FAQ
Question 1: How do I get in touch with Dolphins?
You can contact us either via email using the contact us section of this website. You could telephone us – our dedicated number at the Pavilion is (01273) 500513. Please use this number if you need to speak with us while your child is in session / to inform us if your child will be absent due to illness (our preference is for you to use Studybugs). Please bear in mind that it is not always possible for us to answer the phone during sessions (messages can be left out of hours) as we prioritise the needs of children attending the setting. Alternatively, you could visit us by dropping in to see us at our setting at the Pavilion in the Nevill Recreation Ground, (off Eridge Road), HOVE, BN3 7QD. You can also send us a letter – the mailing address is 34 Welbeck Avenue, HOVE BN3 4JN (we are unable to receive post at the Pavilion).
Question 2: How does my child obtain a place at Dolphins?
Places at Dolphins are highly sought-after. Places generally fill up rapidly. We strongly advise parents to visit the Dolphins website and complete the online Application Form. There is a non-refundable registration fee payable to secure a place. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept enrolment in person, by post or over the telephone.
Question 3: What clothing should my child wear to Dolphins?
In the course of their “messy play” and developing independence in using the toilet, Dolphins Pre-school children should not be worried about spoiling their clothes. We have a uniform of a fleece and T-shirt bearing the Dolphins Pre-school logo which children are expected to wear. Trousers, skirts and other clothing should be simple and without elaborate fastenings such as braces or zips. Please avoid sending girls to school wearing long skirts as they get caught up in the bikes and are not suitable for independence at toilet time. Open-toed sandals are not appropriate footwear for pre-school and please avoid shoes with laces unless your child can tie them independently. All footwear should be suitable for climbing, running, skipping, cycling etc. To enable them to make the most of their outdoor play, children should bring a warm jacket and waterproof clothes, including wellingtons, every day. Crocs are useful Summer footwear, especially for water play. Please mark all removable garments, footwear and sun hats with your child’s name. Every Dolphins Pre-school child is given two laminated name-tags, one for self-registration and the other to identify items on your child’s cloakroom peg.
Question 4: What happens if my child is still in nappies?
Upon arrival at Dolphins Pre-school children should be clean and dry. In the event of any “little accidents” during the course of a session, we will change the child’s clothing, as required. Depending on the toilet training status of your child, you should provide a change of clothes in a named bag to be left in the cloakroom. If your child is still in nappies, you must provide spare nappies, wipes and nappy sacks in a named bag to enable us to change them when necessary.
Question 5: What arrangements are made for Food and Drink?
Snacks are taken during free-flow snack time (mid morning) with adult supervision. Parents are asked to bring a suitable healthy snack in a labelled container taking account of any special dietary needs. Please avoid cartons or pouches of juice as these are inevitably squirted around and any little choking hazard “tops” must be removed at home. Children attending all-day and afternoon sessions should bring their own lunch in a named lunchbox. We are unable to refrigerate the children’s lunch so please include an ice-pack in the container to ensure that perishable food remains fresh. If parents/carers wish to provide a hot meal for their child to eat at lunch time we recommend purchasing a food flask which keeps food hot for hours. As part of Dolphin’s policy on healthy eating, we do not allow chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks in lunchboxes. Whole grapes, olives, cherry tomatoes, blueberries etc. present a choking hazard for young children. If you include them in your child’s lunchbox then please ensure that you cut them up length ways. Chewing gum is also a choking hazard for young children and is not allowed at Dolphins. Children are entitled to one-third of a pint of milk a day and this is offered at one of their sessions. Water is available and provided as necessary. All children should also bring a flask/drinking bottle (clearly labelled with your child’s name) of clean drinking water every day.
Question 6: What happens if my child is unwell?
Generally, children who are not feeling well should not attend Dolphins and you should notify us without delay via our dedicated system to let us know if your child will not be attending. Children should not attend Dolphins if they have a condition which has necessitated the administration of Calpol/Nurofen or similar medicines as this masks the symptoms and the child may be infectious. Children who are suffering from certain conditions, including those who have had a bout of sickness/diarrhoea, should not return to Dolphins until 48 hours after their condition has cleared-up. If your child has an infectious disease should notify us as soon as possible so that we may alert other parents, as necessary. In event of your child becoming infested with head-lice, this condition must be treated before the child returns to pre-school. Parents who ask Dolphins staff to administer prescribed medicine (or in some cases over-the-counter medication) to their children must complete our Instruction to Administer Medicine Form. Staff are trained in Paediatric First Aid and in the event of your child becoming unwell while at Dolphins we will use our judgement to phone you to come and take your child home or we will comfort your child until you arrive at the end of the session. In a medical emergency, we would of course telephone for an ambulance.
Question 7: What happens if my child is absent from Dolphins?
If you plan to go on holiday during term time then please notify us without delay as this information has to be recorded. If your child is unwell or will be absent for any other reason than please contact us to let us know as all absences have to be explained in the daily register sheet. Please note that Brighton and Hove City Council, who administer Government funding (see question 8 below), reserves the right to reclaim funding from parent(s)/carer(s) in the event of child non-attendance.
Question 8: How do I obtain a free place for my child?
Currently, all parents/carers of three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours a week free childcare from the term after their 3rd birthday. Since September 2017, some three and four year olds have been eligible for upto an extra 15 hours of free childcare per week (making a total entitlement of upto 30 hours a week). The Government's Childcare Choices website sets out all current and upcoming childcare offers and support available to parents/carers, including the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, the 15 and 30 free hours entitlement, tax credits, Universal Credit and childcare vouchers. Parents/carers may apply for a payment plan (usually three instalments per term payable on the first day of each month). Further details are available.
