What you need
to know ......
Securing a Place
If you work either full-time or part-time or are in training or further education, then you are eligible for a place providing we have spaces available. We offer the following two placements:
Permanent Places - where child is allocated the same days every week/month & is a guaranteed place. A Deposit Payment is required to secure a permanent place.
Occasional Places - where dates are requested as and when required by parents but place is not guaranteed. A Deposit payment does not apply to Occasional Places.
For more details on the places we offer please see our Terms & Conditions at the bottom of this page.
If you wish a Permanent Term Time place or wish to register as an Occasional User then your child should attend one of the schools where we operate our Club. Please note that we do not pickup from any other schools, but parents may provide their own transport (i.e. taxi) to get their children to the care facility. During holidays and in-service days your child can come from any area and be looked after at any facility open which is most convenient for you. Please request a Term TIme Registration Pack if you wish to apply for a Permanent or Occasional User place.
In the event of all places being filled a Waiting List operates with priority given to siblings of those already using the service. Places are only secured once the Registration Form, Booking Form, Contract and Deposit Payment Form and Fee are returned & a start date has been confirmed verbally or in writing by Head Office. Application Packs are available by telephoning our Head Office on 01324 671344 or you may wish to use our email address (we will reply attaching the relevant Registration Pack). Information can be found on our Contact Us page.
Holiday Clubs
Please request a Holiday Registration Pack if you wish to apply for Holiday Care only. Holiday Booking Forms will be posted to you in advance of each upcoming holiday. When returning your Holiday Booking Form please note that advance Payment must be attached. Unfortunately no refunds will be made after the closing date. You can save up for holidays by paying to your Account throughout the year. If you are registering for Holiday Care only, no deposit is required. If you are registered for either a Permanent or Occasional Place then Holiday Booking Forms will be available from your Site leading up to each Holiday and again advance payment must be attached to your Holiday Booking Form.
Deposit To secure a permanent place at First 4 Kids it is necessary to pay a Deposit for each child. The relevant Deposit cost depends on how many days you are allocated. The Deposit will be refunded to you (within 14 days) once you have terminated your child's place and they will no longer attend First 4 Kids. Should you request additional days to be allocated, the relevant Deposit will also be payable. The Deposit Fees are as follows:
No. of Days Per Week / Cost per Child
5 days = £100.00
4 days = £80.00
3 days = £60.00
2 days = £40.00
1 day = £20.00
Student Place (set charge for each place) = £50.00
(Charges are per day whether you use a.m. or p.m. sessions or both)
Students
A limited number of spaces at each Site are available to Students which are allocated on a first come first served basis. Student Spaces are charged at a higher rate during term time. A Refundable £50 Deposit is required if you wish to book a Student Place. For full details please read our Terms & Conditions.
Funding
The Working for Families Fund is a project which brings together childcare, advice, guidance, training and employment for parents who are currently unemployed or on low income. If you wish further advice please contact:
Working for Families Co-ordinator on freephone 0800 028 0363 or contact your local Jobcentre Plus Advisor
or at the following address:
Employment & Training Unit, Falkirk Council, Municipal Chambers, Bo'ness Road, Grangemouth FK3 8AH
Staffing & Security
All members of staff are either qualified in childcare or working towards a qualification. Between them they have years of experience in looking after children.
All Staff go through rigorous checks before they commence work and in conjunction with various bodies undertake several training courses every year in relation to childcare.
We take the security of your child very seriously. All persons coming into contact with your child have been checked by the Local Authority and through Disclosure Scotland. Each child is issued with a Personal Security Number which must be quoted if anyone else, other than you or your partner, are picking your child up from the Club. All persons sent to pickup children must be over 16 years of age.
Policies & Procedures
There is a Policy Manual available for inspection by any parent/carer who wishes to do so. These policies cover a great many issues and we are required under the terms of Registration to provide these Policies. As a childcare facility we have to be registered with the Local Authority and also with the Scottish Care Commission. The Care Commission carry our regular inspections and a set of Standards have to be met. The Inspection Report is available to read on request.
