Foundation 1 Admission Policy  

CONTENTS

Statement of intent

1. Legal framework

2. Free childcare arrangements

3. Eligibility for 30 hours free childcare

4. Extension of 30 hours to children in foster care

5. Application timetable

6. Additional costs

7. Oversubscription

8. Reserve list

9. Withdrawing offers

10. Refusal of Admission

11. Admission to Reception

12. Transition arrangements

13. Data protection

14. Policy review

Statement of intent:

Co-op Academy Woodslee  aims to provide a nursery experience for children that is affordable, high-quality and geared towards a smooth transition into Reception class.

Co-op Academy Woodslee’s Governing Council is the admission authority and is responsible for setting the school’s Nursery Admissions Policy. This policy is written to ensure fairness and equality for all those intending to begin their education at Co-op Academy Woodslee.

1.0 Legal framework

1.1.This policy has due regard to legislation and guidance, including, but not limited to, the following:

Legislation

Children Act 2006

Childcare Act 2016

Data Protection Act 2018

The General Data Protection Regulation

Guidance

DfE (2014) ‘School Admissions Code’

DfE (2012) ‘School Admission Appeals Code’

DfE (2018) ‘Early education and childcare’

DfE (2018) ‘Early years entitlements: operational guide’

1.2.This policy will be implemented in conjunction with the following school policies:

Nursery Fees Policy

GDPR Data Protection Policy

2.0 Free childcare arrangements

2.1. Co-op Academy Woodslee  is required to secure free places offering 570 hours childcare a year, over no fewer than 38 weeks of the year for every eligible child in the Woodslee from the relevant dates outlined at 2.3.

2.2. Children are eligible for free childcare from the relevant dates (outlined at paragraph 2.3) up until the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.

2.3. With regards to the age criteria, pupils will be eligible as follows:-

Children are eligible to start in Foundation Stage One as ‘rising threes’ when they are still two, as long as they turn 3 before the end of their first term at school.

2.4. Co-op Academy Woodslee can accommodate a maximum of 34 nursery children.

2.5. The school offers 30 hours free childcare as an extension to the universal 15 hours free childcare.

2.6. The school is able to accommodate 34 children eligible for 30 hours free childcare.

2.7. Parents wanting to access the universal 15 hours free childcare for three and four year olds do not need to apply for this through the digital childcare service.

2.8. For children who take up their place later in the year or have moved to the Co-op Academy Woodslee  part-way through the year, the academy will secure a pro-rata’d number of free hours. The total number of hours will be adjusted to reflect the portion of the year remaining.

2.9. Co-op Academy Woodslee  will ensure that any three or four year olds moving to England from another country can access their free place on the same basis as other children.

2.10.Parents wanting to access the 30 hours free childcare entitlement must apply to do so through the digital childcare service.

2.11.Parents are able to access the 30 hours of free childcare for 38 weeks out of the year  i.e. during term time

2.12.The sessions offered to nursery children are as follows:

For children eligible for 30 hours free childcare, parents may use the hours across the week as required.  Hours available are;

• Full day sessions plus wrap around  8.00am – 5.00pm including a free lunch
• Full day sessions 8.45am – 3.15pm
• Morning sessions 8.45am - 11.45am
• Afternoon sessions 12.15pm - 3.15pm.

All other children – three hours free childcare daily 8.45am – 11.45am or 12.15pm – 3.15pm. (5x3=15 hours).

There is a quiet space for children to have naps where needed.  

The cost of additional sessions, depending on availability, is £19.50 per session or £39 for a full day with lunch included.  If parents wish their child to have lunch at the end of their morning session or at the beginning of their afternoon session, the cost of lunch is £2.00.

If parents wish for their child to attend Squirrel club (wrap around care) a morning session costs £5 which includes cereal and toast and an after school session costs £8 which includes an evening snack.

3. Eligibility for 30 hours free childcare 

3.1. Parents of children aged three and four must meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for 30 hours free childcare:

∙ Each parent earns, or is expected to earn, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage (unless in a ‘start up’ period – i.e. newly self employed – in which case they do not need to meet the income criteria for 12 months)

∙ The parent should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work

∙ One or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or are on statutory sick leave

∙ One parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work

∙ If a non-European Economic Area national, the parent has recourse to public funds

3.2. Parents should check their own eligibility for the scheme using the government’s Childcare Choices website or childcare calculator. If parents are eligible, they will be directed to the digital childcare service to apply.

