|
|
||||
|
Must my child be toilet trained to come to The Alphabet Train?
What should I do if my child cries when I bring him/her to school?
I have forgotten some of the things I was told when I made my initial visit...what should I tell my child?
When will my child become eligible for the Nursery Grant, and what do I have to do to get it?
I go to work and really need to drop my child off a bit earlier in the mornings. Is this possible?
Must my child attend the afternoon Playgroup before starting in the mornings?
Can I pay the fees by installments rather than all in one go at the beginning of term?
My question hasn't been answered - what should I do?
Q: Must my child be toilet trained to come to The Alphabet Train? A: Not at all. All we ask is that you keep a bag at school stocked with a change of clothes for when "accidents" happen. 
Q: What should I do if my child cries when I bring him/her to school? A: Firstly, don't worry! Some children cry initially when their parent says goodbye, but rest assured that the vast majority have stopped before you have left the car park! Others, who come for the first few times quite happily will then decide to have a tearful moment or two. Either reaction is quite normal, and parents should feel reassured that almost every child absolutely loves coming to nursery after a few weeks settling in time. 
Q: I have forgotten some of the things I was told when I made my initial visit...what should I tell my child? A: Approximately half a term before your child is due to start you will recieve a letter requesting confirmation that you still require the place. On reciept of this confirmation you will be sent all the information you could possibly need, in the form of an Information for Parents booklet, which you can keep for reference.
Q: When will my child become eligible for the Nursery Grant, and what do I have to do to get it? A: You don't have to do anything. We claim the Grant as soon as your child becomes eligible, for the number of sessions you choose. At present, the grant is paid from the start of the term after your child turns 3. For example, for a 3rd birthday on 10th June a child will recieve the grant from the start of the Autumn term (September), from the Summer term (April) for a 4th January birthday and from the Spring term (January) for a 20th October birthday. The cut off dates are 31st December, 31st March and 31st August.
Q: I go to work and really need to drop my child off a bit earlier in the mornings. Is this possible? A: Yes. We try to be as flexible as possible. Currently we take children from 8:45am and keep some for lunchtime. Obviously we have to charge for this service, but please ask if you have a specific need and we will try to meet it, whether it be a one-off or a regular thing.
Q: Must my child attend the afternoon Playgroup before starting in the mornings? A: No, it's not compulsory, but we do find it helps the children settle in better. The Playgroup is for children aged between two and three years old and is a nice small group (eight to twelve children) with two to three staff. This make the sessions very cosy and relaxed, which is far less intimidating to a shy, uncertain little newcomer than to be thrust straight into the hustle and bustle of a busy morning session with fifteen to twenty children and three to four staff. We keep to the same basic routine in both the Playgroup and the mornings, so by the time your child is old enough for the mornings the transition is very easy, since everything is already very familiar. From purely a business point of view, children already in the Playgroup are given priority for morning places, so there is a chance that if you want your child to go straight into the mornings there might not be a place.
Q: Can I pay the fees by installments rather than all in one go at the beginning of term? A: Yes. You may pay in three equal installments through the term, for which you will be given dates. Just request this alternative when your child is due to start.
Q: My question hasn't been answered - what should I do? A: It is quick and simple to send us an e-mail through the website, just use the 'Contact Us' option at the top of this page. We always read and reply to all the messages we are sent (where necessary), and try to do so within a few days at most.
|