Frequently Asked Questions
Our standard day in Giggles Early Years is 7:45am-6pm. Our afterschool’s operate from 2pm to 6pm term time and full days during non term time.
Giggles follows the minimum standard guideline for daycare providers and therefore our ratios are as follows:
- Under 2’s the ratio is 1:3, for every 3 children there is 1 member of staff
- 2-3 years old the ratio is 1:5,
- 3-4 year old is 1:8 ratio and
- school age children 1:10
Giggles Early Years pride ourselves on the fresh, healthy food prepared onsite each day by our fully trained cook. We select the best produce and freshest ingredients in line with seasonal changes to ensure your child receives a varied and balanced diet.
Unfortunately, due to allergens and cross contamination policies, we do not allow external food to be brought in, this enables us to ensure that health and safety regulations are being adhered to.
We follow the nutrition matters in early years guidelines. To ensure our in-house cook creates a well-balanced menu with the correct amount of food for each child’s age, stage and development. We accommodate all diets & special requirements, offering a balanced mix of plant-based and sustainably sourced meat & fish dishes.
World Health Organisation recommends children under 4 require 3 hours physical play and movement throughout their day, to ensure their healthy growth and development. Therefore, we are passionate at ensuring we provide varied opportunities to engage in physical play both inside and out. We ensure the children play outside at least twice a day; this is more frequent during the summer months.
Starting any early year’s setting is an emotional time, for you as well as for your child. So, we’ll do everything we can to help your child settle in and give you peace of mind.
The settling in process begins with a virtual “meet the parent” session, where you’ll meet your child’s key person online so that they can learn everything about you and your child – particularly the things that might enable them to settle quickly into Giggles
Before your child starts Giggles early years, you’re welcome to come for a minimum of two free settling in visits at the nursery. The first session is 2 hr and you’ll attend with your child to settle them in to the nursery environment. The second is 3 hours and you’ll be able to leave and get a coffee as your child is settling– they’ll spend the rest of their settle in the room getting to know their key person. The final settle is over a mealtime.
We’ll also assign your child a Key Person. Their Key Person is your dedicated contact while your child is at nursery, and they’ll keep you updated on their progress each day. If there are any problems at all, they’ll let you know.
All of our staff receive training in child development to ensure they are fully capable and confident in observing your child to ensure they are meeting the developmental milestones for their age range. To ensure parents are kept well informed we use an app called Family, which we upload observations regularly, along with pictures of your child and what they’ve been up to at Giggles, plus news and announcements
Each day You’ll be greeted by either your key person or one of your child’s key team in the morning and at the end of each day. This is a great opportunity to hear meaningful events in your child’s day. Our nursery app, Famly, enables you to login remotely and check out your child’s learning journey, to see the different experiences your child is having and the next steps they are working towards. We’ll also post regular pictures of your child’s engagement in activities.
We have an annual parents evening. These are a more formal way for parents to receive updates about children’s progress and time at Giggles. We always invite a guest speaker to deliver a workshop to support parents.
Once you have received your offer letter we ask that you agree to that letter and these terms and conditions by e-signing the parent/guardian agreement.
When you are offered a place, you will be given two days to accept the place; otherwise, we will offer it to the next person on our waiting list.
Upon receipt of your signed parent/guardian agreement, we will confirm if your sessions are secure. At this point, a contract will be formed between us and you and you will be committed to the terms of the offer letter, the parent/guardian agreement, these terms and conditions and the policy documents on our website.
We will be in touch 8 weeks ahead of your child’s start date to set up a virtual chat and to schedule settling in days, which usually take place over 2 sessions in the week prior to the agreed start date.
We require 2 months notice, which means that your contract with Giggles will not end until 2 calendar months after the day on which you contact us to cancel your child’s place. You will be responsible for paying the fees during that time. All outstanding fees remaining will need to be paid in full.
All of our settings have been fitted with state of the art CCTV technology to keep our children and team safe. Due to data protection this is only available to management.
We always signpost our parent to Employers for Childcare to get advice relating to financial assistance with childcare costs. They provide a free helpline. Please contact them on 0800 028 3008 or Tax-Free Childcare FAQs – Employers For Childcare
Any fee increases will be communicated 2 months before affecting your invoice and are based on the setting’s running costs.
There is a discount if you have two or more siblings in Giggles at the same time. The discount is applied to the child with fewer sessions, or to the oldest child if an equal number of sessions. This discount applies for as long as you have two or more children with us.
Yes, unfortunately, there can be no refunds for sickness or holidays or occasional days off. Our fees are calculated based on the weeks of the year and averaged into 12 monthly payments.