If you would like your child or children to join the Free We Grow (FWG) community, here are some planned activities and expectations.
Information meeting
The first step is to attend one of the information meetings. Dates will be announced in this webpage under news, or on our Facebook page.
Information Package
You will receive an Information Package. We invite you to read through it to understand more about our educational approach. We would like to ensure that if you would like to proceed with the next steps, that you – as a family – share the vision, democratic and child-led values of our setting.
We strongly recommend that parents read some information on democratic education.
Application Form
After attending the information meeting, reading the Information Package and having informed yourself more on democratic education, you can contact us to start the process of application for your child or children.
Application Form for Waiting List
If no places are available for your child or children, then you can fill out our waiting list application form. The waiting list does not function on a first come first serve basis as we need to consider the ages of children and their gender to maintain a balance in our small community of children.
Your application will be studied, and the admisions team will contact you.
Getting to know each other half day
After your application has been accepted (also for the Waiting List), a date for a visit to Dacres Wood will be arranged with you.
The purpose of this half day is that your child and you get to know the group. This is an opportunity for you to get a feel for the space and clarify any questions that may arise. On the day you are visiting, you are welcome to come and join the community from 9:00 am till just before lunch time at around 12.00 pm. There is no charge for this half a day.
Consent Form
If after the visiting day you would like to continue with the application process, you will receive the Consent Form. It contains documents that need to be filled in, signed and handed back to FWG.
Note: This step does not apply for children on a Waiting List
Trial period
FWG at Dacres Wood offers a trial period of 3 weeks. For children, the trial period is an opportunity to get a feel for the project at Dacres Wood and to make an informed choice about whether or not FWG at Dacres Wood is right for them. For us, it is a chance to see if the child will be able to fit into FWG at Dacres Wood’s life. If any party considers that either FWG at Dacres Wood or the child is not suitable, our mutual commitment ends here. If, however, FWG, the family and the child appear to be a good match, then our mutual commitment can continue.
At the end of the trial period, we hold a meeting with parents and children in order to share our respective experiences. You will receive an invoice for the trial period.
Confirmation letter
After the successful completion of the trial period at Dacres Wood, you will receive a formal notification via email to confirm a space for your child. Here you become a member of the FWG community.
Deposit transfer
A deposit of £200 is required for every child stated in the Application Form. This deposit is due after receiving the confirmation letter. You will receive an invoice for the deposit. If you decide to cancel the process, the deposit will not be refunded. The deposit will be deducted from the first term payment.
Payment of fees
The annual base fee is split in 3 equal payments – the term fees. In a timely manner before the term start you will receive an invoice.
Each payment is due before the start of the term and needs to be made at the latest two days before the start of the term. Fees are non-refundable.
Terms of cancellation
After a successful trial period (for both sides) a rolling contract with 1 term notice period is valid. Both sides are entitled to stop the Trial at any time for valid reasons. A cancellation by Free We Grow will result in a proportional refund of the unused weeks. However, there is no refund for a trial period that was cancelled by the parents.
Informal activities
FWG is a small community. Thus, we would like to use different opportunities to get to know each other more by meeting informally during the terms. We invite you to suggest any informal activity and to take part in any of those that may be proposed.