongside any Court Orders, custody arrangements or safeguarding information relevant to your child.
Opening Hours and Collection
The nurseries are open Monday to Friday each week and are closed for public holidays. Please check with the relevant nursery with regard to opening hours. Only you or authorised persons who are over eighteen years old may collect your child from Hopscotch. If the child remains at nursery after the specified closing time, we will make every effort to contact you or authorised persons to agree your child’s collection. Late charges may be applied as the nursery has to be vacated by the designated closing times in line with our Ofsted Registration conditions.
Safeguarding
We have a duty of care to ensure that any significant concerns about the children in our setting are reported to the local authority. This can be without parental permission whilst we seek further advice. Refer to the child protection and safeguarding policies for further information and requirements.
Policies
Our policies can be viewed on our website and in the nursery reception. Individual copies are available upon request.
Nursery Fees
Our fees are based on a weekly amount and are dependent on your child’s attendance pattern as detailed on the fee sheets. Hopscotch reserves the right to review the said fees at any time and will give a minimum of one month’s notice in writing.
Our standard fees are calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year (51 weeks) and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments. A School Contract are calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year (46) and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments. The 5 weeks holiday that you are entitled to must be taken during school holidays and in minimum periods of 1 week. This contract is reviewed annually and Hopscotch reserve the right to renew the contract onto a 51 week attendance giving a minimum of 1 months’ notice in writing. Any other contract agreed between a parent and Hopscotch is calculated by multiplying the weekly amount by the weeks charged for in each year and dividing the total by 12. This results in 12 equal monthly payments.
No refund will be given for periods where your child is absent from the nursery due to illness or holidays whilst Hopscotch is open or when it is not possible to open due to matters out of our control, i.e. transport strikes, acts of terrorism, infectious disease, epidemics, adverse weather conditions (snow/floods), unforeseeable repairs or any failure of public or utility services. Hopscotch is closed on public and bank holidays and fees will be chargeable at the normal fee rate.
Payment of nursery fees for your child’s attendance at Hopscotch shall be made in advance on the third day of each month (Due Date) by direct debit. Any alternative payment method must be agreed in writing with the Finance Department.
We may also accept childcare vouchers and Tax Free Childcare schemes for all or part payment of the fees. If Hopscotch accepts childcare vouchers, the voucher payment must clear into our account by the Due Date. Otherwise we reserve the right to apply it to the next month’s fees and we will consider the current month’s fees outstanding.
Hopscotch reserves the right to charge the following surcharges; late pick up fees of £5 per 5 minutes outside of booked session times, late payment fees will be charged at a rate of £5 per day for all fees outstanding after the Due Date, a monthly administration fee of £5 if fees are not paid by direct debit, voucher or tax-free childcare. You agree to pay all fees as applicable to you.
Hopscotch reserves the right to charge interest 2% above Bank of England base rate on any late Nursery fees. We may also charge for all other associated costs related to non-payment or recovery of any nursery fees. Hopscotch reserves the right to terminate or suspend your child’s place with immediate effect if you do not pay the fees by the Due Date or you have outstanding nursery fees. Hopscotch’s notice to so terminate the agreement shall be regarded as a formal demand for all outstanding monies owing. In the event Hopscotch applies any discretionary discount to nursery fees, this discount will be solely as a gesture of goodwill and will not constitute any variation to this parent agreement.
Additional Care and Change of Sessions
Extra days, sessions and hours outside of your regular booking pattern may be available and can be booked on an ad hoc basis directly with the nursery management team. These must be paid for by credit or debit card at the time of booking. We reserve the right to refuse the booking of extra sessions and increases to your regular booking pattern, if your child has outstanding fees. We require 48 hours’ notice for any amendments or cancellation of booked additional sessions. If the required notice is not given, no refund will be due for the unused sessions.
We are unable to accommodate swapping your child’s session from one day to another. One month’s notice must be given in writing for changes to booked sessions. In order to secure any amendments to your regular sessions, the additional fees due will be payable one month in advance of the effective start date and will then be deducted from your first revised invoice. If you subsequently change your child’s sessions within the month prior to the agreed amendment date, you will be liable for any additional fees for that month.
Three Year Funding
When your child is eligible for a funded place you will be required to sign related Terms and Conditions which also set out our Extended Entitlement Fees relating to services used outside of the Free Entitlement Hours.
Privacy Notice
Our GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Privacy Notice can be viewed on our website and in the Nursery reception. Individual copies are available upon request.
Parking
In order to comply with our planning obligations and property covenants, parents drop off parking is to be within Hopscotch premises only*. Owing to Hopscotch’s planning covenants failure to comply with these conditions may result in your child being suspended from the nursery. A plan showing the parking/drop off area and/or one-way system will form part of the agreement between us.
*Gosport - In particular, parking in the adjacent residential car parking on Weevil Lane (Gosport) is strictly prohibited.
*Lee - In particular, parking on the High Street or outside the library is strictly prohibited.
Suspension
We may suspend the provision of childcare to your child if at any time;
- You fail to pay the fees, or;
- You have failed to comply with the parking restrictions as detailed in both this and the parking document;
- Should your child be suffering from a contagious disease which can easily be passed to another child;
- Your child’s behaviour is deemed to be unacceptable as outlined in our Behaviour Policy or endangers the safety and wellbeing of one of the other children or staff in the nursery.
Notice of Termination
Each party must provide a minimum of one calendar month’s written notice to terminate the child’s place. Hopscotch reserves the right to terminate your child’s place with immediate effect and without notice if you breach this Parent Agreement, have outstanding nursery fees owed, or if we at our sole discretion consider termination of your child’s place to be in the best interest of Hopscotch and/or the welfare of your child, other children at the nursery or staff. Notice must be in writing and addressed to the Nursery Manager.
Employment of staff
The parent/carer of the child, the subject of the registration form, hereby agrees that during the term of this agreement and for a period of six months after the termination (howsoever terminated) not to (directly or indirectly);
- Employ, entice or attempt to entice away from the employment of Hopscotch any member of our staff who has had contact with your child under this agreement, and/or;
- Allow or permit the provision of any childcare services to your child by any member of our staff.
If a Hopscotch staff member leaves our employment in order to work for you, you agree to pay Hopscotch a figure representing 20% of the relevant member of staff’s gross annual salary at the time they left our employment. This figure represents the costs to Hopscotch of the recruitment of another member of staff. If you choose to have a Hopscotch staff member care for you child during their non-working hours, we do not sanction any arrangement made between you and the Hopscotch staff member. Therefore Hopscotch will not be held accountable for any liability, loss or damages you incur as a result of any such arrangements.
General
Hopscotch communication will either be text or email and it is your responsibility to inform Hopscotch of any change in contact details as we will otherwise assume safe receipt of any communication.
Hopscotch is not responsible for any items left by you at the nursery, including without limitation, push chairs, prams, car seats and clothing.
Hopscotch may unilaterally change any provision of this Parent Agreement without notice to you where such change arises from regulatory or legislative requirements.
Hopscotch maintains insurances required by law, details of which are available from the Nursery Manager. Copies of current Employers Liability and Public Liability are displayed at the nursery.
This Agreement will be governed by English Law and is subject to the exclusive jurisdiction of the English Courts.
Acceptance
Acceptance of a nursery place with Hopscotch indicates that the parent/carer has read and understands the Terms and Conditions and registration documents and undertakes to be bound by the same.
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