Terms and Conditions for Giggles and More Breakfast and Afterschool Club

Terms and Conditions for Giggles and More Breakfast and Afterschool Club

What do these terms and conditions cover?

These are the terms and conditions on which we provide educational services.

Why you should read them:

Please read these terms carefully before you accept our offer of a place at the school/childcare centre for your child. These terms will tell you who we are and how on what basis the school/centre will provide educational services.

The standard terms and conditions:

 If a place is offered, parents or anyone else with parental responsibility will be required ( as a condition of accepting the place) to accept and be bound by Giggles and More Breakfast and Afterschool Club’s Terms and Conditions.

Complaints Policy

At Giggles and More Ltd, we aim to collaborate with parents to deliver high-quality childcare services for everyone. We may fall short of this goal for any reason, and we would like to be informed o amend our practices for the future. Our complaints policy is always displayed on the premises. Records of all complaints are kept for at least three years. A summary of complaints is available for parents on request.

Requirement to Record Complaints

As required by the care Inspectorate, all complaints must be logged, including the outcome and any action taken. We maintain a Complaints Logbook for this purpose, ensuring clarity and responsibility in our process.

Procedure for raising Concerns.

  1. Informal Resolution

We encourage parents and carers to address any concerns, directly with the Club Manager at the earliest opportunity. Many issues can be addressed gradually through open dialogue, ensuring a positive experience for both the child and the family.

  1. Formal Complaint

If a concern cannot be resolved informally, or if you prefer to formalize the process, please submit a written complaint.

Steps in the formal complaint process

  • Submission

You can address your written complaint to the Club Manager.

  • Acknowledgement

We will acknowledge the receipt within 5 working days,

  • Investigation

A thorough investigation will be conducted, ensuring all relevant information is considered.

  • Response

A formal response detailing findings and any actions taken will be placed within 20 working days.

If the Club manager is the subject of the complaint, please direct your written concerns to the Director of Giggles and More Ltd.

Escalation to the care Inspectorate

We strive to address all complaints internally, however if you remain dissatisfied or prefer to raise the matter externally, you can contact the Care Inspectorate. This independent body regulates care services in Scotland and can investigate concerns related to the quality of care.

Care Inspectorate Contact Information

Important: You are not required to provide your name while making a complaint to the care Inspectorate, and they will not share your details with the care service without your consent. For more information, visit their complaints page.

Cancellation Policy

At Giggles and More Ltd Breakfast and Afterschool Club, your payment secures a reserved space for your child. Due to the nature of our program, all payments are non-refundable if a parent chooses to cancel. This policy is in place because we allocate resources, staffing, and materials based on the number of registered children.

Key Points

  • Payments cover the reserved space, not attendance
  • No refunds or credits will be issued for cancellations
  • If the club must cancel a session due to unforeseen circumstances, a make-up session or credit may be offered at our discretion

We appreciate your understanding and commitment to ensure a fun and structured experience for all children enrolled!

Child Protection and Safeguarding Policy

We are unwavering in our commitment to protect the welfare of all children attending our Breakfast and Afterschool Club. Recognising our pivotal role in child protection, we adhere strictly to the Edinburgh and the Lothians multi-agency Child Protection Procedures to ensure a safe and nurturing environment for all the children we care for.

Our Responsibilities

All staff members have a duty to protect children by

  • Recognising the signs of abuse and respect
  • Responding promptly and appropriately to concerns
  • Recording concerns accurately and confidentially
  • Responding concerns to the appropriate authorities.

Staff members receive regular training on child protection procedures to ensure they can identify and respond effectively to potential concerns.

Recognising signs of abuse

Abuse can take many forms, and staff must be vigilant in identifying any concerns. Some potential indicators of abuse include

Physical Abuse

  • Unexplained bruises, burns, or fractures
  • Fear of physical contact or flinching when approached
  • Wearing inappropriate clothing to cover injuries

Emotional Abuse

  • Low self-esteem or lack of confidence
  • Excess fearfulness or anxious behavior
  • Sudden speech disorders or developmental delays

Sexual Abuse

  • Knowledge of inappropriate sexual behavior beyond their age
  • Pain, bruising, bleeding in the genital area
  • Sudden changes in mood or behavior

Neglect

  • Poor hygiene or constantly dirty clothing
  • Frequent hunger or stealing food
  • Regularly lest alone without supervision

While these signs do not confirm abuse, they must be taken seriously and reported appropriately.

