Little Explorers Nursery

About our Nursery

Our 22 place governor led nursery opened in January 2021. The nursery caters for 3 and 4 year olds and is a fully integrated part of our school, working closely with the rest of our Early Years Team. The Nursery is staffed by qualified teaching assistants as well having regular input from our foundation stage teachers.

FUNDING

All 3 year olds are eligible for 15 (or 30 hour) government funding from the term after they turn 3. We offer a flexible approach to the use of the funding and families can chose to use the funding for wrap around care hours in addition to the Nursery session times.

Funding can be split between two settings, including child minders.

All childcare vouchers are accepted.

For more information on how to access the funding, and to find out if you are eligible to 30 hours click here.

If you would like additional nursery hours outside of the government funding you can buy these at a cost of £4.75 an hour increasing to £5.50 from September 2024 (subject to availability).

Nursery sessions;

9am-12pm (lunch 11.30-12pm)

12pm-3pm. (lunch 12pm-12.30pm)

Wrap around care sessions;

Breakfast club 7.30am-9am per hour (broken down into half hours if not paid using funding)

3pm-6pm £4.75 per hour increasing to £5.50 from September 2024 (if not paid using funding)

How to apply for a place

Before applying for a place you are welcome to come and have a look around Little Explorers at any time. Please contact the school office to arrange a visit.

An application form (please download below) for a nursery place should be submitted by the following dates dependent upon the term that your child is eligible to start nursery (the term after they turn 3):

Applications for places for September starters (for children who turn 3 on or before 31st August) should be submitted by 30th April. Places will be allocated and parents notified by 31st May.

Applications for January (for children who turn 3 on or before 31st December) places should be submitted by 30th September. Places will be allocated and parents notified by 30th October.

Applications for April places (for children who turn 3 on or before 31st March) should be submitted by 31st January. Places will be allocated and parents notified by 28th February.

If applications for nursery places are over 22 then the following over subscription criteria will be applied;

Children looked after by the local authority (in care)
Children attending for 15 or more hours per week (term time)
Children with a sibling that already attends Thelwall Infant or Junior School (and will still be in attendance on their admission to nursery)
Children with particular learning difficulties or a disability, social or medical needs (identified by a medical professional)
Children of staff who have worked at the school for more than 2 years
Distance from the school – this is measured in a straight line distance

Once places have been allocated parents will be asked to complete the 'Terms of Entry' document (see below) and a parent declaration form if applying for funding.

We will then invite you to attend an induction session along with your child, prior to them starting with us.

As part of the admissions process parents/carers who do not get allocated the sessions they applied for may be offered alternative sessions subject to availability.

Late applications will be considered subject to availability of places.

Parents/carers who do not get allocated places will be invited to join the waiting list. The same criteria for prioritising places applies to the waiting list.

We operate an inclusion and equality policy and ensure that all children have access to nursery places and services irrespective of their gender, race, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation of parents.