Nursery
Free Nursery entitlement for three and four year olds
Currently all families with a 3 & 4 year old child are eligible for the universal offer of free early education of up to 15 hours per week term-time only. From September 2019, some children will be eligible for an extended entitlement, which is up to 30 hours per week term-time only. However, eligibility criteria will apply.
Eligibility Criteria
v Both parents are working (or sole parent in a lone parent family) & each parent/carer earns on average:
v A weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at national minimum wage (for under 25 year olds) or national living wage (if over 25), and
v Earn less than £100,000 per year, or
v Both parents are employed but one or both parents is temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity, paternity or adoption leave or statutory sick pay, or
v One parent is employed & the other parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring, or
v One parent is employed & one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits.
In order for school to plan provision, parents are asked to self-declare to us, using the above eligibility criteria. Parents must also log on to the following website: www.gov.uk. The website will check parents’ eligibility and provide parents with a voucher code that they must present to the school.
In this school from September 2021, we will offer the following pattern of provision for 15 hours:
Universal Entitlement: (15 hours provision)
- Morning Sessions = 8.30am – 11.30am OR
- Afternoon Sessions = 12.15pm – 3.15pm
Pupils entitled to 15 hours must attend either ALL morning sessions or ALL afternoon sessions.
Extended Entitlement: (30 hours provision)
- 8.30am – 3.15pm - Monday to Friday, term time only
All children who attend our 30 hour provision must bring either a packed lunch from home or £1.40 for a school dinner. Children will be supported by lunchtime supervisory assistants and class room assistants while they eat their lunch in nursery.
Brighton Avenue Primary School will offer up to 37 part-time places and 13 full time places in nursery. (Two places for emergency sessions) However, this arrangement is subject to a termly review by the Headteacher and Governors.
From September 2024, 30 hour provision places will be allocated to pre Reception age children
We do offer a free breakfast club to all nursery children. Should parents wish to use the school’s breakfast club then they can do so by requesting a Breakfast Club Application Form from Nursery staff. Breakfast club starts at 8am and is available Monday – Friday (term time only).
30 hours? - When to apply
You can apply from when your child is 2 years and 36 weeks old.
| When your child turns 3 | When they can get 30 hours from | Recommended time to apply |
|---|---|---|
| 1 September to 31 December | 1 January | 15 October to 30 November |
| 1 January to 31 March | 1 April | 15 January to 28 February |
| 1 April to 31 August | 1 September | 15 June to 31 July |
You can apply outside of these recommended dates but you might not receive your code in time.
You must have a valid code by the end of the month before a new term starts.
You have to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months. If you apply more than 3 months before the term starts, you’ll have to reconfirm your eligibility in your account in order to keep your code valid.
The upcoming expansion
Starting from April 2024, existing childcare support will be expanded in phases. By September 2025, most working families with children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare support.
The changes are being introduced gradually to make sure that providers can meet the needs of more families. This means that:
From April 2024, eligible working parents of 2-year-olds will be able to access 15 hours childcare support.
From September 2024, 15 hours childcare support will be extended to eligible working parents of children from the age of 9 months to 3-year-olds.
From September 2025, eligible working parents of children under the age of 5 will be entitled to 30 hours of childcare a week.
Like the existing offer, depending on your provider, these hours can be used over 38 weeks of the year (during school term time), or up to 52 weeks if you use fewer than your total hours per week.
Sign up for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs.
Admission Criteria:
All children, subject to the availability of places, will normally be admitted to our nursery class no earlier than the day after their third birthday.
However we may need to delay your child’s start date beyond this proposed time based on their emotional well-being to a phased/staggered entry. This will allow your child to be successfully integrated within our nursery. This will be in agreement with the parent or carer and will be decided in consultation with the Headteacher.
CHILDCARE SUPPORT IS EXPANDING
With significant changes coming to 15 and 30 hours childcare support in England.
Sign up (using the link below.) for more details about the upcoming expansion from April 2024, as well as how and when to register for support with childcare costs.