Terms and Conditions

Mulberry Garden cares for children between the ages of 3 months and 5 years. The numbers and ages of children admitted to Mulberry Garden comply with the legal space requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage. When considering admissions we are mindful of staff: child ratios and the facilities available at the nursery.

The following admission criteria is applied in the following order of priority:

●  Looked after children.

●  A child known by the local authority to have special educational needs and/or a disability (SEND) and whose needs can be best met at the preferred nursery.

●  A vulnerable child with either a Child Protection or a Child in Need Plan, or in receipt of other local authority support.

●  Children who have siblings who attend Mulberry Garden.

●  Children whose parents live within the area.

A child requiring a full-time place may have preference over one requiring a part-time place. This is dependent upon work commitments, occupancy and room availability. We operate a waiting list and places are offered on an availability basis.

We operate an inclusion and equality policy and ensure that all children have access to nursery places and services irrespective of their gender, race, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation of parents.

Prior to a child attending nursery, parents must complete and sign a registration document which forms a contract with Mulberry Garden. These documents provide Mulberry Garden with personal details relating to the child:

●  Name.

●  Date of birth.

●  Start Date.

●  Address.

●  Emergency contact details.

●  Parent contact details.

●  Parental responsibilities.

●  Dietary requirements.

●  Collection arrangements.

●  Fees and sessions.

●  Doctor’s contact details.

●  Health visitor contact details.

●  Details of known allergies.

●  Medical details.

●  Vaccination details.

●  Parental consent.

Parents are charged a non-refundable fee of £100 for registering their child at Mulberry Garden. Included in the registration fee is an option of up to three morning/afternoon settling in sessions for their child.

Providers eligible to provide government funded places for early education

All settings registered to accept government funding (detailed in the code of practice) must offer free places for two to five year olds for early learning sessions specified by B&NES. Mulberry Garden currently provides 20 free funded places for children, subject to availability. Following a child’s second or third birthday (as per the child’s funding application date agreed by B&NES), these places will be allocated on a first come, first served basis and can be booked a term in advance.

All funded sessions are now in line with the flexible arrangement as specified by the Government. When parents register their child for a funded place we will discuss your needs and, as far as possible with availability and staffing arrangements, we will accommodate your wishes. We reserve the right to limit and/or have specific funded sessions, according to our business requirements.

Early Dropoff

Mulberry Garden sessions begin at 08:00 for morning and day sessions, and 13:00 for afternoon sessions. Breakfast Club (early dropoff) 07:30-08:00 can be arranged for Babies, Toddlers and Pre-School children at an additional charge. Breakfast Club 07:30-08:40 can be arranged for Mulberry After School children at an additional charge, and they will be taken to school by a member of Mulberry Garden staff. Any child dropped off early at Mulberry Garden prior to 08:00 will be charged an additional fee, regardless of whether a Breakfast Club session has been booked in advance. Mulberry Garden reserves the right to refuse an early dropoff i.e. prior to 08:00 if Breakfast Club has not been agreed in advance and there are insufficient members of staff on the premises to ensure the safety of the children.

Child Absence

Mulberry Garden must be informed of all absences (whether due to sickness or any other reason) on the first day of absence, and each subsequent day thereafter, either by phone or email. If we have not received a message from parents by 10:00 a.m. about a child we expect to be attending a session, we will phone parents. For safeguarding purposes, if we are not able to make contact with parents via any of the contact numbers provided, we will contact B&NES Social Services.

Pickup
Other than the parent/s or legal guardian of the child, we do not allow anyone under the age of 18 to collect a child (in the event of this occurring, the parent/carer will be contacted).

Mulberry Garden will not release a child to anyone other than the known parent/s unless an agreement has been made at the time of arrival. In the case of an emergency, e.g. a parent is delayed and makes arrangements for a designated adult to collect their child, the parent must contact Mulberry Garden as soon as possible. If the designated person is not known to Mulberry Garden staff, the parent must provide a detailed description, including the date of birth if known. It is the parent’s responsibility to ensure the designated person knows the individual child’s safety password in order for the nursery to release the child into their care. If in doubt Mulberry Garden will check the person’s identity by ringing the child’s parent or their emergency contact number.

Parents may collect their child from Mulberry Garden flexibly within each booked session, no later than the session end time, e.g. if a child attends the morning session we expect the child to be collected no later than 13:00, short day sessions no later than 15:30 and afternoon/all day session no later than 18:00. We understand that some parents may arrive earlier to collect their child, however, full fees remain in place for the allocated session times.

It is possible for parents to arrange, in advance and for an additional fee, a regular extra 30 minutes or 1 hour, following a morning session or short day.

A late fee of £7 for the first 5 minutes, £30 for 30 minutes and £60 per hour will be charged to parents for late pickups if no advance arrangements have been made.

Fees and notice period

Session fees must be paid one month in advance. Parents will be charged in full for all sessions, regardless of absences, both planned e.g. holidays, and unplanned e.g. illness.

Mulberry Garden must be notified in writing one month in advance for any changes to a child’s sessions or if parents wish to cancel their child’s place.