Logging and Reporting Concerns

If a staff member has any concerns about a child’s welfare, they must follow these steps.

  1. Documenting the concern– Staff must log details, in the Safeguarding Concern Logbook on the same day. This must include
  • The child’s name and date of birth.
  • Date and time of the observation.
  • A clear and factual description of concerns (visible injuries, behavior changes, disclosures).
  • Any explanation provided by the child or parent.
  1. Report to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL)– The DSL will review information and determine the next steps. If the concern is serious, it will be escalated immediately.
  2. Referral to Authorities– If there are concerns that a child is at a risk of harm, the DSL will refer the case to the appropriate child services. Parents will only be informed if it is safe to do so.
  3. Confidentiality and Secure Storage– All records are stored securely and confidentially and shared only with authorized personnel.

Handling allegations against staff

We take all allegations against staff members seriously. If an allegation is made, we follow the West Lothian Council Child Protection Procedures to ensure transparency and fairness. This process is as follows.

  1. Immediate Reporting– Any concerns or allegations about a staff member’s conduct are reported to the Designated Safeguarding Lead (DSL) immediately.
  2. Investigation– The DSL determines the necessary course of action in consultation with relevant child protection agencies.
  3. Referral to Authorities– If there is a serious safeguarding concern, we will refer the matter to the West Lothian Social Work Child Protection Team or the police for further investigation.
  4. Suspension, if needed– To ensure the safety of the children, the staff member in question may be suspended pending investigation.
  5. Confidentiality– All concerns and investigations will be handled with strict confidentiality to protect both the child and the staff member involved.

We are committed to ensure that the staff understands the policies around allegations and they feel supported throughout the process.

Promoting Staff Awareness and Training

To maintain a high level of safeguarding awareness, we provide.

  • Annual safeguarding training for all staff.
  • Refresher courses every two years to update knowledge on child protection procedures.
  • Regular team discussions on the best safeguarding practices
  • Clear guidance on their role in protecting children and the importance of reporting concerns

Childcare Service

By prioritising staff education, we ensure that all employees remain confident in recognising, responding, recording, and reporting safeguarding concerns effectively.

Key contacts for Child Protection in West Lothain

Parental Involvement

We believe in open communication with parents, however, the safety of the child is our main priority. If informing the parents may put the child at further risk, we will seek advice before involving the.

Review and Training

The policy is reviewed annually, and all staff members receive ongoing training on child protection procedures.

Infection Control/ Hygiene Policy

At Giggles and More Ltd, we are committed to maintaining high standards of hygiene and infection control to protect the health and wellbeing of the children, staff, and families in our Breakfast and Afterschool Club. We follow procedures based on guidance from Public health Scotland and the Health Protection in Children and Young People Settings document, alongside Health and Social Care Standards of Scotland.

 Hand Hygiene

Good Repository hygiene is promoted at all times. Children are taught to cover their mouth and nose with a tissue or their elbow when coughing or sneezing, and to the dispose of tissues in the bin straight away. Handwashing is encouraged immediately afterwards, and staff regularly remind children about these habits.

Illness and Exclusion

If a child becomes unwell while at the club, we contact parents or carers immediately. The child will be cared for separately from the group where possible until they are collected. Parents are asked not to send their child to the club if they are unwell, and to abide by the latest Public Health Scotland exclusion guidance for specific illness. In the event of an outbreak of a contagious illness, we will notify the appropriate public health authorities as required.

Cleaning and Disinfection

We follow a regular cleaning schedule that includes daily cleaning of toys, equipment, surfaces, and frequently touched areas, such as door handles. Disinfectant and antibacterial products are used appropriately, and staff members are trained in safe cleaning procedures, including the use of personal protective equipment if needed, for example when dealing with bodily fluids.

Food Safety and Hygiene

All food safety procedures are followed in line with Food Statement Scotland guidance. We ensure that food is stored at the correct temperature, prepared hygienically, and served in a clean environment. Staff members who handle or serve food receive regular food hygiene training, and children are always supervised during meals and snack times to ensure their safety and wellbeing.

Working with Parents

We ask parents and carers to keep us updated, if their child has been unwell and to share any information that helps us support the health and hygiene needs of the child. We believe open communication help us maintain a clean and healthy environment for everyone at the club.