Signing Child Program Policies

 

Thank you for your interest in Signing Child’s Signing Smart child development programs.  We know you will find the information and activities you learn in our programs nowhere else!  They will not only enhance early communication, but will also facilitate intimacy and long-term learning. Please take a moment to better understand the following policies related to our programming:

 

Registration:

· Due to the popularity of our programming, class size is limited and space in a program is not confirmed until payment is received.

· Once payment is received, space is reserved on a first paid-first served basis.

You will receive email confirmation of your class, program, time, and location the week programming begins.  Please be sure to give us your most current and accessible email address.

 

Transferring enrollment locations, times, or classes:

Transferring locations will be considered on a case-by-case basis; however, Signing Child cannot guarantee space in another class, program, time, or location once your registration has been processed.  There is a $35 administration charge for transferring enrollment.

 

Cancellation/Refund:

In order to maintain high-quality programming at reasonable costs, Signing Child has the following cancellation/refund policies:

For Signing Smart play class programs only:

Until three business days before the session begins, a full refund minus a $35 administration fee is available.  

From three business days before the session runs and onwards, credit towards a future session is available.  You will be credited the amount you paid minus a $35 administration fee, the prorated cost of classes attended, and the cost of materials (if taken).  There is no refund available. 

Credit may be applied to an appropriate future class, as long as that class is not full.  Space allocation for credits is determined the week that a new session begins. 

Credit is non-transferable.

For other Signing Smart programming:

Until three business days before the program runs, a full refund minus a $35 administration fee is available.  

From three business days before the program runs and onwards, there are no refunds or make-ups available. 

There are no refunds on materials once you leave the site of a class or other program with the materials.

 

 

Bounced check/Stop payment policy:

There is a $30 bounced check or stop payment processing fee.

 

Child Safety:

Signing Child’s programs are developed with child safety in mind.  However, it is the parent or caregiver’s responsibility to ensure the safety of their child(ren) and the children around them during their involvement in Signing Smart programs.  Therefore, by registering for a  Signing Child program, you agree to the following policies:

· The parent or guardian accepts full responsibly to ensure the safety and well-being of their child while taking Signing Smart programming and releases Signing Child and instructors from any liability.

· Each parent or caregiver must make the individual decision if they wish their child to participate in an activity or manipulate a prop.  By doing so, the parent or caregiver holds Signing Child and instructors free of any liability related to the child’s participation in the program.

· Each parent or caregiver is responsible to ensure their child does not inflict harm on another child in the program, or on any property of another.

· If individual children are not able to interact in the group setting in a safe and responsible way, the family may be asked to leave the program for a partial refund, based on the number of classes not taken minus the administrative fee.

· Any damaged property must be replaced or repaired at the parent or caregiver’s expense (of course, damage to props that result from typical usage will not be the responsibility of the parent or caregiver).

 

Signing Child or the individual teacher reserves the right to revoke any family’s registration at any time.

 

Sibling attendance at the Signing Smart Play Class Program:

We love to have older siblings in our programs.  In order for this to enhance participant learning, we ask that you respect the following policies:

· If both siblings are of target age/benefit to enroll, there is a 15% discount for each additional sibling.

· Non-enrolled siblings (who are not of target age/benefit and live in the same home) are allowed as long as space in the room permits.

· Siblings must be made aware that they are attending a class for enrolled infants and toddlers, and must be prepared to interact appropriately.

· Siblings are invited to be helpers, to learn alongside their sister or brother, and to participate in the activities of the group, as long as there are extra props once all the enrolled babies or toddlers have theirs.

· The playful tone, learning environment, and safety of the participants must be maintained at all times.  Siblings may continue to attend at the discretion of the teacher or Signing Child.

 

Attendance of additional adults at the Signing Smart Play Class Program:

The more caretakers who sign with your child the better.  Therefore, Signing Child welcomes additional adults at our Signing Smart Play Class Programs.  To allow everyone to get the most out of programming, please be aware of the following:

Additional adults (including other parents, grandparents, nannies, therapists or other specialists, other relatives, etc.) are allowed as long as space in the room permits.  Please check with the program coordinator or your individual teacher to confirm.  Additional adults may continue to attend at the discretion of the teacher or Signing Child.

