Learning Terms & Conditions

Your Contract will be with The Chester House Estate, Claudius Way, Little Irchester, Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, NN8 2DHL (“we”, “us“ or “ours”).

Contact details:

Email: learning@chesterhouseestate.org, info@chesterhouseestate.org

The following booking conditions, together with any information that we send to you in regard to your booking, form the basis of your Contract with us (your “Contract”).

In these booking conditions, “you” and “your” means the lead name (and authorised representative of the school, where applicable) and all persons named on the booking (including anyone who is added or substituted at a later date) and any one of them, as applicable.

The lead name shall be responsible for the administration and correspondence in regard to the booking and warrants that they are the parent or legal guardian (where applicable) and/or otherwise have the authority to make the booking (and any amendments and/or cancellations) on behalf of all the persons named on the booking (or the school, where applicable). The lead name shall be liable for:

1. the full payment of any Deposits and balances;

2. the payment of any amendment fees or cancellation charges;

• confirming all group details to us;

1. passing on to all persons in the booking of any and all information issued by us including, without limitation, our booking confirmation and these booking conditions; and

2. the conduct of the persons in the booking (see clauses 9 (Our Liability), 10 (Behaviour and 9 (During your visit)).

In making a booking with us, you are regarded as having read, understood, and agreed to these booking conditions.

• All learning visits to the Chester House Estate experiences are dependent on availability and are only available to pre-booked groups.

• Bookings are available using the Learning Department online booking form at least 1 month in advance of visit/session date.

• Requests for Self-guided Learning group bookings are available using the Learning Department online booking form at least 1 month in advance of visit date.

• When making a booking you are agreeing to The Chester House Estate Learning Department Terms and Conditions and Code of Conduct for Learning Visits.

• Bookings will be confirmed following receipt of the completed Learning Department online booking form and authorized purchase order number where relevant. Full payment via BACS transfer or credit card is to be paid within 30 days of the invoice date.

• Overseas group bookings MUST be paid in full in advance, no less than 1 month prior to visit date, by BACS transfer or credit card ONLY.

• Cancellation/amendment to your booking can ONLY be made in writing up to 1 month prior to your visit date.

You, or any member of your group, may cancel your travel arrangements at any time, however, we reserve the right to charge a £20 administration fee.

For cancellations made less than 8 weeks prior to your visit, if you transfer your visit to a date within the same academic year then a £20 administration fee will apply.

However, if a transfer is not possible, please write to us immediately giving full details.

If it is not possible to transfer the visit within the same academic year or a group member wishes to cancel without transferring their booking, then the cancellation charges set out below shall apply:

If, after our booking confirmation has been issued, you wish to change your booking in any way, for example adding in snack breaks, we will do our utmost to make these changes, but it may not always be possible. Any request for changes to your booking must be made in writing by the lead name and the effective date of any change shall be the date that written notification is received by us.

Occasionally we may have to make changes or cancel your booking and we reserve the right to do so at any time. Most changes will be minor and will be advised at the earliest possible date. If we make a major change to your booking, we will inform you as soon as reasonably possible, if there is time before your arrival, and we will:

1. offer you a suitable alternative, where possible

2. if we are not able to offer you a suitable alternative (at our sole and absolute discretion) we will refund the money you have paid to us.

We will not be liable for any loss, damage, costs or other expenses you may incur as a result of your booking being changed or cancelled, or in terms of any other arrangements you have made with other providers under separate Contracts.

Except where otherwise expressly stated in these booking conditions we will not be liable for any damage, loss, costs, or other expenses incurred by you - or pay you compensation - where the performance or prompt performance of our Contractual obligations to you are prevented or affected by – or you otherwise suffer any damage, loss or expense of any nature – as a result of unavoidable and extraordinary events (Force Majeure Events).

Force Majeure Events are events that neither we nor the suppliers of any service(s) in question could, even with all due care, foresee or avoid. Force Majeure Events include, without limitation, war (whether actual or threatened), civil unrest, riot, strife, terrorist activity and/or its consequences or the threat of such activity, health risks, infectious disease, epidemics and pandemics and government measures to combat such outbreaks, riot, the act of any government or other national or local authority or the act of any airport, port or river authorities, unforeseeable technical problems with transport, airport, port or airspace closure restriction or congestion; flight or other travel restrictions imposed by any government, regulatory authority or other third party; industrial dispute, sanctions, lock closure, natural or nuclear disaster, fire, flood, adverse weather conditions, volcanic eruption, chemical or biological disaster and all similar events outside our or the concerned supplier’s control.

You must inform us, without undue delay, of any issues in regard to your booking.

We will not be liable or pay you compensation for any injury, illness, death, loss (for example loss of possessions or loss of enjoyment), damage, expense, cost or other claim of any nature or description that results from:

1. the workshop not being provided as booked due to circumstances beyond our control;

2. where you incur any loss or damage that could not have been foreseen at the time of your booking, based on the information provided by you;

• the act(s) and/or omission(s) of the person(s) affected or any member(s) of their party;

1. the act(s) and/or omission(s) of a third party not connected with the provision of your booking;

2. where you incur any loss or damage that relates to any business activity;

3. any loss or damage that relates to any services which do not form part of our contract with you (including, without limitation, any additional services or facilities booked and arranged by you directly, including any activity or any services that are not provided by us suppliers as part of your Contract).

