Admissions and Fees Policy

Kids Space Limited is registered with Ofsted (EY563562). We provide care for up to 70 children between the ages of 4 and 11, primarily serving the children of Fairfield Primary School. Places are offered on a first-come first-served basis with a waiting list when necessary (and for new September starts), with the following order of priority:

1. Siblings of children already attending the club.
2. Those requiring the greatest number of sessions/hours per week.
3. Children of Fairfield Primary School, Widnes.
4. Children living in the area and attending other schools.
5. Sibling of children who live in the area attending other schools.

Registration

When an enquiry regarding places is made, parents or carers will be given all the relevant Club information, including:

• Information regarding availability of places and/or waiting list.
• Details of the Admissions and Fees Policy.
• Registration form, Medical form, Parent Contract, Booking form, Privacy Notice, Photo Permission form.
• Behaviour Management Policy.
• Complaints Policy.
• Club Handbook.

If a place is available, the parents and child will be invited to visit the club for an induction. The child will be able to attend the Club as soon as the completed forms are received.

If no places are available the parent will be informed and the child’s name added to the waiting list. As soon as suitable places become available parents will be informed.

Booking / Cancellation procedure

Parents must complete our Registration Form, before their children can attend the club.

• Permanent places and Temporary bookings:

As well as our permanent bookings we will accept temporary/occasional bookings as long as there are places available. Once booked, if a child does not attend for any reason, you will still be charged for this place.

• Cancelling or changing a session:

If a place has been booked and is no longer required or requires changing, you must give us notice of cancellation/change by the Monday of the week before the session to be cancelled/changed. This must be done by calling our bookings line on 07447 340682 or emailing fairfield@kidsspace.org.uk. If sufficient notice is not given in accordance with the foregoing, the place will still be charged irrespective of the reason for cancellation (for example sickness, medical appointments, class/school closures due to events, strikes, etc.)

• Extended cancellation periods:

Where 50% or more of permanent sessions are cancelled for 2 or more consecutive weeks, at our sole discretion permanent places may be revoked and all future sessions cancelled.

• Cancellations due to overdue account:

Where sessions are cancelled by us due to non-payment of fees, our cancellation policy will still apply (taking the point we notify of cancellation/suspension as the cancellation date).

Right to Refuse Bookings

Kid’s Space Limited reserves the right to refuse or cancel any booking if we deem it necessary for safety reasons, well-being of staff/other children, or the effective operation of the club. Reasons for refusal may include, but are not limited to, the following:

• Failure to adhere to club policies and procedures.
• Repeated late payment or failure to pay for previous bookings.
• Behavioural issues (from parents/carers or children) that pose a risk to staff, other children, or the smooth and efficient running of the club.
• Providing false or misleading information during the booking process or failing to communicate relevant information to us.
• Any other reasonable grounds that could impact the safe and efficient operation of the club.

All decisions will be made at the discretion of the management team and will be final.

Fee structure

In term fees are currently charged at £5.50/morning session and £12.00/afternoon session (or £17.00/day for a combined morning and afternoon session).

Holiday club is charged at £16.75/half day (or £32.50/day for a combined morning and afternoon session).

The Club recognises that childcare can be costly, so we encourage eligible parents or carers to claim the childcare element of the Working Tax Credit/Universal Credit. We are also registered to accept childcare vouchers, please enquire for further details.

• Fees are payable either weekly, monthly or half termly in advance.
• Fees can be paid by electronic bank transfer or with childcare vouchers.
• There is a charge of £5.00/week for late payment.
• Fees are charged for booked sessions whether the child attends or not, unless cancelled in accordance with our cancellation procedure detailed above.

Payment of fees

Fees are reviewed annually in April. The Club will consider requests for variation to payment terms on an individual basis, requests should be made to the manager. If fees are not paid, the Club will write/email the parent or carer, requesting payment. If the parents or carers are having difficulty making the payment on time we recommend that they arrange a meeting with the manager as soon as possible.

Where there is no explanation for repeated late payment, the manager will contact the parents or carers to discuss payment options. The manager may issue a formal warning to the parent or carer informing them that continued late payment will result in their child’s place at the Club being withdrawn.

If the fees remain unpaid after all the above options have been explored, the Club may have to cancel the child’s place.

Review Statement

This policy is brought to the attention of staff, children and parents and is formally reviewed, along with the principles that underpin it, generally every two years. The policy is monitored less formally via staff meetings.

Signed:

Date:

01 September 2024

This document will be reviewed after:        31 August 2026

This policy document is written in accordance with the Statutory Framework for the Early Years Foundation Stage (2024): safeguarding and Welfare requirements: Information and records [3.77-3.81].