Contracts, Payments, Policies and Procedures

Contracts and payments

You will need to sign a contract and agree on payments before your child starts. Take time to make sure that you have considered and spoken with the childcare provider about:
Payments
  • Registration fee
  • Deposit
  • How often and how much?
Are you getting 15 or 30 hours funded childcare? The funded hours are not intended to cover the costs of:
  • meals,
  • consumables (such as nappies or sun cream),
  • extra hours
  • activities (such as outings)
Providers can charge a fee for these. Check with the provider if there are any charges before your child starts.

Are you going to pay using Tax Free Childcare? Your childcare provider will need to be signed-up to take these too.

What do you need to provide or pay for:
  • Outings
  • Nappies
  • Baby wipes
  • Sun cream
  • Snacks
  • Meals
  • Drinks
  • Cup
  • Change of clothing
Holidays and sickness
  • What days, sessions, hours will your child be attending?
  • What if you are late picking up your child?
  • What if your child is unable to attend due to sickness?
  • Are the hours flexible to accommodate any hospital or therapist appointments?
  •  If your child is attending a childminder what happens if the childminder is ill?
Giving notice 
How much notice do you or the childcare provider have to give. Does this need to be in writing? 

Policies and procedures

Policies and procedures
A Childcare providers policies and procedures will cover all aspects of the care your child will receive. They cover the staff and your responsibilities. These should be available for you to read, so do ask for a copy. Policies and procedures cover things such as:
  • Admissions
  • Fees
  • Equal opportunities
  • Special educational needs and disability
  • Safeguarding and child protection
  • Confidentiality
  • Risk Assessments
  • Accident, injury and first aid
  • Health and safety
  • Medication
  • Emergency
  • Healthy eating
  • Behaviour, biting and bullying
  • Toilet training
  • E-safety
  • Mobile phone
  • Complaints