Statement of intent

It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community.

Aim
We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

Methods

In order to achieve this aim, we operate the following admissions procedure:
• We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community whenever there are vacancies.
• We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, in written and spoken form and, where appropriate, in more than one language. Where necessary, we will try to provide information in Braille, or through British Sign Language. We will provide translated written materials where language needs of families suggest this is required as well as access to an interpreter.
• We arrange our waiting list in date of registration order. In addition, our policy may take into account the following:
– siblings already attending the setting.
• We describe our setting and its practices in terms that make it clear that it welcomes fathers and mothers, other relations and other carers, including childminders.
• We describe our setting and its practices in terms of how it treats each child and their family, having regard to their needs arising from their gender, special educational needs, disabilities, social background, religion, ethnicity or from English being a newly acquired additional language.
• We describe our setting and its practices in terms of how it enables children and/or parents with disabilities to take part in the life of the setting.
• We monitor the gender and ethnic background of children joining the group to ensure that our intake is representative of social diversity.
• We make our Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality policy widely known.
• We consult with families about the opening times of the setting to ensure we accommodate a broad range of family needs.
• We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, providing these do not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children.

• 9 months nursery is open all the year round with the exception of Public Holidays, planned INSET days (please check Nursery Calendar) and the period between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day. Fees are applicable on these days.

• Children will be accepted from the ages of 6 months to 5 years.

• Opening Times are 8am to 6pm Monday – Friday.

• Additional babysitting is available out of nursery hours from 6pm-8.00pm, if notice is given well in advance and staff are available on the required date. This service is available for all parents who use the nursery. 9 months will provide the nursery facilities; however, this arrangement will be agreed between the parent and nursery nurse. However, in line with The Children Act, children should not be in nursery care for more than 10 hours per day.

• A deposit of £450 is required upon registration in order to secure a place at the nursery. If 2 siblings are starting at the same time, then the deposit is £600. This deposit is fully refundable upon 1 months’ notice of leaving the nursery, only after the child has attended the nursery for a minimum of 6 months. Refunds will not be given if places are not accepted once reserved.

• 9 Months Ltd reserves the right to terminate the nursery place upon 1 month’s written notice in unexpected circumstances such as children not settling, parents not adhering to policies, disrupting nursery routine etc.

• In the unlikely event that the nursery would have to cease operating, all deposits would be returned in full, regardless of how long the child had been attending.

• Once a place has been reserved, a minimum of 3 months’ notice is required in order to make any changes to the start date. The start date may only be changed once. If the start date is delayed at shorter notice, 50% of the monthly fees will be payable starting from the initial date or first agreed changed start date.

• All fees are to be paid monthly in advance and should clear the 9 Months account by 9th of the month; late payments (those arriving on 10th or later) will incur a charge of £5 per day.

We recommend that all parents visit the nursery in person prior to registration of their child. If you are interested in reserving a place, you will be asked to complete a registration form, for which a non-refundable fee of £50 is required. With a wide choice of childcare facilities available to parents today, we are committed to providing places to those who are genuinely interested in ‘9 months’ as soon as possible. Therefore, if you would like a place reserved and one is not available immediately, you can place your child’s name on a waiting list for a fee of £50 fully refundable on acceptance of the place.
Prior to the start date, we recommend that you arrange a series of settling-in visits, with the relevant Keyworker to suit both parties. It is suggested that 3 – 5 visits be completed prior to the official start date. However, we recognise that every child has individual needs; therefore, a personalised settled-in plan can be arranged accordingly. Hourly visits are complimentary; visits over 1 hour are charged at the discounted rate of £5 per hour and can be arranged during any part of the day, including mealtimes.

This policy was adopted at a meeting of 9 Months Nursery Ltd
Held on 09th May 2008
Signed on behalf of the Management Committee/Proprietor Tasneem Ramji
This policy was reviewed on 3rd October 2019

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