Frequently Asked Questions

What happens if The Patch has to cancel a session?

If we have to cancel a session we will endeavour to offer you a replacement session as soon as possible. Wherever possible we will offer you the same session that was cancelled on a selection of different dates. If this is not possible, you can use the cost of your booking in exchange for some of our regular weekly sessions, in the event that we are unable to offer a replacement session a refund will be given.

I can't attend my session any more, what is the return policy?

We are unable to offer refunds or exchanges. If you are unable to come to a session that you have booked, we are happy for you to offer that ticket to friends/family at your discretion. Please inform us of who will be coming in your place.

We ask that you do not try to publicly re-sell tickets.

Can I have a party?

We do not offer a party service at The Patch, however, twice a month there is an opportunity to hire the site for the exclusive use of your family and friends. Take a look at our 'celebration hire' page by clicking on the 'whats on' tab on the navigation bar.

 

Is there a toilet and hand washing facilities?

We have a compost toilet and handwashing station.   Hand sanitiser can also be found at the Refreshment Cabin and wherever we serve the children’s snacks. There will also be basins with soapy water and a towel wherever there are messy play activities.

Age guidance on sessions

We have included age guidance within the descriptions of each of our sessions. If you are planning on bringing children who fall outrside of our guidelines then we ask that you remain mindful that their presence does not have a detrimental impact on the experience of the children and families that are attending the session. If you require further assistance please contact Bizi.

When do bookings open for each season?

Sessions are advertised on the website every half term / half a season.  Sessions will be advertised 2 weeks before the season starts. Subscribers to the newsletter will receive an email with advance notification of the date.

If you haven’t already subscribed to the newsletter you can do so by inputting your email address at the bottom of the home page

 

School holiday projects

Our Patch Playtime sessions will continue whenever possible through the school holidays. You are welcome to book a place for your older siblings too, if you feel they will be interested and engaged.

 

During the Summer Holidays and Half Term Holidays we also offer Project Patch: Kids Only Holiday Club for children aged 6-12  Follow the link to Holiday Projects to see the next available dates.

Private hire opportunities for school groups, and other organisations

If you run a community group, uniformed group, school or charity and would like to discuss the opportunity for your group to visit The Patch, please visit the contact page and send an email to Liz.
 

Training & workshops

If you are interested in fidning out more about our bespoke training opportunities for schools, teachers, therapists, creative professionals and outdoor learning providers please visit the contact page and send an email to Liz.

 

What refreshments are on offer?

There is a Refreshment Cabin where you can help yourself to tea, coffee, herbal tea and hot chocolate. We have flasks of hot and cold water.

For many of our sessions snacks will also be provided. Please read the session information for more details.

Please ensure you let us know of any allergies/intolerances/dietary requirements with your booking to ensure we are able to provide for every child that attends. Snacks are only for children who have paid to attend but please feel free to bring along your own snacks for younger children.

We have a cold water tap onsite to refill water bottles.

 

Do I need to pay for refreshments?

All refreshments are included in the cost of your ticket..

 

Do you cater for allergies / food intolerances?

We will endeavour to cater for all allergies and food intolerances. It is important that you let us know this information with your booking and prior to your attendance. This will ensure that we are prepared and able to provide for your child.

 

Can I take photos?

You are very welcome to take photographs of your child at The Patch. We love you to share your photos with us and tag us too! You can find our facebook and instragram info at the tope of the page...

We ask that if you are sharing photographs on social media platforms that you don’t include images containing children who you don’t know.

 

Can I just turn up and look around or buy tickets on the gate?

All of our sessions need to be pre-booked via the website.  If you are interested in looking round The Patch then it is best to book yourself onto one of our sessions, when you attend if you have any questions then the Patch Team will be very happy to chat to you about your enquiry.

 

You are always fully booked. Will you increase numbers once Covid restrictions ease?

Our ethos is, and has always been, that we keep out sessions small so that we can continue to offer the small, welcoming, nurturing and personal sessions that we have become well-known for. So rather than this being a limitation of Covid, it has been a deliberate choice.  We are sorry if you are unable to book a ticket, and hope to welcome you to The Patch in the very near future.

 

I’ve not had a response to my text/email/facebook message?

We do apologise if we have kept you waiting. The Patch is run by a small team and we spend the majority of our working days facilitating sessions at The Patch.  For more details on how the best way to contact us visit the 'contact us' page. 

 

Do you have any vacancies to work at The Patch?

We don't have any vacancies at the moment, but if you would like to get involved in the development and future of The Patch then you can join our Patch Membership Programme (visit the Patch Membership info liusted on the 'Whats On' page for more info)

 

Can I hire The Patch to run my own project?

The Patch is not currently available for practitioners to run their own projects.