Terms & Conditions
Terms and Conditions
Thank you for choosing Story Babies. We are pleased you have chosen to join us. Our terms and conditions are written with a view to providing a fair and reasonable framework for both our customers (“You”) and business (“Story Babies” or “We” or “Us”). We aim to provide the highest quality classes for all our customers, run by a knowledgeable, friendly and caring class leader. Should you ever feel we fall short of this, please contact your local class leader to raise your concerns. If your complaint is about your class leader, please raise your concerns in writing to the founder of Story Babies Kelly Jenkins as soon as possible by emailing hello@story-babies.co.uk. We will ensure your concerns are dealt with sensitively and appropriately, as quickly as possible.
We are committed to the safety of all persons who attend our classes and to deliver the highest standard of service.
Participating in a Story Babies class is entirely at your own risk without any proven negligence, breach of duty of care or lack of due diligence by Story Babies or its employees.
Your Booking
When you book your term online through our online booking platform, we will require some basic information from you in order to complete your booking. This includes your full name, address, email, telephone number and an emergency contact for you. We also require your child’s name, date of birth and details of any allergies. It is very important, and it is your responsibility to ensure both yours and your child’s personal details are kept up to date. Your booking is not secure until payment has been received.
Refunds
You are able to withdraw from a term providing this is done with at least 7 days’ notice prior to the term commencing. There will be an administration charge of £7.00 for this. The remaining balance of your payment will be refunded through the same means in which you made the original payment. We are unable to provide a refund if you decide not to continue attending Story Babies once the term has begun.
Holidays and Sickness
We are unable to refund or discount you for any classes missed during the term due to holidays or sickness.
Sibling Discount
We are happy to provide a discount for twins (or other multiple births) booking on to a term together. A parent with twins will need to have either another adult or an arrangement with another individual, should for any reason one of the twins need to leave the class. A Story Babies employee cannot be responsible for the remaining child.
Spectators
We do not allow spectators at our classes due to the nature of the class. Excess guests at our venues could cause babies to become overwhelmed and it is our intention to create a relaxed and enjoyable environment. As our classes are designed for babies up to 14 months, unfortunately older siblings are also unable to spectate unless specifically invited for a family event.
Supervision
All babies must be carefully supervised at all times. The class leader cannot be responsible for any baby at any time.
Withdrawal of Service
If a carer or visitor behaves in a way that is deemed inappropriate by the class leader, we reserve the right to withdraw the service at any time. No refund will be due in this circumstance.
Renewals
During the second half of your term your class leader will ask if you wish to renew your membership and attend the next term. For a limited period of time, you will have access to priority booking and will be able to book on to the next term before it is available to the public. After this period, the booking works on a first come, first serve basis. Please note, your booking is not secure until payment has been received.
Cancellation of Classes
Story Babies will endeavour to run classes during bad weather. However, the safety of our customers and staff members is always our priority and there may be occasions where it is deemed inappropriate to run the class. The decision will be made by your class leader, and you will be notified as soon as possible via email. It is therefore essential your email address is kept up to date on our records. If we have to cancel a class we will endeavour to re-schedule. If we are unable to reschedule a refund of £7.00 will be payable to you.
Illness
Story Babies request you keep your babies at home if they are suffering with any illness. We also request you make your class leader aware of the nature of the illness so that other parents can be alerted, if appropriate. We are unfortunately unable to offer any refunds for lessons missed due to illness.
Allergies
When you book a term with us you are required to inform us, via our booking form, of any allergies that your baby has. All materials used in class are child-friendly. We will not be liable, other than through our own negligence, for any injury or illness caused to your baby as a result of them having an allergic reaction to any materials used in the class.
Protection of Property
Please note that your property, including prams, bags and any other items you may bring to class, is your responsibility. Story Babies cannot take any responsibility for the safeguarding of these items. For the avoidance of doubt, Story Babies is not responsible for any loss or damage of your property.
Mailing List
When you book your term at Story Babies you will automatically be added to our central mailing list. This means you will receive our newsletters, special offers and discounts. Your data will never be given or sold to any third party. If you do not wish to be on our mailing list, you should inform your class leader who will remove you.
Equal Opportunities
Story Babies are committed to ensuring our classes are of value to everyone regardless of race, culture, language, gender, age, experience, religion, background, ability or disability.
Videos, Photographs and Confidentiality
Story Babies encourage you to take photographs and videos of your babies in class providing it does not interfere with the smooth running of the class. However, we ask that you are sensitive of recording others without their permission. If you are asked to stop by another customer, please respect their rights and do so immediately. The class leader may also use their discretion to ask you to stop.
During our classes we occasionally take photographs and videos of your babies to be used for advertising or other promotional purposes. All of these images are stored securely and will not be used without seeking your consent first. By accepting these terms, you consent to us taking photographs of your babies during classes. If you do not consent to this, it is your responsibility to make your class leader aware at your class before registration.
