Admissions: Nursery

Nursery

Attached to the school, we have a 52 place Nursery for children aged 3-4.  Children can start with us the term after they turn 3, and we have a 3 term entry:

• September intake: for those children born between 1^st April – 31^st August
• January intake: for those children born between 1^st September – 31^st December
• April (Easter) intake: for those children born between 1^st January – 31^st March

Sessions Offered

We offer 15 hour sessions, which are split into 4 different groups:

• Five mornings (9.30 – 12.30 p.m.)
• Five afternoons (12.30 – 3.30 p.m)
• Monday and Tuesday full days with Wednesday morning
• Wednesday afternoon with full days Thursday and Friday

In addition to these 15 hour spaces we are also able to offer 30 hours for parents who are eligible. Please read the guidance which gives you some information on eligibility for 30 free hours. Before requesting 30 hours, it is essential that you access the government’s on-line eligibility checker to ensure that you are eligible for 30 free hours of childcare, via https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/

30 Hours Free Childcare for 3 and 4 year olds

From September 2017, the Government has offered 30 hours of free childcare per week for parents of three and four year olds, to help them continue or take up employment. Guidance from the Department for Education states that you will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible:

• You earn, or expect to earn, the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage (as a minimum) for the first three months following application.
• This equates to £120 a week (or about £6,000 a year) for each parent over 25 years old or £112.80 a week (or about £5,800 a year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old.
• This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract
• Where one parent meets the income criteria above and the other is:
• Unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
• On maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
• Where you are in a 'start-up period' (ie newly self-employed) you do not need to demonstrate that you meet the income criteria for 12 months

If you are a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national, you must have recourse to public funds.

Who will not qualify?

You will not meet the criteria when

• Either parent has an income of more than £100,000.
• Either parent is a non-EEA national and subject to immigration control (and has no recourse to public funds).

What happens if a parent loses eligibility?

• You will receive a "grace period" - this means you will be able to keep your childcare for a short period.
• Once the "grace period" has lapsed, you may be entitled to the universal 15 hour entitlement.

Are there any additional costs?

You may be charged by your childcare provider for lunches or for any additional hours of childcare needed. Please speak to your childcare provider for details. These additional charges are not covered by this scheme.

More information can be found at: www.durham.gov.uk/earlyyears and you can apply via: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Applying for a Nursery Place

The school office holds a Nursery waiting list, which your child can be accepted onto once they turn 2.  If you would like your child to be placed on our waiting list, please fill in the form below.  We would then contact you the term before your child is due to start with us to offer you a choice of place for your child.

We will always do our best to give you the sessions you would like but we have to allocate our places in line with Durham LA Admissions Policy, namely according to age.  As we have 3 terms of entry, there will already be a number of children attending our Nursery which will also impact on the availability of some sessions.

Nursery Lunches

If your child is staying for a full day session, they will be able to have either a packed lunch or a School Meal.  School meals for pupils in Nursery cost £2.10 a day.  Payments for School Meals should be made via ParentPay.

Nursery Uniform

Our uniform consists of:

Whilst the majority of our School Uniform policy is still applicable for children in Nursery, due to the active nature of the Foundation Stage, grey pull up jogging bottoms are more suitable, with a school jumper/cardigan and a light blue polo shirt. Black trainers with black soles can also be worn in the Foundation Stage.

School Uniform can be purchased from Moette Ltd, either via our website or their shop in Langley Park, where they also have samples to try on.  We like to encourage the children to utilise the outside area whenever they want to, so it is imperative that your child has a waterproof coat and wellies.  We would also ask that you clearly label all your child’s clothing and shoes/wellies.

Wrap-Around Care for Nursery Children

We are also offering wrap-around care for our Nursery children. This is from 7.30 until 9.30 a.m. and from 3.30 until 5.30 p.m. every day. The cost per session is £3 for Breakfast Club, £4 for 3.30 until 4.30 p.m. and £6 from 4.30 until 5.30 p.m.  Payments for Wrap Around Care should be made via ParentPay, or sessions can be paid for using Childcare Vouchers.