Nursery Admissions
Early Years Entitlement
From the term after their third birthday until they start school, your child is entitled to up to 570 hours of free early learning and childcare each year, known as the Early Years Entitlement.
This is often taken as 15 hours per week for 38 weeks a year during school term time. The hours can take place in nurseries (including school nursery classes), playgroups, pre-schools or at certain childminders. Additional hours can be purchased for £4.02 per hour.
You can use a minimum of 2.5 hours and a maximum of 10 hours a day between 7am and 7pm. At St Nicholas school we offer Nursery provision between 7.45am and 6.00pm.
Some families are eligible for 30 hours free early learning and childcare per week. Please see the information at the bottom of this page to find out how to check eligibility and how to apply.
Check the table below to see when your child is eligible for funding:
| Child born between | Entitled from: |
|---|---|
| 1 April and 31 August | Start of autumn term after their third birthday until they go to school |
| 1 September and 31 December | Start of spring term after their third birthday until they go to school |
| 1 January and 31 March |
Start of summer term after their third birthday until they go to school
|
Applications are considered by our Governor's Admissions Commitee in the middle of the term before your child would join us. We can offer spaces for up to 26 children per session.
The times of the sessions are:
7.45 - 8.45 Breakfast Club (for children from the age of 3)
8.45 - 11.45 Morning Session
11.45 - 12.45 Lunch
12.45 - 3.15 Afternoon Session
3.15 - 6pm After School Club
We encourage parents to visit our Nursery to see it in action. Please contact Ali (abrocksom@stncs.uk / 01392 445403 ext 222) to arrange a tour.
We will make every effort to accommodate all applicants in our Nursery. In the event of oversubscription for Nursery places we will apply our oversubscription policy. Children will be admitted according to the following criteria:
-
- Children in care or who were in care but ceased to be so because they were adopted, made the subject of a residency order or made the subject of a special guardianship order. (Evidence required: Letter from the Local Authority)
- Children for whom an exceptional medical or social need is demonstrated.
- Baptised Catholic children. (Evidence required: Baptismal Certificate or the supplementary information form will allow space for a Catholic priest to sign and confirm his knowledge of the child’s Baptism)
- Children with at least one parent who is a baptised Catholic. (Evidence required: parent’s Baptism certificate or the supplementary information form will allow space for a Catholic priest to sign and confirm his knowledge of the parent’s Baptism)
- Children with siblings already in the school at the point of application.
- Children whose parents are enrolled in a programme of preparation for their child’s baptism into the Catholic Church. (Evidence required: the supplementary information form will allow space for a Catholic priest to sign and confirm the enrolment)
- Children who are members of another Christian denomination from a recognised Christian Church, (Christian Church meaning a Church belonging to ‘Churches Together in Devon’), providing such application is supported by the appropriate Minister of Religion. (Evidence: baptismal certificate or the supplementary information form will allow space for an appropriate Minister of Religion to sign and confirm their knowledge of the child’s baptism)
- Children who are members of another recognised faith tradition. (Evidence required: the supplementary information form will allow space for an appropriate Minister of Religion to sign and confirm this fact)
- Other children of whatever background whose parents’ preference for the school is because they wish their child to experience faith-centred education. (Evidence required: the supplementary information form will allow space for the signature of the parent(s) making that statement)
- Children of members of staff employed at this school for more than two years when the application is made or recruited within the past two years to fill a vacancy for which there was a skills shortage.
- All other children whose parents express a preference for the school for whatever reason. (Evidence required: Submission of a Common Application Form including this school among its preferences.)
How to apply:
Please complete the form below and return to the school office with a copy of your child's birth certificate and any evidence required to support your application.
Once your child's place has been confirmed you will receive a contract to sign confirming your child's sessions and you will be invited to a welcome talk at school.