Tuition Terms & Conditions

1. Booking and Confirmation

• All tuition bookings must be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled teaching time.
• Requests to amend or reschedule a booking must be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled teaching time.
• Requests made less than 24 hours before the scheduled teaching time may not be accepted, and the original tuition arrangement will remain in place.
• All bookings, amendments and rescheduling arrangements must be confirmed by the centre before they are considered final.
• A request made to a tutor directly is not considered confirmed until it has been acknowledged by the centre or through the centre's designated booking system.

2. Tuition Fees and Payment

• Tuition fees must be paid in accordance with the payment schedule provided at the time of booking.
• Where payment is required in advance, the tuition booking will only be confirmed once payment has been received.
• Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that all fees are paid on time.
• Where payment is overdue (where it has been arranged with the centre), the centre may suspend future tuition until the outstanding balance has been settled.
• Any applicable fees or charges will be clearly communicated before they are incurred.

3. Block Bookings and Term Fees

• Block bookings and term fees are generally non-refundable once the tuition has commenced, subject to any rights the customer may have under applicable consumer law.
• Missed regular classes are not normally refundable or transferable.
• Where exceptional circumstances arise, the centre may consider a request for a credit, replacement lesson or other reasonable arrangement at its discretion.

4. Cancellation and Refunds

• Cancellation requests should be made at least 24 hours before the scheduled tuition to qualify for a full refund, where a refund is otherwise applicable.
• Cancellations made less than 24 hours before the scheduled tuition will normally not qualify for a refund.
• We will always consider any statutory consumer rights that may apply to the booking or service.
• Where the centre is unable to provide a booked lesson and an appropriate alternative cannot be offered, the centre will make an appropriate refund or alternative arrangement in accordance with the circumstances and applicable law.

5. Transfer of Tuition

• Tuition bookings are non-transferable.
• An exception may be made where a booking is transferred to a sibling from the same family, subject to the centre's approval and the availability and suitability of the lesson.
• A booking cannot be transferred to another unrelated student without prior approval.

6. Tutor Availability and Cover Tutors

• We will make reasonable efforts to provide the tutor originally assigned to the student.
• If the original tutor is unexpectedly unable to provide the tuition, we may arrange a suitable cover tutor at no additional cost.
• We cannot guarantee that a particular tutor will always be available.
• Where a tutor change is necessary, we will aim to ensure that the replacement tutor is appropriately suited to the student's tuition requirements.

7. Late Arrival and No-Show

• Students are expected to arrive on time and be ready to begin their tuition at the scheduled time.
• A 20-minute grace period is allowed for late arrival; however, the missed time will be deducted from the student's booked tuition time.
• If a student arrives more than 25 minutes late, the tutor reserves the right to treat the lesson as a no-show and cancel the remaining lesson time.
• A late arrival or no-show will not normally result in an extension, replacement lesson or refund.
• Exceptional circumstances, including genuine health-related reasons, may be considered on a case-by-case basis. Supporting evidence may be requested where appropriate.

8. Illness and Health

• Students should not attend the centre if they are suffering from an illness that may reasonably place other students or staff at risk.
• Parents/guardians should inform the centre as soon as possible if their child is unable to attend due to illness.
• Where appropriate, the centre may request supporting information or evidence when considering an exceptional cancellation or rescheduling request.
• Parents/guardians should inform the centre of any relevant health, medical, learning or accessibility needs that may reasonably affect the student's participation in tuition.

9. Student Responsibilities

Students are expected to:

• Arrive on time and be ready to learn.
• Treat tutors, staff and other students with respect.
• Follow reasonable instructions given by tutors and centre staff.
• Bring the required books, stationery and assigned work folders to every lesson.
• Complete assigned homework or preparation where applicable.
• Take reasonable care of centre property and learning materials.
• Avoid behaviour that disrupts the learning environment.

10. Behaviour and Conduct

We are committed to maintaining a safe, respectful and positive learning environment. The following behaviour will not be tolerated:

• Bullying, harassment or intimidation.
• Aggressive, threatening or abusive behaviour.
• Assault or threatening behaviour towards tutors, staff or other students.
• Deliberate damage, defacement or destruction of centre property or materials.
• Persistent disruptive behaviour that prevents tutors from teaching or other students from learning.

Depending on the circumstances, consequences may include:

• A warning or discussion with the student and parent/guardian.
• Removal from a particular lesson.
• Temporary suspension from the centre.
• Cancellation of tuition arrangements.
• Charges for the reasonable cost of repairing or replacing property that has been deliberately damaged.
• Termination of the tuition agreement in serious or repeated cases.

Any action taken will be proportionate to the circumstances and consistent with applicable law.

11. Mobile Phones, Recording and Personal Items

We operate a no-phone policy during teaching sessions unless a phone is specifically required for an approved educational purpose. Students must not:

• Use mobile phones during lessons without permission.
• Take photographs or videos.
• Record tutors, staff or other students.
• Bring distracting toys or personal items into lessons, except for approved fidget or sensory items where appropriate.
• Use cosmetics or other items that interfere with the learning environment.

Tutors or centre staff may ask students to put away or temporarily hold unauthorised items for the duration of the lesson. Any item held will normally be returned to the student at the end of the lesson.

