St Edmund’s Nursery School/Children’s Centre

Rationale

At St Edmund’s Nursery School & Children’s Centre we believe that all children benefit from mixing with children from a variety of backgrounds and cultures, and of different ages and gender. We endeavour to ensure that our classes are always balanced in this way.

Our aim is to make the admissions policy fair and easily understood. Within the system there must be flexibility to cater for children and families with exceptional circumstances.

All children are entitled to 12.5 hours of free early education per week, for 38 weeks a year, from the term (January, April or September) after their third birthday. This will increase to 15 hours per week by 2010. At the moment the free entitlement is taken over five days, either a morning session from 8.45am to 11.15am or an afternoon session from 12.45pm to 3.15pm. In the future the free entitlement may be taken more flexibly.

In addition we have 9 places for babies and 24 places for 2 to 3 year olds. There is a charge for this provision (see charging policy).

Aims

To provide high quality integrated education and care for children from birth to five years.

To provide a seamless transition from home to nursery, from room to room and from nursery to Primary school.

To offer flexible arrangements, wherever possible, in order to meet the needs of children and families.

The Local Authority is currently reviewing its admissions policy. This policy may need to be modified to include elements of this review.

Procedures

In order to keep the admission process as fair as possible the following procedures are followed.

Families must complete a waiting list form; this can be done over the phone. Children’s names may be put on the waiting list from birth and may live within any area of Bradford Metropolitan District.

Children are normally admitted to nursery in September or January following their third birthday. Occasionally, if places are available, children are admitted earlier.

The waiting list is organised into terms which reflect the September and January intake and children are added to the waiting list the date the completed form is received.

Paid provision

The Children’s Centre is open from 8.00am (7.30am by special arrangement) to 6.00pm. In addition to Bank Holidays the Centre closes for one week between Christmas and New Year. In order that the whole school and centre can come together for staff development and training we will close for an additional five days throughout the year. Parents will be given a copy of the holiday list on admission.

The following paid places are available

Birth to 2: 9 places each session

2 to 3: 24 places each session

3 to 5: 16 places each session

If places are available children can be admitted at any time of year. If places are not available the child will be added to the paid provision waiting list.

Parents/carers will be given a copy of our charging policy and must sign a contract before their child is admitted. Children must attend for a minimum of two sessions.

Free entitlement

There are two classes for 3 to 5 year old children. Each class has places for 30 children.

Places are allocated using the following criteria:

• In order to ensure a seamless experience for very young children priority is given to children who have attended the under three paid provision for at least 12 weeks.
• The remaining places are allocated from the waiting list ensuring that each class has a balance of ages, gender and ethnicity.
• Children who have recently moved into the area or who have not had their name down on any waiting list and would otherwise miss out on nursery education may be given special consideration.
• Priority may also be given to children with Special Educational Needs or family needs.

Full time places

St Edmund’s Nursery School has a tradition of offering free full time places to four year olds. Wherever possible we will continue to offer children at least one term of full time provision before they go to primary school.

Full time places are from 8.45am to 3.15pm. A charge will be made for lunch.

Lunchtime is a social experience with children helping to set the tables, sitting in small groups with an adult and serving each other. They are encouraged to try new foods. If a full time place is offered the child will be expected to stay for lunch.

General Admission arrangements

We want children to settle into the provision happily with parents/carer circumstances also being taken into account during the settling in period.

Children thrive in an environment in which they feel safe and secure. Parents/carers must feel confident that their child’s experience is as good as it could be. In order to facilitate this all children are allocated a key person. This adult has a special relationship with the child and their family and is the first point of contact.Â

Families are offered the chance of a home visit prior to starting nursery. Children are also offered the opportunity to visit several times prior to the official admission date (parents/carers must stay with the child during these visits). For children under three it is essential that several visits are made before the child is left for the first time.

For three year olds the key worker and parents/carers work together to decide when a child may be left unaccompanied at the nursery for the first time. Each child is treated individually; his/her particular past experiences (e.g. playgroup attendance) and emotional maturity are taken into account during this important settling in period. Parents/carers are often asked to leave their child for only short periods of time initially.

Children who have a place at another maintained nursery will not be offered a place unless they have moved.

Wherever possible we will liaise with local schools to ensure there is no overlap in the allocation of nursery places.

Resourced Provision

In addition to our admission numbers we have 8 places for 3-5 year olds with substantial and sustained additional needs. These places are allocated through the Early Years Inclusion Panel (see SEN policy).

Extended Holidays

There is an expectation that children will attend regularly. If parents/carers are planning an extended holiday they need to arrange this with the Headteacher.

(see Attendance policy)

January 2007