For opening times, please refer to the site pages or for term dates please refer to our term dates page.

Additional sessions may be available upon request in some of our settings, please contact the setting manager for more information.

YES! We offer verbal updates, share your child’s profile in pre-school and will always let you know if something is not as it should be.  Pre-school parents are also invited to meet with their child’s keyperson at 2 points during the academic year to discuss progress but other appointments can be made by request.  

For many children, starting a pre-school is their first step towards independence and there are important lessons to be learned:

That it is possible to feel safe and happy while parents are not present for a while.

That other adults can be a source of authority, help and friendship.

That new play and learning experiences can be enjoyed in the group and shared with parents afterwards.

To give your child a chance to learn these positive lessons and, by working with our staff to make the settling-in period as easy as possible, here are some tips to help you:

Avoid starting at a time when there has been a disruption of routine at home. A new baby, a spell in hospital or even a long holiday can require a settling-down period before your child tackles anything new.

Before starting Pre-school talk to your children positively about the good things that will happen there.

Be prepared to stay with your child in the group until he/she is ready to be left alone. All children are different and this might take anything from a few minutes to a few months. It is a good idea to stay for the first session. It gives you an idea of what goes on and enables you to talk about it afterwards with your child.

When your child is ready to be left, say goodbye. Do not be tempted to creep away while the child is occupied. This might seem easier at the time but it can cause the child to feel let down and mistrustful.

It is easier for a child to accept a parent’s departure if there is a clear explanation of what is going to happen. “I am going to the shops and I’ll be back after story time” can help the child envisage where you will be and understand the time-scale involved.

For children who find separation difficult, it might help to have a brief time apart at first – separation  time can then be extended gradually. During this time it is particularly important to be punctual. If a parent is not there at the time that he or she promised, the child’s newly built up confidence could be upset.

DON’T WORRY! If your child is very distressed, you can be assured that we will ring you and discuss the best course of action to take.

Of course! Please bear in mind that we will always ring you if your child is unsettled or unwell. For any other concerns, we advise you talk to your child’s keyperson or to the setting manager.  Please also remember that each phone call takes a member of staff away from direct contact with the children in attendance therefore you may wish to make an appointment to speak to someone who knows your child.  General enquiries are directed through to our office to enable staff to remain with the children as much as possible.

Only the named person(s) on the registration form can collect your child. For safeguarding reasons, we may ask any adult who collects a child for identification and to sign our collection book.

Pre-School fees are payable half-termly in advance, an invoice will be sent out to you for each half-term with payment options listed on the reverse, within the first two weeks of the beginning of each half-term.

Hardys Den fees are invoiced in arrears and are sent out within the first week of the following month.

All payments should be made directly by bank transfer unless payment by cash or cheque is agreed with us in advance.

For more information please refer to our fees procedure.

Free funding entitlement allows you to take up to 15 hours of childcare per week over 38 weeks each year.  This entitlement takes effect from the term after a child’s 3rd birthday for all children in North East Lincolnshire.

Some 2 year olds may also be eligible for free places if the criteria is met and funding is applied for through Families First tel: 0800 18 303 17 or email fis@nelincs.gov.uk 

There are set cut-off dates for eligibility throughout the year which are: 31st December for funding in Spring term, 31st March for funding in Summer Term and 31st August for funding in Autumn Term.  These are also the dates we use when our different fees rates take effect for children who pay for sessions in our pre-schools.

Yes- fees continue to be payable if a child is absent as fees are charged for the allocated place, and not child’s actual attendance.

Please ring us to let us know as soon as you are able to.

Late collection of your child will result in a late collection fee which is charged at £10 per child per 15 minutes.

We ask that you notify us of all absences, however short.

We recognise that small children are perhaps more prone to illness as they begin to socialise in a larger peer group and it is therefore inevitable that illness may occur.

We have strict procedures for cleaning and hygiene within our settings which limit the risk of cross infection however, we also highlight that we have a policy of a minimum of 48 hours absence from the last bout of sickness or diarrhoea should this occur for staff or children.

Furthermore, we ask that for holiday or sickness absences of 2 weeks or more, we remain informed so your child’s place may be kept open. 

Cleethorpes Childcare provide an inclusive environment for all children to participate in learning and socialisation. We try to build a complete picture of your child’s needs and interests and to incorporate these into each session. We therefore ask that the registration forms reflect up-to-date information, notifying us of any individual requirements of your child. We also welcome any information which may support your child’s needs, through your child’s keyperson or via setting SENCo.

If your child has any allergies or is taking medication we ask that you inform the Setting Manager/ Co-ordinator or Keyperson. A medication record book is kept to record all medicines administered whilst your child attends and requires a signature from staff and parents if medication has been administered before attending and/or during pre-school. If your child requires long-term medication, the SENCo or Keyperson may complete a Care Plan with you to allow us to provide consistency of care and to create the greatest opportunities to support inclusion of your child within all setting activities.

Pre-schoolers:

In order to feel free to explore and experiment with all kinds of materials, including messy ones, it is best to send children dressed in clothes that are easily washable and not too new. Due to the wide range of activities we provide indoors and outdoors, we encourage all children to participate safely and ask for your support with your child’s clothing. We therefore ask that you send your child in fully supported shoes (no Crocs or flip-flops please) so they may not be restricted in participating in any activity. In light of current trends, we also ask that loose jewellery and scarves are not worn during pre-school sessions though in cold weather scarves will be permitted for outdoor play. We play outdoors in all weathers and also ask that you ensure children are provided with wellies & waterproofs/sunhats and cream (all labelled!) throughout the year.

In response to requests from parents for practical clothing, we are able to offer sweatshirts/cardigans, and polo shirts with the Cleethorpes Childcare logo for sale in addition to those included within your registration fee, please ask for an order form or order at registration point. It is also good for children to practice the skills which will make them independent; therefore simple clothing which they can handle themselves will enable them to go to the toilet when they want to. Don’t worry if your child has difficulty with toilet training or is still in nappies – just let us know so we can work with you in supporting their needs. We ask that children bring a coat with them to each session, as we like to take them for outdoor play as much as possible. We try to encourage each child to put on and take off outdoor clothes without being too dependent on other people’s help and this may be something you can practice at home. During the warmer weather, we like to encourage sun safety and ask that your child has sun cream applied before arrival at pre-school and also that they wear a hat for all outdoor play. If your child attends for a full day, sun-cream can be sent in for staff to help your child to re-apply. This must be fully labelled with your child’s name.

Please ensure that all removable clothing, coats and accessories are labelled with your child’s name so they can be identified easily.