Arrivals & Departures Policy at Mulberry Garden

We give a warm welcome and goodbye to every child and family on their arrival and departure, as well as ensuring the safety of children, parents and carers, visitors, employees, volunteers and students.

Dropoff

Parents pass the care of their child to a member of staff. The staff member receiving the child records the time of their arrival (time is recorded from Mulberry Garden’s iPad), in the sign-in/out attendance register. The staff member will take note of any specific information provided by parents.

If the parent requests the child is given medicine during the day the staff member will ensure the medication procedure is followed.

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 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

As per our Sickness & Absence policy, 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

When the child is collected at the end of their session their key person (or other nominated staff member) will discuss the child’s day with the parent, e.g. meals, sleep time, activities, interests, progress and friendships. The parent will be told about any accidents or incidents and the appropriate records must be signed by the parent before departure. Where applicable, all medicines will be returned to the parent.

The staff member will record the sign-in/out attendance register with the time of the child’s departure to show that the child has left the premises.
If the child is to be collected by someone who is not the parent at the end of the session, there is an agreed password that must be given by parents to identify the designated person. Parents are informed about these arrangements and reminded of them regularly. 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/carers are reminded not to allow any other person onto the premises when dropping-off or collecting, this is to ensure everyone’s safety at all times.

Late Pickup and Non-Collection

Mulberry Garden has the following sessions: 07:30-08:00 Breakfast Club
08:00-13:00 Morning
13:00-18:00 Afternoon

08:00-15:30 Short Day
08:00-18:00 Full Day
Parents are able to collect their child from Mulberry Garden flexibly within each booked session, no later than the session end time, e.g. if they attend 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, which of course is acceptable, 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.

If a child attending an afternoon session or full day has not been collected from Mulberry Garden by 18:00 and we have not heard from parents:

●  From 18:00-18:10 we will call parents

●  From 18:10-18:20 we will call the first emergency contact number on the child’s registration form

●  From 18:20-18:30 we will call the second emergency contact number on the child’s registration form

●  At 18:30 we will contact B&NES Social Services Emergency Duty Team 01454 615165

●  Two members of staff will stay with the child if the delay is after 18:00 and until suitable arrangements have been made for collecting the child

●  The child’s welfare and needs will be met at all times and staff will comfort and reassure the child if they show signs of distress.

●  Mulberry Garden will inform Ofsted within 24hours

A late fee of £6 for the first 5 minutes, £25 for 30 minutes and £50 per hour will be charged to parents. This will pay for any additional operational costs that caring for a child outside their normal nursery hours may incur.

If a child attending a morning session or short day has not been collected from Mulberry Garden by 13:00/15:30 and we have not heard from parents, we will aim to meet required staff ratios during opening hours. If parents are late collecting their child, and not called the nursery, the manager will phone the child’s emergency contact numbers every 10 minutes until contact is made. These calls will be logged on an incident form.

Contact numbers:

Social Services Emergency Duty Team 01454 615165

Ofsted 0300 1231231

Arrivals and departures of visitors

Visitors to Mulberry Garden are required to complete appropriate records in the visitors’ book, completed at entry and exit to the premises.

Staff, Students and Volunteers

Staff, students and volunteers are responsible for ensuring they sign themselves in and out of the premises, including breaks and lunchtimes.