Question 9: We await the views of parents/carers on the the 10th question
You can contact us either via email using the contact us section of this website. You could telephone us – our dedicated number at the Pavilion is (01273) 500513. Please use this number if you need to speak with us while your child is in session / to inform us if your child will be absent due to illness (our preference is for you to use Studybugs). Please bear in mind that it is not always possible for us to answer the phone during sessions (messages can be left out of hours) as we prioritise the needs of children attending the setting. Alternatively, you could visit us by dropping in to see us at our setting at the Pavilion in the Nevill Recreation Ground, (off Eridge Road), HOVE, BN3 7QD. You can also send us a letter – the mailing address is 34 Welbeck Avenue, HOVE BN3 4JN (we are unable to receive post at the Pavilion).
Question 2: How does my child obtain a place at Dolphins?
Places at Dolphins are highly sought-after. Places generally fill up rapidly. We strongly advise parents to visit the Dolphins website and complete the online Application Form. There is a non-refundable registration fee payable to secure a place. In exceptional circumstances, we may accept enrolment in person, by post or over the telephone.
Question 3: What clothing should my child wear to Dolphins?
In the course of their “messy play” and developing independence in using the toilet, Dolphins Pre-school children should not be worried about spoiling their clothes. We have a uniform of a fleece and T-shirt bearing the Dolphins Pre-school logo which children are expected to wear. Trousers, skirts and other clothing should be simple and without elaborate fastenings such as braces or zips. Please avoid sending girls to school wearing long skirts as they get caught up in the bikes and are not suitable for independence at toilet time. Open-toed sandals are not appropriate footwear for pre-school and please avoid shoes with laces unless your child can tie them independently. All footwear should be suitable for climbing, running, skipping, cycling etc. To enable them to make the most of their outdoor play, children should bring a warm jacket and waterproof clothes, including wellingtons, every day. Crocs are useful Summer footwear, especially for water play. Please mark all removable garments, footwear and sun hats with your child’s name. Every Dolphins Pre-school child is given two laminated name-tags, one for self-registration and the other to identify items on your child’s cloakroom peg.
Question 4: What happens if my child is still in nappies?
Upon arrival at Dolphins Pre-school children should be clean and dry. In the event of any “little accidents” during the course of a session, we will change the child’s clothing, as required. Depending on the toilet training status of your child, you should provide a change of clothes in a named bag to be left in the cloakroom. If your child is still in nappies, you must provide spare nappies, wipes and nappy sacks in a named bag to enable us to change them when necessary.
Question 5: What arrangements are made for Food and Drink?
Snacks are taken during free-flow snack time (mid morning) with adult supervision. Parents are asked to bring a suitable healthy snack in a labelled container taking account of any special dietary needs. Please avoid cartons or pouches of juice as these are inevitably squirted around and any little choking hazard “tops” must be removed at home. Children attending all-day and afternoon sessions should bring their own lunch in a named lunchbox. We are unable to refrigerate the children’s lunch so please include an ice-pack in the container to ensure that perishable food remains fresh. If parents/carers wish to provide a hot meal for their child to eat at lunch time we recommend purchasing a food flask which keeps food hot for hours. As part of Dolphin’s policy on healthy eating, we do not allow chocolate, sweets or fizzy drinks in lunchboxes. Whole grapes, olives, cherry tomatoes, blueberries etc. present a choking hazard for young children. If you include them in your child’s lunchbox then please ensure that you cut them up length ways. Chewing gum is also a choking hazard for young children and is not allowed at Dolphins. Children are entitled to one-third of a pint of milk a day and this is offered at one of their sessions. Water is available and provided as necessary. All children should also bring a flask/drinking bottle (clearly labelled with your child’s name) of clean drinking water every day.
Question 6: What happens if my child is unwell?
Generally, children who are not feeling well should not attend Dolphins and you should notify us without delay via our dedicated system to let us know if your child will not be attending. Children should not attend Dolphins if they have a condition which has necessitated the administration of Calpol/Nurofen or similar medicines as this masks the symptoms and the child may be infectious. Children who are suffering from certain conditions, including those who have had a bout of sickness/diarrhoea, should not return to Dolphins until 48 hours after their condition has cleared-up. If your child has an infectious disease should notify us as soon as possible so that we may alert other parents, as necessary. In event of your child becoming infested with head-lice, this condition must be treated before the child returns to pre-school. Parents who ask Dolphins staff to administer prescribed medicine (or in some cases over-the-counter medication) to their children must complete our Instruction to Administer Medicine Form. Staff are trained in Paediatric First Aid and in the event of your child becoming unwell while at Dolphins we will use our judgement to phone you to come and take your child home or we will comfort your child until you arrive at the end of the session. In a medical emergency, we would of course telephone for an ambulance.
Question 7: What happens if my child is absent from Dolphins?
If you plan to go on holiday during term time then please notify us without delay as this information has to be recorded. If your child is unwell or will be absent for any other reason than please contact us to let us know as all absences have to be explained in the daily register sheet. Please note that Brighton and Hove City Council, who administer Government funding (see question 8 below), reserves the right to reclaim funding from parent(s)/carer(s) in the event of child non-attendance.
Question 8: How do I obtain a free place for my child?
Currently, all parents/carers of three and four year olds are entitled to up to 15 hours a week free childcare from the term after their 3rd birthday. Since September 2017, some three and four year olds have been eligible for upto an extra 15 hours of free childcare per week (making a total entitlement of upto 30 hours a week). The Government's Childcare Choices website sets out all current and upcoming childcare offers and support available to parents/carers, including the Tax-Free Childcare scheme, the 15 and 30 free hours entitlement, tax credits, Universal Credit and childcare vouchers. Parents/carers may apply for a payment plan (usually three instalments per term payable on the first day of each month). Further details are available.
Question 9: We await the views of parents/carers on the the 10th question