Invoice & Payment Procedure
The Invoice period for which you will be charged will run from the 15th of the month to the 14th of the next month. All Invoices should be settled by the 1st of the month (or 2nd if the 1st is a Sunday). Invoices must be paid by the due date which is stated on the Invoice. School holidays & In-service days are invoiced separately. You may wish to use online banking, we also offer a Standing Order payment facility or you can pay by cheque or cash at each site or direct to our Main Office.
Parental Involvement
We encourage parents to become involved in the Club in whatever way they wish. You may have a skill you might pass onto the children or the staff, you may be a good fundraiser or you could be a volunteer worker. We always require members to serve on the Parents Advisory Group.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
This service is offered to parents who are :
In employment / In further education or training / Fulfill a need for respite care.
The service offers two types of place:
Permanent Place ~ same days booked every week/month & is a guaranteed place
Please note the following:
Permanent Places
Each child is allocated the same days every week (from one day up to a full week).
Places are allocated on a first come first served basis at time of Registration.
A Waiting List will operate when all places are filled.
Priority will be given to existing service users.
Care cannot be offered to a child absent from school through illness or exclusion.
A Booking Form & Registration Form and Deposit Payment Form must be completed for every child.
Occasional Places
Places are limited & subject to availability.
Places are not guaranteed (there may be dates where we cannot provide care).
Places will be allocated on a first come first served basis & only if available.
Dates requested will be confirmed if available or not available each Thursday the week before care is required (when Registers are prepared).
Care cannot be offered to a child absent from school through illness or exclusion.
A Booking Form & Registration Form must be completed for every child.
One month’s notice must be given on termination/alteration of a
Your child’s place is available for use until the termination date.
A refundable Deposit is payable at the time of allocation of a
Fees are payable one month in advance (Invoice Period: 15th of month to the 14th of following month).
Invoices will be issued on or as near as possible to the 15th of the month.
Payment is due by the 1st or the first school day after that date.
If payment is not forthcoming by the due date and no arrangement to pay has been made with the Manager– childcare will be withdrawn.
Any unpaid debt will be passed to our Debt Collection Agency. Any additional costs this incurs will be the debtor’s liability.
If the child is absent for whatever reason including illness and holidays taken during term time fees are still payable for that period.
If absence is long term (longer than 4 weeks) the place will only continue at the Manager’s discretion.
Fees are still payable for your place when sites are closed due to circumstances outwith our control (i.e. bad weather / industrial action)
Occasional Places – No Deposit Payment is required as places are not guaranteed. Invoices will be issued for dates used within our Invoicing Period. Any dates requested which are confirmed as available by First 4 Kids and then cancelled by the Parent, will still be charged for.
STUDENTS
A limited number of spaces at each Site are available to Students which are allocated on a first come first served basis. Student Spaces are charged at a higher rate during term time. A Refundable £50 Deposit is required if you wish to book a
The Contract you sign on Registration of your child with First 4 Kids is between First 4 Kids and yourself and not your College or University. It is the Students responsibility to ensure arrangements are made with their College/University for payment of their childcare & that the relevant paperwork is completed.
All information about your child can be passed to the appropriate services if the staff are sufficiently concerned about their welfare. We do not have to consult with you. Our child protection policy is available to any parent.
An emergency contact number must be given in the event we cannot contact you in an emergency. Any contact listed must be able to pickup your child when necessary. Any changes to contact information must be notified to the Office as soon as possible.
Every child will be allocated a security number, which you should be familiar with. In the event someone unknown to the staff is collecting your child this number should be quoted.
If your child is going to be absent from school contact should be made with the Office to avoid staff searching for a missing child.
If you are going to be late picking up your child please try to let us know, as staff cover may have to be arranged.
All children should have a pair of soft shoes for gym hall activities. They may be excluded from some activities if they do not have them.
While all reasonable care will be taken staff cannot be held responsible for loss or damage to belongings on the premises.
Children are not allowed to use mobile phones at the Club, any other personal items taken to the club will be the child’s own responsibility. First 4 Kids will accept no responsibility for lost property.