The Early Years Lead is Mrs Ellen Kennedy and the Pre-School Leader is Mrs Jayne Jones.

Please can all enquiries be made to the school office on 01305 832346 or via e-mail at office@standrews.dsat.org.uk

Admissions

Children are eligible to join the Pre-School when they are 2 years and 9 months old.  Our Pre-School is accessible and inclusive to all children. We recommend that children attend a minimum of 2 sessions a week, (can be taken as 1 full day).

Parents/Carers are encouraged to visit the Pre-School with their child before they start.  Staff liaise closely with Parents/Carers regarding the settling in of their child/children. 

The admission arrangements of the Pre-School and St Andrews are entirely separate.  The Pre-School welcomes all applicants irrespective of the primary school you subsequently apply for your child to attend.

Sessions

Pre-school is open Monday to Friday from 8.45am to 2.45pm.  We can offer half or full day sessions to suit your individual needs.  Half day sessions can be either 8.45am - 11.45pm or 11.45am - 2.45pm (incorporating lunch).  We recommend your child attends at least two sessions.

Our wrap around care (The Aquarium Club) is also offered from Monday to Friday. The breakfast session is from 7.30am - 8.30am. The afterschool session is from 2.45pm-5.30pm. Aquarium Club is based in our Pre-School room so children are familiar with their surroundings.  

Fees and Nursery Education Funding

Children are eligible for nursery funding the term following their third birthday.  The free entitlement is 15 hours per week for 38 weeks; this can be taken flexibly to include half and full days. For the purposes of nursery funding the term dates are:

Autumn - 1st September - 31st December

Spring - 1st January - 31st March

Summer - 1st April - 31st August

 We accept the 30 hours free childcare (3 and 4 years olds) that is available to working families.  We need your eligibility code from HRMC, parent’s date of birth and National Insurance number. For parents becoming eligible or obtaining their eligibility code after the term has started they will not be able to claim 30 hour funding until the start of the next term.  It is parents’ responsibility to reconfirm their eligibility.  We also accept Childcare Vouchers and Tax Free Childcare. The Mulberry Bush Pre-School currently offers a maximum of 30 hours.

We accept eligible funded 2 year olds from 2 years 9 months. You must have your child’s eligibility code prior to starting.

Government Funding

Age 2 years 9 months to 3 Depending on your circumstances parents may be eligible for up to 15 hours of funding for children of age 2.

Parents of eligible 2 year olds should contact Dorset Council to obtain a ‘Golden Ticket’ reference number.

Age 3+ From age 3, children are entitled to 15 hours of funding a week (universal funding). This starts from the term AFTER your child’s third birthday. You do not have to apply for this.

Depending on your circumstances, the government will fund an additional 15 hours a week (extended funding), resulting in 30 hours maximum. If you are eligible, this will mean your child can attend from 8:45am to 2:45pm, without additional charges.

Please note that for extended 3 year old funding, you must apply from the government website and be issued with a code. It is your responsibility to apply in good time as there are deadlines. If your funding code is invalid or if you fail to apply in time, you will be liable for fees for sessions attended.

Further information is available here: https://www.gov.uk/get-childcare

Forms for Nursery Education funding come from the Pre-School.  Please note it is a condition of the funding that your child attends regularly.  If your child is absent for any reason you must inform us as soon as possible. Each child’s attendance is conditional on continued payment of fees and or Nursery Education funding.  Fees continue to be payable if a child is absent for sickness or holiday. 

We require one month’s notice for any reduction in grant funded hours or ‘fee paying’ sessions.

If your child is sick or on holiday, the Pre-school leader must be notified and full fees must be paid.  We endeavour to keep our school open during bad weather or other unforeseen circumstances however should we have to close with late notice, the fee’s charged will still be payable. Should this period of closure be extended, the head teacher.