TERMS & CONDITIONS

Terms & Conditions of Booking - Last Updated: January 2022

The Forest School Company’s Terms & Conditions aim to present an open, fair and as straight forward a structure for all who wish to undertake sessions or workshops with us. We aim to provide the highest quality outdoor experience for all our clients/participants. This extends through into the equipment we use, as well as with any external companies/practitioners that we may work with from time to time.

This information should be read carefully before completing any of the formal Consent Forms, and paying for your programme/workshop. Please ensure to tick the box on the consent for to clarify that these T&Cs have been read and understood. Upon completion of the formal booking process (submission of Consent Form/payment) the client(s) named on the booking will have agreed and entered into a contract on the basis of these Terms & Conditions. Please do not hesitate to contact us if you have questions/queries prior to completing your booking.

Confirmation of Booking

A place for a programme or workshop will only be confirmed upon receipt of the appropriate Consent Form and full payment has been made. You will be sent an email to confirm your place on the programme/workshop upon receipt of both Consent Form and payment. Payment is currently made via bank transfer. For long-term, progressive programmes, such as Forest School (2-5yrs) and Nature Edventures, existing participants will be offered first refusal for booking the next block of sessions. This opportunity will be available for a set period of time, before bookings open to participants on the waiting list or for general availability. Bookings are made on a first come, first serve basis, and allocated upon receipt of both the Consent Form and full payment (as stated above)

Cancellation / Refunds

The Forest School Company sessions and workshops will run in all weather conditions, and we will endeavour to deliver our programmes in all conditions where it is safe to do so. If we need to cancel due to safety concerns (such as adverse weather; extremely high winds, lightning, etc.) all clients will be notified as early as possible. We will make these announcements via email, and social media. If a session is cancelled due to safety reasons, we will offer an alternative session date if/where possible. For Forest School programmes, and where an alternative date is not possible, a credit for the session will be added to your account, and can be used against the booking of the next block of sessions, or an alternative workshop.

We are continuously monitoring the weather conditions and always hope to make decisions regarding the cancellation of sessions/workshops due to adverse weather before they are due to take place. However, weather can be unpredictable, and in the unlikely event of extreme weather arising when a session/workshop is already taking place, causing concern for the safety of participants or staff, we will need to cancel the session early. Parents of children in any of our drop-off sessions (holiday Campfire Club sessions for example) will be contacted to collect their children immediately. Please note that no refund of credits will be provided in this instance.

If a session or workshop is cancelled due to staff illness we will offer an alternative date where possible, and where this is not possible a credit will be added to your account for the next block of sessions, or for use on an alternative workshop. A refund may be offered instead, in lieu of any cancelled sessions due to staff illness. Where a refund is offered, it must be accepted by you, and issued within 14 days of it being offered to you by The Forest School Company.

The Forest School Company reserves the right to cancel sessions or workshops where participant numbers no longer make it viable to deliver.

A booking for a programme/workshop/party may be cancelled, in writing, 14 days or more, prior to the first session/workshop taking place, or party date. In this instance, a full refund will be issued. An administration charge of 20% (min. £5) will be deducted from any refund issued. Any cancellation of booking between 0-14 days before the start of the session/workshop/party will be liable to pay the full cost of the programme/workshop/party, and no refund or credits will be issued. In the event of a parent/guardian deciding to withdraw a child from any of our programmes booked in half term blocks (Forest School) at any point during the block of sessions, parents/guardians are still liable for the full payment for the programme, and a refund will not be issued.

The Forest School Company reserves the right to terminate a participant’s place on a programme/workshop with immediate effect should there be a breach of our terms and conditions, or policies, which are in place to ensure the safety and enjoyment of all participants and staff on our programmes/workshops. Any persons attending one of our programmes/sessions who is deemed to be behaving in an inappropriate manner, displaying offensive or aggressive behaviour, or under the influence of drugs or alcohol, or in breach of any of our policies will be asked to leave the site immediately. Any parent/guardians in breach of our terms and conditions or policies will risk the cancellation of their child’s place, where a refund will not be issued.

Absence due to holidays and illness - Please note that, regrettably, to ensure continuity of service, we cannot offer refunds or credits for sessions/workshops where participants are absent due to holidays or illness.

Covid-19 Local/National Lockdown - Where either a Local or National Lockdown may require us to cease the delivery of any of our sessions/workshops, we will either offer an alternative date, a credit to your account, or a refund, depending on which will be most appropriate.

Associated Risk / Liability

All sessions/workshops are delivered outside, and the content of delivery does come with associated, yet appropriate risks. The participation in any of The Forest School Company’s sessions/workshops is entirely at your own risk, and The Forest School Company is not liable for any injury, damage to or loss of personal property, unless caused through the proven negligence, breach of duty of care, or lack of due diligence by The Forest School Company or authorised professionals working with them. The Forest School Company have all relevant health & safety measures, including appropriate Covid-19 procedures, in place to support the safe delivery and participation in our sessions/workshops. Our full handbook, policies and risk assessments are available to view during any of our sessions/workshops. A summary of these policies are included in the Parent Handbook provided prior to the commencement of the first session/workshop.

Health / Medical / Dietary

The Consent Form has a section to record all relevant health, medical and dietary information about participants, and any accompanying adults (where it is a parent and child session/workshop)

All health, medical (including allergies) and dietary information must be disclosed prior to the commencement of any session/workshop. Any changes to this information must also be shared and updated with The Forest School Company. Any Inhalers/Epipens/insulin, etc. must be brought to the session/workshops for use in case of an emergency, by either the parent of the child, First Aider (session/workshop leader) or Medical Emergency personnel where appropriate.

In Loco Parentis

In booking with us, parents/guardians consent to the use of such physical contact with children as may be appropriate, lawful, and necessary for the safe and effective delivery of our sessions/workshops. This most commonly relates to things such as tool work, and aspects of health & safety, to maintain safe practices within the session/workshop, or for the delivery of First Aid. Any necessary physical contact with participants is, also, always undertaken with the participant’s permission to do so.