Public Liability Insurance (and Employer’s Liability) Policy Summary

This policy is an annually renewable Public Liability Insurance, underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc. The information given in this document is only an outline of the cover provided. For full terms and conditions, please refer to the policy document which is available on request by contacting SCMA (see details below).

A block policy has been arranged for members of Scottish Childminding Association (SCMA) who are registered childminders. SCMA operates exclusively with Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc on the Public Liability Insurance. SCMA hold insurance monies under risk transfer agreement.

The childminder will be insured against liability for accidents to the children in their care, and for damage that the children might do to a third party’s property. The insurance, underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc, provides an indemnity (limit £5,000,000) for all sums which a childminder may become legally liable to pay for damages,  awarded in a civil action  together with legal costs and expenses and solicitor’s fees (with the consent of the company). No admission of liability or payment or promise should be made.
If you employ someone then you must display an employer’s liability certificate. Call 01786 445377/
option 1 to request one.

The number of children covered is:
The number of under 16's for whom the childminder is registered (please refer to your registration certificate for numbers and ages).  The maximum number of children the policy will cover is 12.  If two childminders are working together, the maximum number must not exceed 18 in total.
When babysitting:  a maximum of six children between the ages of 0 and 15. Extensions can be made by contacting SCMA.

The cover under the policy can be summarised as follows - 
LEGAL LIABILITY FOR OR ARISING OUT OF:
Accidental injury (including death) of any person in the care of the Insured childminder (including costs and expenses incurred in defending any matter forming such claim).
Accidental injury to a third party or accidental loss or damage to the property of the third party in the course of their childcare activities.
Nuisance or trespass.
Accidental injury caused by the incorrect application of first-aid treatment.
Administering medication/treatment (provided written parental permission has been obtained).
Children being left in the care of another adult during an emergency.
Damage to property including minded children's property. Subject to an excess £50.00 in respect of minded children's property.
Exhibitions, crèches, meetings and outings run for, and on behalf of, childminders.
Childminders operating from a British Armed Forces base outside the UK.
Babysitting children in the family’s home providing you have completed an SCMA Babysitting Checklist (available from www.childminding.org.) and had it signed by the children’s parents to show you’ve carried out a risk assessment of the house and have sufficient information about the children and how to contact the parents in an emergency.

EXTENSIONS HAVE BEEN ARRANGED FOR:
Legal cost of defending civil actions arising out of the above.
Motor contingency liability.
Member-to-member indemnity.
Employer's liability cover. Limit £10 million in any one event inclusive of all costs. Only on request.

Key Exclusions to the public liability policy

Arising out of:
Ownership, possession or use of any motor vehicle or water-borne craft.
Abuse or physical punishment carried out by the insured member.
Loss of or damage to the Insured member’s own property, or property in their custody or control.
Bodily injury to or death, disease or illness of the Insured member’s own children.
The first £50.00 of any claim arising out of loss or damage to minded children’s own property.
N.B. This is not a complete list of exclusions under the Public Liability Insurance Policy but only those relating to the most frequently asked questions. A full list of policy exclusions can be found in the policy wording, a copy of which is available upon request.

Reporting accidents
If a child in your care has an accident it must be reported to SCMA immediately if attention by a medical professional has been sought or if it may result in a claim (regardless of whether a claim is currently being made against you). You can report it in the same way as making a claim.

Law Applicable to the Policy
Unless the parties have agreed otherwise in writing any dispute concerning the interpretation of the insurance shall be governed and construed in accordance with English law and shall be resolved within the non-exclusive jurisdiction of the courts of England and Wales.

Complaints

SCMA and Royal Sun Alliance Insurance plc aim to give customers a high standard of service at all times. If you are unhappy with the service provided for any reason or have cause for complaint, you should initially contact SCMA, 7 Melville Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2ND or call 01786 445377/option 1 about your public liability insurance. They will tell you what they will do to resolve your concerns and how long it will take. In the unlikely event that you remain dissatisfied and wish to make a complaint, please contact RSA Customer Relations Office, at the following address:

Customer Relations Office,
RSA,
Bowling Mill,
Dean Clough Industrial Estate,
Halifax,
HX3 5WA

If your complaint is against Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc alone, SCMA will pass your complaint to their nominated contact within 24 hours. This will also happen if SCMA believes that it cannot resolve your complaint without the involvement of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc or there is any query relating to the complaint. The complaints procedure of Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc will then apply. If your complaint is not resolved or you are not happy with our response and the course of actions proposed, you can progress your complaint to our Customer Relations Office. A separate investigation will then be carried out in an attempt to resolve your complaint and a final response issued. However if resolution is not possible they will issue a response within eight weeks of your original complaint.

Compensation
Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance plc is a member of the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS). This provides compensation in case any member goes out of business or into liquidation and is unable to meet any valid claims against its policies. You may be entitled to compensation if we cannot meet our obligations, depending on the circumstances of the claim. Further information about the compensation scheme can be obtained from the FSCS.

IMPORTANT NOTICE CONCERNING DISCLOSURE
It is your duty to disclose all material facts. A material fact is one that would influence our judgement in the consideration of your proposal. If you are in any doubt as to whether a fact is material please contact your usual advisor.

A copy of the proposal should be retained by you for your own records.

Making a claim
If you wish to make a claim, please write to:
Insurance, SCMA, 7 Melville Terrace, Stirling, FK8 2ND or call: 01786 445377/option 1.
Full policy wording and a breakdown of the Public Liability Insurance price is available from SCMA on written request.