12. Learning Materials and Equipment

• Students are responsible for bringing the books, stationery, folders and other materials required for their lessons.
• The centre may provide or recommend additional learning materials where appropriate.
• Students must use centre equipment and materials responsibly.
• Deliberate damage to centre equipment or materials may result in the parent/guardian being asked to cover the reasonable cost of repair or replacement.

13. Academic Progress

• We will make reasonable efforts to provide high-quality tuition and appropriate academic support.
• Tutors may provide feedback and recommendations regarding a student's progress.
• Academic results, grades, examination outcomes or specific improvements cannot be guaranteed, as progress depends on a range of factors including attendance, engagement, preparation and individual circumstances.

14. Parent/Guardian Responsibilities

Parents/guardians are responsible for:

• Providing accurate contact and emergency information.
• Ensuring that their child arrives and is collected on time, where applicable.
• Informing the centre of any relevant changes that may affect their child's tuition.
• Supporting their child's attendance, preparation and completion of assigned work.
• Ensuring that all tuition fees are paid in accordance with the agreed payment arrangements.
• Informing the centre promptly of any concerns or circumstances that may affect their child's participation.

15. Collection and Supervision

• Parents/guardians are responsible for ensuring that students arrive at and leave the centre safely, unless a separate arrangement has been agreed with the centre.
• Students should not be left at the centre outside their agreed tuition or supervision period.
• Parents/guardians should notify the centre if another authorised adult will collect their child, where applicable.
• The centre should be provided with up-to-date emergency contact details.

16. Safeguarding and Child Protection

The safety and wellbeing of our students is a priority.

• We maintain appropriate safeguarding and child protection procedures.
• Staff and tutors are expected to follow the centre's safeguarding procedures and report concerns through the appropriate channels.
• Where there is a safeguarding concern, information may need to be shared with appropriate professionals or authorities where required to protect a child or comply with legal obligations.
• Parents/guardians are encouraged to raise any safeguarding concerns directly with the centre.
• All our tutors are DBS (Enhanced) checked, with QTS and an MSc degree holder as our minimum qualification.

17. Photography, Video and Promotional Material

• Students and visitors must not photograph or record other students, tutors or staff without appropriate permission.
• The centre will obtain appropriate consent before using identifiable photographs or recordings of students for promotional or publicity purposes, where such consent is required.
• Parents/guardians may withdraw consent for future promotional use by contacting the centre.

18. Personal Belongings

• Students are responsible for their personal belongings while attending the centre.
• We recommend that students do not bring valuable or unnecessary items to tuition.
• The centre cannot accept responsibility for loss or damage to personal belongings except where the law provides otherwise.

19. Centre Closure and Exceptional Circumstances

Occasionally, circumstances outside the centre's reasonable control may prevent a lesson from taking place. These may include:

• Severe weather.
• Building or utility problems.
• Emergency situations.
• Government or public authority requirements.
• Unexpected tutor availability issues.
• Other circumstances beyond the centre's reasonable control.

Where this happens, we will make reasonable efforts to provide an alternative lesson, rearrange the tuition or offer another appropriate solution.

20. Communication

• The centre's designated communication channels should be used for bookings, cancellations, amendments and important tuition-related requests.
• Parents/guardians should ensure that their contact details are kept up to date.
• A request is not considered approved until it has been confirmed by the centre.
• Parents/guardians should not rely solely on verbal arrangements made with individual tutors.

21. Withdrawal and Termination

• For ongoing or 1:1 tuition agreements lasting more than six weeks, we normally require 15 days' written notice to terminate the arrangement.
• Tuition fees remain payable during the applicable notice period unless otherwise agreed or required by law.
• The centre may terminate a tuition arrangement where there are serious or repeated breaches of these Terms & Conditions, serious behavioural concerns, safeguarding concerns, or persistent non-payment.
• Where the centre terminates an arrangement, it will act reasonably and in accordance with applicable consumer law.

22. Changes to Fees or Services

• We may occasionally need to review our fees, timetable or services.
• Any significant change affecting an existing tuition arrangement will be communicated to parents/guardians with reasonable notice.
• Changes will not be used to unfairly alter an existing agreement or remove rights that cannot legally be excluded.

23. Complaints and Concerns

We value feedback and encourage parents/guardians to raise concerns as soon as possible so that we can try to resolve them promptly.

• Complaints should normally be made in writing through the centre's designated communication channel.
• We will review complaints fairly and aim to respond within a reasonable period.
• Nothing in these Terms & Conditions affects any statutory rights or remedies available to the customer.

24. Consumer Rights

• These Terms & Conditions are intended to be clear, fair and transparent. They do not remove or restrict any legal rights that parents/guardians or students may have under applicable UK law.
• Where there is a conflict between these Terms & Conditions and a mandatory legal right, the applicable legal right will take precedence.

25. Acceptance of Terms

• By booking tuition with Nurture Centre, the parent/guardian confirms that they have had an opportunity to read and understand these Terms & Conditions and agree to comply with them.
• These Terms & Conditions should be read alongside any booking confirmation, fee schedule, safeguarding policy and other policies provided by the centre.