Admissions Policy for Government Funded Places- College Nurseries (Free Early Year Education Entitlement)

This policy works in conjunction with the nursery Waiting List and Admissions Policy.

1. Allocation of Places

   • 1.1 We offer places according to availability of sessions, age of child and sessions required:

     • 1.1.1 The waiting list is arranged in order of the date of application.

     • 1.1.2 We endeavour to offer places to siblings of those children already attending our setting.

   • 1.2 Allocation of places at Leicester College Day Nurseries is on a first come first served basis with the following priorities:

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

     • 1.2.2 Staff requiring places

     • 1.2.3 Siblings of children already in the nursery

     • 1.2.4 Careful consideration is given to children in receipt of the 2 year Free Early years Education Entitlement (FEEE)*.

   • 1.3 This is subject to availability of sessions required

   • 1.4 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.   

     *Funded places are offered in accordance with the Early Years Entitlements: Operational Guidance for local authorities and providers (DfE 2018) and any local conditions in place at the time

   • 1.5 A child will be entitled to the additional funded hours from the term after both of the following conditions are satisfied: (1) the child has reached the age of 9 months; (2) the child's parent has a current valid eligibility code from HMRC. Example: If a parent applies for and receives confirmation of eligibility from HMRC after 1 April, 1 September, 1 December, the child will be entitled to start their additional 15 hours from the beginning of the following term.

   • 1.6 You must go online to reconfirm details at the end of each funding period (you will receive an email from HMRC prompting you to do this).  If you are no longer eligible for the extended funding, you will fall into a 'Grace Period'.  This is a short period of time to give you the opportunity to find work or reconfirm eligibility.  We will inform you of the end of your grace period date.  This is when the funding for the extended hours will end. You will continue to be entitled to your 15 hours universal funding.  We will make arrangements with you regarding ending, or if you are making alternative payments for your extended 15 hours. 

   • 1.7 Contact HMRC regarding any queries or appeals on 0300 123 4097 as Leicester College Day Nursery and the local authority are unable to answer any queries relating to the online application system.  

     Full details of these schemes and eligibility is available on request or online at:

     https://www.leicestershire.gov.uk/education-and-children/early-years-and-childcare/fundedchildcare-places/funding-for-9-month-to-2-year-old-children

     https://www.gov.uk/check-eligible-free-childcare-if-youre-working

2. Parent Declaration for Early Education Funded Places

   • 2.1 You must complete a Parent Declaration Form every term to enable us to claim all early education funding your child is entitled to.  You must complete this information and return to the nursery to secure your child's funded place for the following term.  Information you provide on this form will enable us to access any additional funding that your child may be eligible for, such as Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) and Disability Access Fund (DAF).  For further information go to https://families.leicester.gov.uk/familyinformation/childcare/funded-early-education/

3. Registering your Place at Leicester College Day Nursery

   • 3.1 To apply for a place at our nursery you must complete and return your application form to us. You must provide original copies of documentation to confirm that your child has reached the eligible age for all early education funded places. For example, birth certificate or passport. You must provide original copies of documentation to confirm that your child is eligible for two-year-old funding (voucher) or three-and four-year-old extended funding (eligibility code).  We will retain paper or digital copies of documentation to enable the local authority to carry out audits and fraud investigations. You must indicate on your application form the pattern of attendance you would prefer.

4. Employees of Leicester College

   • 4.1 Leicester College Staff who use the nursery and are in receipt of FEEE, (15 or 30 funded hours per week,) can access these funded hours only as full sessions. The hours cannot be used for part of a session. Any sessions booked on top of these will be charged at the staff rate. The 15-hour FEEE is only available for 38 weeks of the year e.g. Term Time Only. Please check college calendar for dates. 

5. Students

   • 5.1 Students may be eligible for the College Learning Support Fund; in which case the nursery will claim the free 15-hour entitlement and any remaining hours that the student is in attendance at Leicester College will be financed by the Learning Support Fund (LSF). Students will have to ensure they have made a successful application to the college LSF at Student Services. 

   • 5.2 No additional charges will be made for the 15 or 30 hour funded places, but attendance will be limited to specific hours. There will be a voluntary charge for meals taken at the nursery. Leicester College students in receipt of the Learning Support Fund for childcare costs, may have the meal charges covered by the fund. 

   • 5.3 Only after allocating places in the nursery using the waiting list criteria, if there are any available sessions left, a child in receipt of the 15-hour FEEE may be able to spread the hours over more than three sessions.

6. External Users (FEEE Only)

   • 6.1 Leicester College Day Nursery will offer children whose parents are external to the College, and in receipt of FEEE, 15 funded hours per week, 38 weeks per year (term time only) subject to availability of sessions. Leicester College students will always be given priority.

   • 6.2 The child will be booked into the full session; it is up to the parent whether or not the child is able to stay for the duration of the session. 

   • 6.3 Only after allocating places in the nursery using the criteria listed above, if there are any available sessions left in the nursery, a child in receipt of FEEE may be able to use some of their 15 hours for part of another session. 

7. 30 Hours Funded Education for Working Parents

   • 7.1 The maximum entitlement of either 570 hours or 1,140 hours per year will be offered as one of the following:

     • 15 hours Funded Education will be offered over 38 weeks per year during term time. The daily hours offered will be dependent on availability at the nursery and the working hours of the parent.

     • 30 hours Funded Education may be used for term time only, depending on availability of hours at the nursery and the working hours of the parent. 

     • 30 hours Funded Education may be stretched over the holiday period depending on the opening hours of the nursery, the availability of sessions and the working hours of the parents.

   • 7.2 Children who are booked in for any extra hours above those funded by FEEE, will be charged at £8.00 per hour, however FEEE hours cannot be used for part of a session. 

   • 7.3 A monthly payment will be calculated and set up in time for the beginning of the new term. Please ensure you collect the paperwork from the nursery in order to start the process. 

   • 7.6 All of the above sessions will be offered during the nursery open hours:

     • Monday to Thursday- 8.00am to 5.15pm.

     • Friday- 8.00am to 5.00p.m.

     • Closed on Bank Holidays – for Christmas closure please see College calendar.

     • Please note that the nursery opening hours vary during college holidays.

8. Nursery Meals

   • 8.1 The cost of meals is included if the parent is paying the full nursery fees.

   • 8.2 All users in receipt of FEEE will be asked to make a voluntary contribution for nursery meals. (Students may be eligible for funding for this charge through the College Learner Support Fund.)  

   • 8.3 There will be an option for children to bring a packed lunch and snacks, including food for the afternoon meal if attending a full day. Leicester College Nurseries have strict guidelines around what foods can be included in children’s lunchboxes.   

9. Communication and Review

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