Terms & conditions
Enrolling in The Dot Academy (TDA) or The Dot Lab (TDL)?
Enrolled families receive a comprehensive Parent Handbook containing additional Academy/Lab-specific policies, procedures, licensing requirements, and family responsibilities. The Dot | Policies
At The Dot, clear expectations help us create a safe, consistent, and positive experience for every child and family. The following policies apply to The Dot Academy and/or The Dot Lab as indicated.
1. Enrollment & Registration
The Dot Academy
Enrollment is based on program availability, age eligibility, completion of required enrollment documentation, and applicable licensing requirements.
A child's space is not considered secured until all required enrollment forms, agreements, and applicable registration fees or deposits have been received.
Before a child's start date, families will receive information regarding required health records, emergency contacts, authorized pickup persons, tuition and payment requirements, and other onboarding materials.
The Dot Lab
Dot Lab missions, workshops, and special experiences require advance registration unless otherwise noted.
Registration is confirmed once payment has been successfully processed. Because Dot Lab experiences are intentionally designed for small groups, availability may be limited and registration may close once capacity is reached.
2. Cancellations, Refunds & Program Credits
Dot Lab Missions & Workshops
Dot Lab experiences require advance planning for staffing, materials, and venue capacity. Our cancellation policy is designed to provide families with flexibility while allowing us to properly prepare for each experience.
Family Cancellations
-
7 or more days before the experience: Full program credit toward another eligible Dot Lab experience.
-
3–6 days before: 50% program credit.
-
Less than 72 hours before: Registration is non-refundable and non-transferable.
-
No-shows: No refund or program credit will be issued.
Program credits are subject to availability and must be used within the timeframe communicated when the credit is issued.
If The Dot Cancels
If The Dot cancels an experience, registered families will be offered the option of:
A full refund OR a full program credit.
Weather-related closures, emergencies, or circumstances outside our reasonable control may be handled differently and will be communicated directly to affected families.
3. Drop-Off, Pickup & Authorized Adults
The safety of every child is a priority.
Children will only be released to a parent, legal guardian, or other adult authorized by the child's family. The Dot may request valid photo identification before releasing a child.
Families are responsible for keeping all authorized pickup and emergency contact information current.
Drop-Off Experiences
Certain Dot Lab programs are designed as drop-off experiences that encourage children to explore, collaborate, and problem-solve independently with their facilitators.
Parents or guardians may remain onsite when permitted by the specific venue or program; however, adults are expected to allow facilitators to lead the experience without interrupting instruction or completing challenges on behalf of children.
Late Pickup
Children must be picked up by the scheduled end of their program. Repeated or excessive late pickups may result in additional fees or affect future participation.
Any applicable late-pickup fees will be communicated to families before enrollment or registration.
4. Health & Wellness
Children should arrive healthy enough to comfortably participate in normal program activities.
A child should not attend if they are experiencing symptoms of a potentially contagious illness or have a condition that may pose a health risk to other children or staff.
If a child becomes ill while participating in a program, their parent or guardian will be contacted and may be required to pick them up.
Families are responsible for providing accurate and current information regarding:
-
Allergies
-
Medical needs
-
Emergency contacts
-
Relevant health conditions
-
Medications, when applicable
The Dot Academy will maintain more detailed health, medication, illness exclusion, and return-to-care requirements in accordance with applicable childcare licensing requirements. Those requirements will be provided to enrolled families through the Parent Handbook and enrollment materials.
5. Positive Guidance & Behavior
The Dot is committed to creating an environment where children feel safe, respected, included, and confident exploring new ideas.
Our approach to behavior is developmentally appropriate and based on positive guidance rather than punishment.
Depending on the child's age and circumstances, our team may use:
-
Positive reinforcement
-
Redirection
-
Modeling
-
Clear and consistent expectations
-
Age-appropriate choices
-
Problem-solving
-
Opportunities to pause, regulate, and rejoin the experience
Physical punishment, humiliation, intimidation, threats, or degrading treatment are never acceptable forms of discipline at The Dot.
Safety Concerns
We recognize that children are still developing communication, emotional regulation, and social skills.
If a child's behavior creates an immediate or recurring safety concern for themselves, another child, or staff, the facilitator may modify or pause the child's participation.
For recurring concerns, The Dot will communicate with the child's family to identify appropriate strategies and determine whether additional support or program modifications are needed.
Our objective is always to support the child while maintaining a safe learning environment for the entire group.
Inclusion & Accommodations
Every child deserves the opportunity to participate, explore, and feel successful.
The Dot is committed to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all learners. We encourage families to share any information about their child’s learning style, developmental needs, accessibility needs, sensory preferences, communication needs, or other supports that may help them participate successfully.
Families requesting accommodations should contact us before enrollment or registration whenever possible so we can discuss their child’s needs and determine how we can best support their experience.
We will work collaboratively with families to consider reasonable accommodations based on the child’s individual needs, program format, staffing, facility, safety requirements, and applicable regulations.
Need to discuss support for your child? Contact Us
Food & Allergies
Your child’s safety matters to us.
Families must disclose all known food allergies, dietary restrictions, and medically relevant food needs during enrollment or registration and notify The Dot if this information changes.
Meals and snacks may vary depending on the program or experience. Families will receive specific information regarding food provided, outside food, snacks, and dietary considerations before participation when applicable.
While we take reasonable precautions to reduce known allergen risks, The Dot cannot guarantee an allergen-free environment.
For children with significant or medically managed allergies, we encourage families to contact us before participation so appropriate needs and precautions can be discussed.
Have a food or allergy question? Contact Us