If we are found liable to you on any basis, we limit the amount we have to pay you to a maximum of the cost of your booking. This limit does not apply to cases involving death or personal injury. This maximum amount will only be payable when you have not received any benefit at all from your booking.

Any claim for loss of and/or damage to any personal possessions (including money), on any basis, must be made to your travel insurers in the first instance. In the event that we are found liable for any uninsured loss of and/or damage to any personal possessions (including money) on any basis, the maximum amount we will have to pay you in respect of these claims is £50 per person. Any payment is subject to your producing appropriate proof of the contents and value of personal possessions concerned and demonstrating that you have taken proper care of your property.

In the event of a complaint the applicable laws and standards, together with our Contract, will be used as the basis for reviewing your complaint. If services in question were provided in accordance with the applicable laws and standards, the services will be treated as having been properly provided. When making any payment, we are entitled to deduct any money which you have received or are entitled to receive from any applicable service provider or under any applicable convention for the complaint or claim in question.

You must provide our insurers and ourselves with all assistance we may reasonably require. You must also tell us and the supplier concerned (where applicable) about your claim or complaint. If asked to do so, you must transfer to us or our insurers any rights you have against the supplier or whoever else is responsible for your claim or complaint (if the person concerned is under 18, their parent or guardian must do so). You must also agree to cooperate fully with our insurers and us, if our insurers or us want to enforce any rights that are transferred. Any notification of a claim shall be strictly in accordance with the complaints procedure set out in these booking conditions.

The group leader is responsible for ensuring that the party arrives on time. 15 minutes has been allocated for storing coats and lunches (if necessary) and using the toilets prior to the start of the session.

The Chester House Estate accepts no liability for any items left unattended.

Any sessions missed or partly missed due to late arrival will still be charged at the full rate. The Chester House Estate takes no responsibility for any unforeseen circumstances such as transport delays, weather conditions, and problems with coaches or sickness of teaching staff.

In the event of a late arrival, we reserve the right to reduce any planned programme according to the available time for your visit and any conflicting demands on resources, galleries and exhibits at that time.

Sufficient school/college staff and carers must be present to supervise all students during all activities and sessions. We are fully committed to providing a safe learning environment, but The Chester House Estate staff are not responsible for the health, safety and behaviour of students and must not be left in sole charge of any students, unless by prior arrangement made in writing.

We ask schools to follow the NSPCC guidance for child ratios

Children aged 4-8 - 1 adult to 6 children

Children aged 9-12 - 1 adult to 8 children.

Children aged 13-18 – 1 adult to10 children.

Adults providing 1:1 support for a child cannot be counted in the above ratios. Carers and staff for groups of under 18s are free of charge (up to a ratio of 1:5)

The group leader and the other adults accompanying the group shall, at all times act 'in loco parentis' for their group and, in particular, in regard to any minors in the group

The group leader and the other adults accompanying the group shall, at all times ensure that no members of the group smoke on any of the grounds at the Chester House Estate.

The Chester House Estate is a space for all to enjoy. We require all visitors to comply with our code of conduct.

We expect our visitors to:

• Take responsibility for their own learning and respect other's right to learn

• Be friendly

• Listen

• Respect each other’s differences

• Treat staff, volunteers and other visitors with respect

• Treat all resources and exhibits with care

• Help others

• Cooperate with each other

Visitors should not:

• Bully each other

• Pick on or make fun of each other

• Be abusive

• Damage equipment/exhibitions

• Smoke or vape

If the code is breached:

The visitor will be reminded of the code of conduct and asked to comply. They will be given an opportunity to reflect on their actions to plan a positive response. If a visitor continues to breach the code of conduct, they may be asked to leave.

• All behaviour is the responsibility of adults accompanying visiting groups

• Adults are expected to always supervise any children

• At no point should a child, young adult or person at risk be left in the sole care of museum staff

• If the behaviour persists and a member of staff is delivering an unsupervised activity, appropriate behaviour management systems will be followed. Participants work with the facilitator at the start of projects and sessions to set expectations informed by the code of behaviour

• If delivering activities in an outreach, community or education setting, staff will follow the behaviour management systems of the organisation (e.g., mainstream school traffic light system)

The lead name and the other adults accompanying the group shall, at all times:

1. act 'in loco parentis' for their group and, in particular, in regard to any minors in the group

2. ensure that the group is adequately supervised

1. 1. We ask schools to follow the NSPCC guidance for child ratios

Children aged 4-8 - 1 adult to 6 children

Children aged 9-12 - 1 adult to 8 children.

Children aged 13-18 – 1 adult to10 children.

Adults providing 1:1 support for a child cannot be counted in the above ratios. Carers and staff for groups of under 18s are free of charge (up to a ratio of 1:5)

• Ensure that no members of the group smoke on any of the grounds at the Chester House Estate