3.3. Parents can only start claiming their 30 hours free childcare the term following the date they receive a decision from HMRC. For this reason, parents are urged to apply as soon as possible.

3.4. If eligible, parents must provide the school with their unique code to confirm they are eligible for the scheme, together with their National Insurance number and child’s date of birth. As the free childcare cannot be claimed until the code has been verified, parents should provide the school with this information as soon as possible in order to avoid delay. It is the parents’ responsibility to keep the school updated if this code changes.

3.5. Parents will be prompted every three months by HMRC to reconfirm that they remain eligible for free childcare.

3.6. Co-op Academy Woodslee  will audit the eligibility codes at six points during the year to identify any children who have fallen out of eligibility.

3.7. In accordance with 3.6, Co-op Academy Woodslee  will notify  as soon as possible where parents have fallen out of their eligibility within five working days.

3.8. If parents cease to meet the eligibility criteria, they will receive a ‘grace period’ – i.e. they will continue to receive the 30 hours free childcare for a short period of time.

3.9. If a parent falls into their grace period before their child has started a 30 hours place, they should not take up their 30 hours place.

3.10.The grace period will not continue once a child has reached compulsory school age.

3.11.A child who becomes ineligible during the first half of a funding block will be funded until the end of that funding block (i.e. 31 March, 31 August, 31 December) or for as long as they remain under the compulsory school age, whichever is shorter.

3.12.A child who becomes ineligible in the latter half of the funding block (i.e. up to the last day of the funding block) will be funded until the end of the following funding block or for as long as they remain under the compulsory school age, whichever is shorter.

3.13. If a child becomes ineligible for the 30 hours free childcare, they will still be entitled to 15 hours of free care.

3.14.Consideration to extend the grace period will be taken in exceptional circumstances, e.g. if a parent has been forced to leave their home and paid employment.

4. Extension of 30 hours to children in foster care

4.1. Children in foster can are also eligible for the additional hours, provided that they meet the following criteria:

1. Accessing the extended hours is consistent with the child’s care plan, placing the child at the centre of the process and decision making;

2. That, in single parent foster families, the foster parent engages in paid work outside their role as a foster parent; and

3. In two parent foster families, both individuals engage in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.

4.2. In accordance with criteria 3, if one individual is not a foster parent, then they must be in qualifying paid work and earn a minimum of the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum Wage or National Living Wage to be eligible.

4.3. There is no requirement on the type of work or number of hours that a foster parent must work in order to access the 30 hours, and there is no minimum earnings limit – although they must be engaging in paid work.

4.4. Children in foster care will continue to be eligible for the universal 15 hours regardless of the working status of their foster parents.

4.5. There is no requirement to access the full 30 hours if this is not necessary.

4.6. To apply for the additional hours, foster parents must apply directly to Co-op Academy Woodslee  – there is no requirement to apply via the childcare service.

4.7. When initiating an application, foster parents are required to inform the child’s social worker.

4.8. A designated individual, as determined by Co-op Academy Woodslee , will countersign the foster parent’s application to confirm eligibility. This may be, for example:

∙ The child’s social worker; or

∙ A supervising social worker; or

∙ An independent reviewing officer known by Co-op Academy Woodslee to protect the child’s interests throughout the care planning process.

4.9. In some cases, Co-op Academy Woodslee  may deem it appropriate for the application not to have a second signature – this will be agreed between Co-op Academy Woodslee  and foster parent before the application is made. The signed form will be sent directly to the contact within Co-op Academy Woodslee  who is responsible for issuing codes the office manager.

4.10. Co-op Academy Woodslee  has the flexibility to develop a policy and procedure for establishing the eligibility of children in foster care. Any process developed will be proportionate, flexible and aligned with existing process as far as possible, with the focus being ensuring consistency with a child’s specific care plan.

