Leasowe Nursery School and Family Centre

Admissions Policy
The information is based on the guidance for Childrens Centres and Schools that has been agreed by
Wirral, Children and Young Peoples Department.
All policies and procedures are monitored and reviewed on a regular basis, by the department, the
Headteacher / Head of Centre, Governors and staff team.

For Leasowe Nursery School and Family Centre the Curriculum Committee have discussed and
agreed this policy with staff prior to ratification by the full Governing Body.

Any updates will be due to future changes in legislation or Centre policy and procedure.

Ratified by the Governors on.

Date .Signed
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Updated

Date .Signed
.

Date .Signed
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Date .Signed
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Admission Policy

1
Introduction

As a maintained nursery school and childrens centre we offer services to children

and families in Leasowe and Moreton but have an open admissions policy that
enable us to care for children across Wirral and offer day care for children out of
authority.

We aim to ensure that each child and their family become confident and happy
members of our Centre and wider community. Our procedures are adapted to suit
the needs of each individual child as we acknowledge that some children take
longer to adjust to being part of a larger group. Our admission and induction
arrangements ensure that every child has an equal opportunity to benefit from care
and education.

Procedures for admission

Families are welcomed in the centre at any time and encouraged to look around.
The only exception to this is we discourage visitors during lunchtime as it is not an
appropriate and convenient time to visit or a senior member of staff is not available
at short notice. In this case an appointment will be offered or alternative dates and
times suggested.

A waiting list is kept in the main office for families wishing to register an interest in
a place for their child either before they need it (i.e. day care) or before a child is
eligible for funding (2,3 and 4 year old funding)

Day Care

A place is requested, agreed by Centre, start and settling in dates are agreed
Contract and admission forms are explained to parents, signed and sent to
main office for processing / invoice raising
Invoices are raised each term (3 times a year) and payment is requested
monthly in advance

2 Year old funded place

Funding is available the term after a childs second birthday

Parents are informed that funding application has been successful
Places are available for children from across Wirral
A member of our Outreach Team contacts each family in area and completes a
home visit
If a place is taken up with us, a start date and settling in time are arranged

3 and 4 year old funded place

Funding is available the term after a childs third birthday

Places available to all Wirral children regardless of which primary
school they transfer to
The term before children are due to start, parents are contacted to confirm a
place and asked to express a preference for mornings, afternoons or 2 days
Families are invited to a Welcome Meeting to meet staff and find out more
about our Centre
2
 Settling in sessions are available the half term before the child is due to start
or after their third birthday which ever is sooner
Parents of children who are admitted in January or April and do not get their
first choice of place are given an option to change in the following September

What happens after a child has started here?

Each child is admitted to all sessions in a way that is tailored to suit their individual
need as we realise that this time is a very important foundation to the good
relationship between family, child and staff.

Families are encouraged to stay and play with their child or read a book until
the child is happily involved with the activities
Support is offered to the family if their child is finding it difficult to settle.
Families are encouraged to share any anxieties with staff so that they are
happy to leave their child. Staff always offer families the chance to come
back early or to phone if a child is unhappy at being left, we always tell them
that we will contact them if we really are concerned that their child is
unhappy and we make sure that we do. Often reassurance and time are the
answer to a child settling into the routine.