Nursery Admission Information

Aims

At Springhead Park Primary, the nursery setting is designed to help children grow and develop in the early, and impressionable years of their lives. This includes their use their social skills to perform in a class setting: listening skills, self-discipline, patience, concentration on a task, ability to work with others, and the ability to solve problems. We aim to help children approach the world with a sense of curiosity, building on their own life experiences. However, one of our main goals is to ensure that our children are ready to begin reading; that they are confident and equipped with the desire, vocabulary, and language-deciphering skills. Our children will enjoy exploring the world around them and have fun on their own unique learning journey. 

Although the children are our priority, we also aim to support families within the area. Not only by providing an excellent nursery provision, but also by providing wraparound care. This will enable parents to meet other commitments with peace of mind, knowing that their children are safe, cared for and happy. 

In order to achieve these aims, we will offer up to 30 hours of nursery childcare, with an option to attend breakfast, lunch and afterschool groups. 

15 Universal Childcare Entitlement 

At Springhead Park Primary we offer the universal entitlement of 15 hours government funded childcare from Monday to Friday, 9:00am-12:00pm. This will run throughout term time only, in line with the rest of the school’s published term dates. Parents / Carers who wish to apply for these spaces will therefore commit to the full 15 hours of childcare as specified above. 

We believe this pattern of childcare is in the best interest of the children within the setting, allowing them to understand daily routines, have continuity of their learning and develop strong relationships with their peers and adults within the nursery. 

Extended (30 hour) entitlement 

Working parents who are entitled to claim the additional 15hours of government funding (totalling 30 hours of government funded childcare, sometime referred to as the ‘30 hour offer’), can apply for spaces from Monday to Friday, 12:30pm- 3:30pm in addition the universal 15 hours. This will run throughout term time only, in line with the rest of the school’s published term dates. Parents / Carers who wish to apply for these spaces, are welcome to apply for any, or all, of these time slots. 

In order to claim the government funding, parents must apply through www.gov.uk/apply-for-tax-free-childcare. Once the funding has been allocated parents / carers will be given a code, they are then required to give to the code to Springhead Park Primary prior to the start of term. Parents / Carers MUST apply for the eligibility code in the term BEFORE their child becomes 3. 

Parents/Carers MUST also reconfirm their eligibility every three months by re-applying through the government website above.

In the event that eligibility codes are not given to Springhead Park Primary within the time periods specified, the cost of the space will then become chargeable (see below).  

For more information, please visit: www.childcarechoices.gov.uk

Chargeable Nursery Hours 

Parents / Carers who do not qualify for the 30 hour childcare offer and wish to apply for spaces from Monday to Friday, 12:30pm- 3:30pm, can apply using the application form below. This will run throughout term time only, in line with the rest of the school’s published term dates. Parents / Carers who wish to apply for these spaces, are welcome to apply for any, or all, of these time slots. Afternoon Session are charged at £17.75 per session.

Once your sessions have been confirmed, these will be then be allocated for the term. If circumstances change within a term and parents / carers need to change the agreed upon childcare arrangement, please speak to the school office to find a mutually convenient solution. You will be billed in the second week of each half term, which must be paid before the following half term begins. 

For guidance only, please refer to published school dates for exact term dates. 

Lunchtime Care 

Lunchtime will be charged and are not covered within the 30 hour offer, families will be required to provide their own packed lunch. 

Eligibility for Enrolment in Nursery 

Children become eligible to start nursery in the term after they become 3 years old. P

Attendance at a school nursery class does not give priority for admission to the Reception class at the same school when your child reaches school age, parents must apply to KCC for a Reception place.

Where there are fewer applicants than the number of places, all will be admitted. Where there are more applicants than places available, the school will apply the following oversubscription criteria, in this order: 

1. Children in public care (looked after children) or children who were previously in public care immediately before being adopted or subject to a residence order or special guardianship order. 
2. Children with a medical need that makes it essential for the child to attend Springhead Park Primary School. Evidence of the medical condition must be submitted at the time of application. An opinion may be sought from a medical adviser before a place is awarded. 
3. Children of staff. 
4. Siblings of children who will be attending Springhead Park Primary at the time the child is due for admission to the school. For this priority, brother or sister includes a full brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, or step/ half brother or sister living at the same address. Twins and triplets (and other in-year sibling groups) will be also accorded this priority. 
5. Children whose parent or sibling has a medical condition, or where there are significant social or domestic circumstances, that would result in significant hardship if the child did not attend Springhead Park Primary. Evidence must be submitted at the time of application. An opinion may be sought from a medical adviser or other professional before a place is awarded.
6. Children living closest to the school, based on the distance measured as a straight line from the home address to the nearest pupil entrance. Measurements will be provided by Kent County Council in accordance with its home to school distance measuring policy. 

Home will be taken as the address at which the child lives with the parent or legal guardian who is also the main carer, defined as the parent eligible to receive child benefit and child tax credit, at the time of application. 

Springhead Park Primary will keep a list of applicants who were unsuccessful due to oversubscription. When places become available, they will be offered in the sequence of the criteria above. The waiting list will be kept until the child starts school.