Nursery Admissions

::Thank you for your interest in a place for your child at St Nicholas CE First School.  The information below should provide all the information you need regarding our Admissions procedures.  However, if you have a particular query please contact the following administration staff:-

Rising 3’s and Nursery Payments: bookings-snfs@cmat.academy

Nursery, Reception and ‘In-Year’ Admissions – Mrs G Kilvert  gkilvert@cmat.academy

St Nicholas First School has an admission policy, as an academy. School places are allocated according to the criteria agreed and outlined in the Schools Admissions Policy (see attachments below).

Guidance on how to apply can be found at:-

https://www.staffordshire.gov.uk/Education/Admissions-primary

Find out if you fall within the St Nicholas catchment area here.

If you would like an in person  of the school, then please email gemma.kilvert@st-nicholas.staffs.sch.uk to request this.   We appreciate how important it is to visit a school to see that it is the right fit for your family.

Provision for Nursery children at St Nicholas, within a newly extended and renovated classroom/outdoor space has a number of flexibilities for parents. Please see the relevant section to find out what the school can offer you.

The term after your child turns 3…

As long as we have space we are able to take your child in to our wraparound care facility known as Rising 3s  for  afternoon sessions  using government funded hours or at a cost to parents. *NB What we are able to offer term on term, year on year, differs according to pupil uptake and staffing. If this is something that interests you please contact office@st-nicholas.staffs.sch.uk  who will be able to guide you through this process.   Many of our Reception children begin their journey with us at St Nicholas in this way and the difference an early start makes is starting to really show academically and socially! Rising 3 pupils are fully integrated into Nursery life.

School Nursery

Children will be admitted to the Nursery Class in September of the academic  year in which they become four.    We expect all children to book for 5 mornings a week and the 15 hours funding is allocated to this.    If parents choose for their child to do less then they may do so, but any additional afternoon sessions will always be chargeable, unless in receipt of 30 hours free childcare,    Aside from the Rising 3 pupils  (as mentioned above) we can offer 15 hour : 5 x morning placements with parent funded afternoon placements as well as 30 hour government funded places to meet a child or family’s needs. Some families are entitled to 30 hours free Nursery funding and upon providing school with an eligibility code, children access a 30 hour session.   Children who attend all day will exceed the 30 hours they are eligible for an incur a £5.00 charge for lunchtime care daily.  We are unable to accept parents using 30 hours funding to cover the lunchbreak by doing less than 30 hours a week unfortunately.

In and around the 15 hour and 30 hour sessions there is also an opportunity for parents to pay for additional childcare, before and after school, really to suit need between 7.30am and 5.30pm. If this is something you want to know more about, please ring the office on 01902 842998.

Please note – all applications for places must be received by the school office within the timescales listed below to try and access a place for your child. To see the admissions criteria for this please see attachments below or call in and ask for a paper copy in the school office.

_{Nursery applications should be made directly to school by paper application form (available from the school’s website from the dates below)}

Applications to be made between Wednesday 6th September 2023  – Friday 1st March  2024.    If interested in a place after this deadline please do make contact with school as soon as possible, as places are in high demand currently.

Cost of sessions 

Morning sessions – funded through the free 15 hours entitlement for all 
Lunchtime Care = £5.50
Afternoon Session = £19.90
Afternoons Sessions + Lunchtime Care = £25.30
Parents can bring a packed lunch for children or have a hot school dinner provided which is charged for separately.    School dinners are  £3.20 daily currently.

NB attendance at school Nursery DOES NOT ever guarantee a child a place in Reception.