Admissions
WELCOME
We welcome children and families from all social, cultural and religious backgrounds.
We aim to create a rich and diverse preschool environment to reflect the social and cultural diversity in our local community and beyond.
We believe that all children in the setting have a right to be listened to, respected, valued and protected, and we will tackle discrimination of any kind.
INTAKE
There is one intake every September.
To help children settle, start dates will be staggered through September, taking into account the individual needs of children and families (eg, work commitments).
A January start date will be considered for:
The youngest children who will be less than 2.5 years on 1 January (turning 3 between 1 July and 31 August);
Children where it can be shown that this would be of benefit to them;
Exceptional circumstances.
Parents can choose sessions (subject to availability) but children must attend a minimum of two sessions per week on different days, to help them to settle and to enable their key person to get to know them.
There are two introductory Stay and Play sessions exclusively for new children and their parents/carers when they can explore the setting, play and meet their key person, together with a Welcome Evening for parents.
We can offer a home visit from the preschool leader, key person and/or SENCo.
Our Admissions, Payment, Settling-in and Equal Opportunities Policies are online: http://www.stcatherinespreschool.org.uk/policies-and-procedures
REGISTRATION
Parents can register their child with the Preschool at any time but should be aware that:
The pre-school only considers applications from those not attending any other preschool setting, so that these children may be assured of receiving early years education. This does not include children in day care or nursery where a child is not using the pre-school facilities at that setting. It is the responsibility of the parent to ensure this is made clear on the application.
Priority is given to those children due to start primary school in the next academic year, until their year group is full (approximately half the preschool capacity), and then the following school year will be prioritised.
The Pre-school leader may exercise her discretion and agree to an admission if parents/carers can demonstrate there are exceptional reasons for their child attending the setting over another applicant.
Your child will need to be entered on the waiting list by 15 January to be included in the intake process for September.
The pre-school gives priority to families already living (main residence), working or with children attending school in the West Dorset area as at 15 January of the year of entry.
Families on the waiting list will be contacted in January to see if they still want a place for September.
The pre-school will be as fair as possible when allocating places and will give every case careful consideration.
Children who have been allocated a place should receive an offer by 1 April for September.
At this point, you will be asked to confirm the place and to pay a refundable deposit of £25. This deposit can either be refunded when your child starts or set against the cost of uniform, fees or voluntary charges for additional activities. If payment of the deposit is likely to cause difficulty, parents/guardians should contact the preschool to discuss this.
ADMISSIONS are prioritised as follows:
Vulnerable Children:
A child in public care/looked-after child
Children of families with confirmed refugee status
Children of families who are known to be working with Children’s Social Care. Evidence needs to be present at the time places are being allocated.
Children with a medical condition, disability, or special educational need which can be confirmed by the child's general practitioner, health visitor or specialist Details must accompany the initial application.
Children where one or both parents have a disability which would make travel to a different Preschool difficult. Evidence from a registered health professional such as a doctor or social worker will be required. Details of this must accompany the initial application.
Children otherwise identified as vulnerable by the preschool
Siblings of children who are attending, or have previously attended the pre-school, and siblings of children currently attending St Catherine’s Catholic primary school. Sibling refers to brother or sister, half brother or sister, adopted brother or sister, step brother or sister, or the child of the parent/carer’s partner where the child for whom the school place is sought is living in the same family unit at the same address as that sibling.
Date of registration with the Pre-school.
SPECIAL EDUCATIONAL NEEDS & DISABILITIES (SEND)
We work with parents and carers to accommodate all children’s needs and are flexible to adapt to the changing needs of your child.
Information about how children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) are supported in the preschool is on the SEND page of our website and published online as part of the 'Local Offer’.
Dorset's Local Offer provides all the information parents need to support their children and make decisions about their care and education and can be viewed at: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/children-families/sen-and-disability-local-offer/dorsets-local-offer.aspx
BACK-YEARING & DEFERRED/DELAYED PRIMARY SCHOOL ADMISSION
If you are applying to back-year, defer or delay your child’s admission to primary school, you must notify the preschool by the end of February in the year they are due to start school.
For further information about back-yearing, deferred or delayed entry, please read the guidance online at Dorset Council: https://www.dorsetcouncil.gov.uk/education-and-training/schools-and-learning/policies/backforward-yearing-policy.aspx
APPLICATION FORM (click the link below)
Application form Jan 2024.docx