Waiting List and Admissions Policy - College Nurseries

This policy works in conjunction with the Admissions Policy for Government Funded Places

1. Waiting List and Admissions Policy

   Policy Statement

   • 1.1 It is our aim to provide childcare for the children of employees of the College and students who are attending a course of study at Leicester College. We will also offer places to children in receipt of the Free Early Education Entitlement whose parents may not work or study at the college and to users outside of the college. We intend to make the nursery accessible to children and families from all sections of the community. We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

2. Procedures

   • 2.1 In conjunction with Leicester College Equal, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, we ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.

   • 2.2 We offer places according to availability of sessions, age of child and sessions required.  The waiting list is arranged in order of the date of application with the following criteria.

     • 2.2.1. Students requiring nursery places, prioritising those in receipt of ‘Care To Learn’ Funding 

     • 2.2.2. Staff requiring places

     • 2.2.3. Siblings of children already in the nursery

     • 2.2.4. Careful consideration is given to children in receipt of the 2 year Free Early years Education Entitlement

     • 2.2.5. Admissions are dependant on the availability of sessions

   • 2.3 Leicester College Day Nursery welcomes children in receipt of Free Early Years Education Entitlement. From September 2025, all eligible working parents of children aged nine months up to three-years-old will be able to access funding for 30 hours per week of education and care for 38 weeks of the year. For employees of Leicester College, the nurseries may only be able to offer the number of hours per week that the parent works for the college. See Admissions Policy for Government Funded Places.

   • 2.4 We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, in written and spoken language and where necessary, we will try to provide information through signing or an interpreter.

   • 2.5 Our nursery and its practices are welcoming and make it clear that fathers, mothers, other relations and carers are all welcome.

   • 2.6 Our nursery and its practices operate in a way that encourages positive regard for and understanding of difference and ability - whether gender, family structure, class, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English.

   • 2.7 Children with disabilities are supported to take full part in all activities within the setting and the setting makes reasonable adjustments to ensure that this will be the case from the time the child is placed on the waiting list.

   • 2.8 The setting and its practices operate in a way that encourages positive regard for and understanding of difference and ability, whether gender, family structure, class, background, religion, ethnicity or competence in spoken English.

   • 2.9 Leicester College monitors the gender and ethnic background of children joining the group to ensure that our intake is representative of social diversity.

   • 2.10 We consult with families about the opening times of the setting to ensure we accommodate a broad range of family needs.

   • 2.11 We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families providing we can practically accommodate them and it does not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children.

   • 2.12 The nursery works with the different departments within the college to support students and staff members applying for nursery places. 

   • 2.13 Places are provided in accordance with Leicester College Day Nursery Terms and Conditions issued to every parent when the child takes up their place. Failure to comply may result in the provision of a place being withdrawn. 

3. Admissions

   • 3.1 Once an early education and childcare place has been offered the relevant paperwork is completed by the setting manager or deputy before the child starts and filed on the child’s personal file. Forms completed include:

     • 3.1.1 Nursery Privacy Notice - explains what personal data we collect, why we collect it, how we use it, the control parent/carers have over their personal data and the procedures we have in place to protect it. 

     • 3.1.2 Nursery Terms and Conditions - govern the basis by which we provide early education and childcare.

     • 3.1.3 Nursery Enrolment forms – Child’s Record of Information - contains personal information about the child and family that must be completed in full prior to the child commencing.

4. Children with SEND

   • 4.1 The key worker must seek to determine an accurate assessment of a child’s needs on enrolment. If the child’s needs cannot be met from within the setting’s core budget, then an application for SEN inclusion funding must be made immediately. 

   • 4.2 Children with identified SEND must be offered a place when one becomes available as with any other child. However, the start date for children with more complex SEND will be determined by the preparations made to ensure the child’s safety, wellbeing and accessibility in the setting. If a child’s needs determine that adjustments need to be made, the nursery manager must outline a realistic timeframe for completion, detailing the nature of adjustments e.g. risk assessment, staff training, health care plan and all other adjustments required. The child’s safety at all times is paramount.

   • 4.3 At the time of enrolment, the manager must check to see if a child’s family is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance, if so, the manager must ask for evidence to enable them to claim the Disability Access Fund directly from the local authority. If the family is eligible but not in receipt of the allowance, the setting manager will support the family in their application. More information can be found at www.gov.uk/disability-living-allowance-children/how-to-claim.

   • 4.4 Preparation for admitting a child with SEND must be made in a reasonable amount of time and any delay in the child starting is scrutinised by the nursery manager to avoid discrimination and negative impact on the child and family. During a preparation period the family and relevant agencies and the local authority must be regularly updated on the progress of the preparations. 

5. Safeguarding/Child Protection

   • 5.1 If information is provided by the parents/carers that a child who is starting at the setting is currently, or was involved with social care, the designated safeguarding lead will contact the agency to seek further clarification. 

   • 5.2 Parents/carers are advised on how to access the setting’s policies and procedures.

6. Further Guidance

   • 6.1 Early Years Entitlements: Operational guidance for local authorities and providers (DfE 2024-25) 

     https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/early-years-funding-2024-to2025/early-years-entitlements-local-authority-funding-operational-guide-2024-to2025 

7. Communication and Review

   • 7.1 This policy will be shared with parents and reviewed every three years.