Data Protection
The information on this form contains personal data.
Story Babies will record, process and keep your personal information secure in accordance with the General Data Protection Regulation 2016/679 (GDPR). Information will not be passed onto a third party unless you have expressly authorised us to do so.
Infection Control Policy
In light of the recent pandemic, we are including our Infection Control Policy as part of your terms and conditions as it is instrumental to the health and safety of both you and us. It is important to note, we will continuously review our Infection Control Policy in line with scientific developments and government guidelines.
Self-Isolation
If you have been in contact with a confirmed Covid-19 case you should strictly follow government guidelines in terms of self-isolation.
Our class leaders will of course follow the same guidelines. Should your class be cancelled due to this your class leader will endeavour to have the class covered by another class leader or will reschedule the class.
Toys and Props
There will be a basket of props required for that session for each customer at the class. Your class leader will effectively sanitise each piece of equipment, including the basket of props and mats, before and after each class to reduce the risk of transmission. You should avoid sharing resources, with exception to the following group based activities where there will be control measures in place to minimise risk of transmission.
Buggies and Prams
Buggies or prams will not be permitted into the room for both hygiene and space saving reasons to support social distancing. Baby carriers and car seats will be permitted. If it is essential to bring your buggy or pram to class (for example, if you have multiple babies or travel to class by foot) please speak to your local class leader for confirmation of options at your specific venue.
Personal Hygiene
You should wash your hands before coming to class or use anti-bacterial gel. Your class leader will also practice frequent hand washing.
Your shoes should be removed before walking on the mats and socks worn at all times.
We ask that you adhere to respiratory hygiene by coughing or sneezing into your elbow if needed.
Class Times
We will be staggering our classes by longer than usual in order to accommodate for adequate cleaning between classes. This will include cleaning of mats, props and touch points in the room.
We ask that you do not arrive any earlier than 5 minutes before your class is due to begin to avoid a crossover of customers gathering between classes.
We ask that you leave promptly once class has finished in order to allow your class leader adequate space and time to sanitise all that is required.
Ventilation
We will keep the room well ventilated where possible.
Additional Adults and Siblings
As per our existing terms and conditions, we can only allow one adult to attend with their baby. We cannot accommodate additional spectators including siblings at this time.
Entry and Exit of Class
If the venue can accommodate this, we will operate a one way in and one way out system where possible.
We will minimise infection by using a doorstop to hold the door open when you leave and arrive at class to minimise you touching any door handles. Your class leader will be responsible for this.
Food
We ask that you or your baby do not consume any solid food during your class. This is for hygiene reasons and to support your class leader in the sanitisation between classes. Feeding your babies milk or drinks is of course welcomed at any time.
Risk Assessment
We will conduct a specific Infection Control Risk Assessment on each venue prior to commencing any classes.
Local or National Lockdown
In the event of a local or national lockdown which means we are unable to continue our face to face services we will endeavour to move your classes online as quickly as possible. If your class leader is unable to move your classes online, you will receive a refund for the remainder of cancelled classes. If your class leader is able to move your classes online, no refund will be due.
In the event of a local or national lockdown which means we are still able to continue our classes, but you are unable to attend due to government restrictions (such as but not limited to travel restrictions) your class leader will explore one of the following options with you.
1) In the first instance we will endeavour to find you a place at a class that you can attend in compliance with government guidance and restrictions, although this is not always possible as our classes usually run at full capacity. If we find you a space at another face to face class no refund will due.
2) If we cannot successfully move you to a face to face class, your class leader will either;
a. Provide you with an online service as an alternative throughout your lockdown period. As above, no refund will be due in this instance.
b. Hold your space at your class throughout the restriction period and will roll over credit to your new term up to a maximum of 3 class credits (providing you book your space on the next term).
Communication in the event of an outbreak
If you or your baby are diagnosed with Covid-19 whilst attending our classes, we ask you to report this to your class leader as soon as possible. We will keep your identity absolutely confidential.
In the event of a reported case of Covid-19 at one of our classes we will take advice from the NHS Track and Trace and follow the guidance they provide.
Our Commitment to Track and Trace
The Government requires businesses to keep a record of customers who have attended or used their services for 21 days to support the Track and Trace initiative. At Story Babies, it is protocol to take a register each week to account for who has attended our classes. We keep this information digitally and within GDPR compliance and will be able to support the Track and Trace initiative quickly and accurately at any time.
Mask to Mat
Unless you are medically exempt, we ask you to wear your mask when you enter and exit class. You are able to remove these when you are sat on your mat. Should you need to move around the class, or if asked by your class leader for a specific activity, please wear your mask.
Changes to Terms and Conditions
From time to time Story Babies will update these terms and conditions. We will inform you of any such changes via email and you must object to any such changes in writing within 14 days of receipt of notice of the said changes. Failure to do so will entitle Story Babies to treat this agreement with you as being updated with the changes.