Terms and Conditions for Booking School-Aged Childcare
Welcome to our school-aged childcare service. Please review the following terms and conditions carefully, as they outline the policies governing your booking and use of our services. By enrolling your child in our programme, you agree to adhere to these terms.
1. General Consent and Responsibilities
1.1 Consent to Attend I consent for my child to attend the school-aged childcare service. I understand that the service operates under policies and procedures, which are available for reference at the service, and that there are expectations and obligations relating to myself, my child, and the service. I agree to abide by these policies and the Parent Handbook.
1.2 Photography I consent to photos of my child (headshots) being taken for identification and recognition purposes by staff.
1.3 Snacks and Nutrition My child will be provided with a healthy and nutritious snack and drink (water) unless otherwise requested. I may be required to provide additional food during holiday programmes, early closure days, or excursions. No snacks are provided between 2:00PM and 3:00PM during term time.
2. Booking Policy
2.1 Ongoing Booking Commitment Once you book your child into our school-aged childcare programme, the booking will remain active until the end of the National Childcare Scheme (NCS) calendar, which concludes in August.
2.2 Selection of Days and Times Parents/guardians must select the specific days and times their child will attend. This schedule must be provided upon registration and can be updated with notice, subject to availability.
2.3 Ad Hoc Days Ad hoc days may be booked at any time, subject to availability. These days can be conveniently booked online through our parent portal which is available on our website or by contacting the office.
2.4 Changes to Bookings Cancellations require four weeks' written notice. Changes to bookings require one week’s notice – verbal or written. Only two changes are permitted per academic year. Regular fees will apply in the absence of proper notice.
2.5 Exclusions No cancellations are permitted in September or June. Bookings commence on the first day of the school year in August/September.
3. Billing Policy
3.1 Term Time Billing For families who only use our service during term time, billing will occur solely for term time periods. No charges will apply during school holidays unless additional childcare is booked.
3.2 Holiday Periods For families requiring holiday childcare, additional charges will apply based on the days and times booked.
3.3 Ad Hoc Charges Ad hoc days will be billed separately.
3.4 Payment Terms Invoices are released weekly and are viewable through your parent profile. Payment is required weekly for all booked sessions, whether your child attends, unless other arrangements are made with the administration team, or a relevant policy is exercised.
3.5 Payment Methods Payments can be made online, via direct debit, or in cash at our office located at Millbrae, Carndonagh, F93 AY6D.
4. National Childcare Scheme (NCS)
4.1 CHICK Code To avail of NCS subsidies from the first week of attendance, parents must complete the relevant CHICK data on the childcare portal at least one week before their child begins. Failure to do so will result in being charged full fees.
4.2 Renewals and Updates It is the parent/guardian’s responsibility to renew CHICK Codes and communicate any updates or changes. Failure to do so will result in being charged full fees.
5. Attendance and Absence
5.1 Regular Attendance A child must attend on the days and times specified in their booking. Regular attendance helps maintain consistency and ensures adequate staffing.
5.2 Notification of Absence If your child will not attend on a booked day, please notify us before the session starts. Refunds or credits are not provided for missed days.
5.3 Late Collection If unforeseen circumstances delay collection, parents must contact the programme coordinator as soon as possible. Late collection fees may apply for pick-ups after 6:00 PM during term time or 5:30 PM during holiday programmes.
5.4 Planned Closures The service will close for two weeks over Christmas to align with school holidays, Good Friday, and all Bank Holidays except the August Bank Holiday.
6. Policies and Procedures
6.1 Health and Safety Parents/guardians must inform the service of any medical conditions, allergies, or special requirements upon registration. Qualified first aiders will treat any accidents or incidents, and parents will be informed promptly.
6.2 Additional Needs Support For a child with additional needs that requires a Special Needs Assistant (SNA), we can only provide after-school care if appropriate staffing is available. Parents/guardians are encouraged to discuss their child’s specific needs with us during registration.
6.3 Behaviour Expectations Aggressive, undermining, threatening, or abusive behaviour toward staff will not be tolerated and may result in a request to remove your child from the service.
6.4 Personal Belongings While every effort is made to ensure the safety of personal items, the service is not responsible for loss or damage to your child’s property.
7. Communication
7.1 Parent Profile Updates Parents/guardians must keep their parent profile up to date with any changes to contact details, authorised collection persons, or medical information.
7.2 Contacting the Service For enquiries, schedule adjustments, or booking ad hoc days, please contact us at:
7.3 Service Updates and New Classes Spraoi agus Spórt may contact parents/guardians regarding updates, new classes, or other information via SMS or email. By enrolling, you consent to receive such communications.
8. Termination of Services
The service reserves the right to terminate bookings due to non-payment, repeated late collection, or breaches of our policies. Written notice will be provided in such cases.
Acknowledgement and Agreement
By enrolling your child, you acknowledge that you have read and understood these terms and conditions and agree to abide by them. Thank you for choosing our childcare service. We look forward to supporting your family and providing a safe, enriching environment for your child.