 

Sick Children:

· In order to protect the health of participants,  please do not bring your child to class if he or she is sick (e.g., fever, contagious illness or infection, etc.); children who are sick will be asked to leave class.

· You are free to make up as many as 3 classes during a session at the various locations around the area (see Make-Up Policy, above, for more on this).

 

Make-Up Policy (Signing Smart Play Class Program only):

In order to maintain the quality of our programming, Signing Child has implemented the following make-up policy:

· You may make up as many as 3 classes at any location at any time during the session in which your child is enrolled in the Play Class Program.  No make-ups are possible once the session is complete.

· Please check the web (www.SigningChild.com) or with your individual instructor for available classes.

· The Signing Smart Handbook, The Treasure Chest video, and the DVD glossary  will allow you and your family access to the Target Signs and Signing Smart Strategies, even if you are not able to make up a particular week’s class.

· The program is developed with an understanding of real families’ lives.  We know that most families will miss any number of classes.  The program re-integrates most of the signs into different activities at different times throughout the program.  Most Signing Smart Strategies are similarly re-introduced at various points, to allow both parents and children multiple opportunities to learn them.  In this way, even if you miss a week or more, you will have ample opportunity to see and learn the signs, and to learn and use the Strategies.  Instructors can answer questions about a missed week at the end of class and as time permits.

 

Cancelled Classes:

· In the event that a single class within a session needs to be cancelled (e.g., instructor illness or weather), Signing Child will send out emails to enrolled participants as soon as it is known that the class will not run. NOTE: This is only true for programs in which Signing Child takes registration.  If you register for a Signing Child program through another agency or organization, that agency will contact you.

· Please keep your email and other contact information with us current.

· If the instructor is ill or a class is cancelled due to weather, a make-up class or program will be scheduled on an alternative date, if possible during the same day of the week and timeslot as the cancelled one.

· In the event that an entire Signing Smart™ program or session needs to be cancelled (e.g., due to low enrollment), Signing Child will send out emails to enrolled participants as soon as it is known that the session or program will not run. NOTE: This is only true for programs in which Signing Child takes registration.  If you register for a Signing Child program through another agency or organization, you will need to contact that agency or organization directly to ensure that the program is running, and to find out their refund or other policies.

 

 Additional information that makes our classes run smoother:

· We will have lots of toys to play with.  There is no need to bring toys into class.  All too often they get mixed into my toys and someone ends up at home without their favorite dolly! :( 

· Please avoid bringing food and drinks to class.  Food is a big motivator for many children, and easily distracts from class when one child reaches into the baby bag for a cup of cheerios, and having one sippy cup or bottle in the room can cause problems in regard to germs.  We will most certainly keep the children engaged for the 45 minutes they are in class so that eating and drinking will not be their top priority.  If you can avoid bringing in large baby bags and strollers at all it will help us with many of these issues in addition to keeping our room clutter free. 

· This is a class for small children.  It is designed with activities that capture their attention as well as allowing them to explore on their own.  Do not feel pressured to keep children on your lap or "within your control" at all times.  Our play classes give them the freedom to move about our safe environment and ebb and flow in and out of attention.  After all, that is how kids learn best. 

· Toys are washed after every class to avoid spreading too many germs. As it is difficult to avoid having several children playing with any given toy during a specific class,  if you have concerns about child playing with a toy another child has mouthed, you may want to select a few toys at the beginning of each activity to keep separate for your child.

· This class is not only a learning environment for children and their parents, but also a place for overall parenting support.  Please feel free to ask non-sign related questions of me or of fellow parents before or after class. 

· Children develop at different rates and there is a large range of normal.  Try not to compare your child against the other children in the classroom, blame yourself for your child's lack of progress, etc..  My experience with children will send up a red flag if a child shows symptoms of delay, and we can explore options from there, but rarely is that the case.  Most often we see the differences only due to age, personality, learning styles etc. 

 

Child attendance at Signing Smart Parent Workshops/Lectures:

· The content and format of the workshops/lectures are best suited to adults, and very young children will have a difficult time at this “grown-up” oriented venue.

Non-mobile nursing infants may attend if necessary.