4.11. All foster parents will have access to Co-op Academy Woodslee ’s locally agreed policies and procedures for determining eligibility. In particular, foster parents will be provided with the following:

∙ The role of the designated person

∙ Who the designated person is and how to contact them

∙ What evidence the foster parents should be expected to provide

∙ How the foster parent should pass correspondence to Co-op Academy Woodslee  

∙ How/if the evidence will be stored once the form is completed and approved

∙ The timeframe by which the designated person will response to any application – this will be no later than four weeks from the receipt of the application

4.12. Where Co-op Academy Woodslee  determines that an application for the additional hours is not consistent with a child’s care plan, they will not be eligible, regardless of whether parents satisfy the other criteria outlined in paragraph 5.1.

4.13. Where an application is approved, details will be entered onto the eligibility checking system where a record will be created for the child. Once the code is generated, this will be sent to parents via email and the child’s social worker will be informed that the code has been issued.

4.14. Once foster parents have received the code, the process is the same as that outlined in section 3 of this policy.

4.15. Foster parents will be required to re-confirm their eligibility every three months and will be prompted in advance of the deadline.

4.16. Co-op Academy Woodslee  is free to determine the exact evidence required from foster parents to re-confirm eligibility, which will be made clear to parents during the initial application. At a minimum, the Co-op Academy Woodslee  will be satisfied that:

∙ The placement is still ongoing;

∙ Accessing the additional hours is still consistent with the child’s care plan; and

∙ The foster parents are still engaging in paid work outside their role as a foster parent.

4.17. If a foster parent is unhappy about the decision made by Co-op Academy Woodslee , they should follow Co-op Academy Woodslee ’s complaints process and contact the child’s social worker.

5. Application timetable

5.1. A child is deemed to be of nursery-age from the start of the term in which they will turn 3.

5.2. Parents may register their interest in a place at the nursery at any time during the year of their child’s third birthday, or second birthday, where eligible. You may wish to do this from birth.

5.3.Application forms can be obtained from the main school office. You must provide an original birth certificate as evidence.

5.4.Acceptance and non-acceptance letters are sent out.

5.5.Late admissions are possible, up to the agreed admissions limit.

5.6.Places offered are available to the child from the date the place is offered, until 31 August following their fourth birthday.

5.7. Co-op Academy Woodslee  will consider securing additional free hours for parents who have applied or re-confirmed by the deadline, but receive their valid 30 hours eligibility code after the beginning of the term, up to the dates set out below:

∙ Application/re-confirmation by 31 August – code start date between 1-14 September

∙ Application/re-confirmation by 31 December – code start date between 1-14 January

∙ Application/re-confirmation by 31 March – code start date between 1-14 April

5.8. Co-op Academy Woodslee  is not required to secure additional free hours where the parent has applied after 31 August, 31 December or 31 March, or for any codes issued after the dates outlined in 5.7.

6. Additional costs 

6.1. The nursery is able to charge additional costs as part of a free entitlement place – this includes, but is not limited to, the following:

∙ Meals and snacks

∙ Nappies

∙ Sun cream

∙ School trips

∙ Specialist tuition/support

6.2. Where charges are made in line with 6.1, parents are expected to pay for these; however, some payments are voluntary.

6.3. Where parents are not willing to provide costs for the above, they will be permitted to provide their own supplies to the nursery.

6.4. The nursery may also consider waiving or reducing the costs of meals or snacks, particularly for disadvantaged parents.

6.5. The cost of additional sessions, depending on availability, is £16 per session or £32 for a full day with lunch included.

6.6 If a parent/carer wishes for their child’s 30 hours to be spread across our Breakfast and Afterschool provision (Squirrel Club) they are to identify which days and hours are required

E.g.  30 hours =4 full days (28) 8am-5pm and a morning/afternoon session 9am-12pm

7. Oversubscription

7.1. Children who have an education, health and care (EHC) plan that names the school are admitted before the oversubscription criteria is applied.

7.2. Children with an EHC plan that does not name the school will be referred to Wirral Local Authority admissions team to determine an appropriate place, in accordance with Co-op Academy Woodslee ’s Fair Access Protocol.

7.3. Co-op Academy Woodslee  Governing Council may increase the priority of an application where evidence is provided at the time of application of an exceptional social, medical or pastoral need of the child, which can be appropriately met by the school.

7.4. The oversubscription criteria, set out in priority order, are as follows:

∙ LAC or children who were previously looked after but have subsequently been adopted or become subject to a residence or special guardianship order

∙ Children with a social or medical need who have been referred by a social worker, health professional, educational psychologist, outreach worker or education welfare officer

∙ Children who will have a sibling attending the nursery or the main school at the time of admission

∙ Children of staff who have:

∙ Been employed at the school for two or more years at time the application for admission is made.

∙ Been recruited to fill a vacant post for which there is a skill shortage.

∙ Children living within the catchment area for the nursery school

∙ All other children

7.5. Where there is a tiebreak scenario within the criteria, priority will be given firstly to a child who lives closest to the school based on a straight-line measurement, then by date of birth, with the older child given priority.

8. Reserve list

8.1. In circumstances where more applications are received than places are available, and where the oversubscription priority criteria has been applied, children who are not offered places will be added to a reserve list in order of the criteria and not by date of application.

8.2. If a place becomes available, the school will contact the parents of the child at the top of the list.

8.3. The reserve list is not a waiting list – if a request is made by a parent whose child has higher priority according to the admissions criteria, other children are moved down the list.

8.4. Placing a child’s name on the reserve list does not guarantee that a place will become available.

9. Withdrawing offers

9.1.Once a written offer has been made, there are limited circumstances in which an offer can be withdrawn – these are as follows:

∙ Offers made on the basis of fraudulent applications

∙ Offers made on the basis of intentionally misleading applications

∙ Parents not responding to an offer within six weeks

∙ A child is in receipt of more than their entitlement of nursery education

∙ A family registering their child at two maintained settings

10. Refusal of admission

10.1.A child is only refused admission if one of the following criteria are met:

∙ The nursery has reached its admissions limit

∙ The child is not of the appropriate age

∙ The child does not attend or take up the place *********

10.2.Parents do not have a statutory right to appeal against the admission authority’s refusal to award a place to their child.

10.3.Parents may appeal to the special educational needs and disabilities (SEND) tribunal against the provision named by the authority in the EHC plan.

11. Admission to Reception 

11.1 Children reach compulsory school age as follows:

∙ Children turning five years old between 1 January and 31 March are of compulsory school age at the beginning of the term after 1 April

∙ Children turning five-years-old between 1 April and 31 August are of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term after 1 September

∙ Children turning five-years-old between 1 September and 31 December are of compulsory school age from the beginning of the term after 1 January

11.2. Parents have the choice of how and when their child starts Reception class until they reach the compulsory age.

11.3. If parents wish for their child to remain in a nursery or early years setting until they reach compulsory school age, and access 15 hours of free early learning rather than taking up a place in Reception, they must:

∙ Discuss their choice with the school.

∙ Complete a Reception application form on 15th January 2022, to ensure their child has an offer of a place in Reception from the following September in case they cannot be re-admitted. This is usually done online via the www.wirral.gov.uk website.

∙ Complete a nursery re-admission application form and return it to the setting by 1 January.

12. Transition arrangements

12.1. Parents are invited to visit the school prior to the transition and complete a transition form with our Family Partnership Worker, Miss Rutherford.

12.2. Further visits are arranged according to the child’s needs.

12.3. A photograph book displaying aspects of the school is used to prepare children for their transition.

12.4. During the Summer term, Reception teachers from the primary schools to which the children will transfer come in to meet with the children.

12.5. During the visit, the child’s key worker provides the teacher with information about the child’s progress across all the areas of learning and will spend time talking to the teacher about the child’s social, health and emotional needs.

12.6. Details of children with SEND or particular educational requirements are shared, including their development throughout the year, support given and needed, and details of any other agencies involved.

12.7. Separate transition meetings are held for children with EHC plans and HC Plans, involving all agencies, including visits to new settings with staff.

12.8 Weekly stay and plays and meet the teacher events are planned for during September and October to allow for parents to understand the setting and the expectations.

13. Data protection 

13.1. When processing and publishing information, the nursery will ensure it meets its responsibilities under the Data Protection Act 2018 and GDPR.

13.2. Where personal information is processed, the nursery will ensure it is kept up-to-date and the Co-op Academy Woodslee  will ensure that the rights of data subjects are reserved at all times.

13.3. The nursery will act in compliance with the GDPR Data Protection Policy when processing personal data.

15. Policy review

15.1. This policy is reviewed annually by  Co-op Academy Woodslee’s Governing Council and Headteacher.

15.2. The scheduled review date for this policy is September 2024.