10.1 Admissions

Policy statement

It is our intention to make our setting accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community. We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the setting through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

Procedures

We ensure that the existence of our setting is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.
We ensure that information about our setting is accessible, using simple plain English, in written and spoken form and, where appropriate, provided in different languages and in other formats on request, where possible.
We arrange our waiting list in birth order. In addition, our policy may consider:

the age of the child, with priority given to children who are eligible for the free entitlement – including eligible two-year-old children; (we take a maximum of four two-year-olds per session).
the length of time on the waiting list.
whether any siblings already attend the setting; and
the capacity of the setting to meet the individual needs of the child.
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.

We keep a place vacant, if this is financially viable, to accommodate an emergency admission.
our setting and its practices are welcoming and make it clear that fathers, mothers, other relations and carers are all welcome.
our 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.
We support children and/or parents with disabilities to take full part in all activities within our setting.
We monitor the needs and circumstances of children joining our setting on the Registration Form, to ensure that no accidental or unintentional discrimination is taking place.
We share and widely promote our Valuing Diversity and Promoting Equality Policy.
We can accommodate parents who wish to collect their child before the end of a session within these hours.
We are flexible about attendance patterns to accommodate the needs of individual children and families, providing these do not disrupt the pattern of continuity in the setting that provides stability for all the children. In order to provide continuity we require children to attend a minimum of 4 sessions per week.
Places are provided in accordance with our Childcare terms and conditions, which are issued to every parent when the child takes up their place.
Failure to comply with the terms and conditions may ultimately result in the provision of a place being withdrawn.
Once you have confirmed your space and accepted the available sessions, please note that any other spaces we have available will be offered to the child who is next on the waiting list.

Once a childcare place has been offered the relevant paperwork is completed by the Administrator and before the child starts the keyworker will file this in the appropriate places.
Forms completed include:

-07.1a 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.

Childcare terms and conditions - govern the basis by which we provide childcare.

Childcare registration form - contains personal information about the child and family that must be completed in full prior to the child commencing.
Allery and medical information.
All about me form.

Any initial requests we receive from you that we have been unable to accommodate at this point become obsolete.
We do not keep a waiting list for specific sessions.

Please see below the procedure for amending sessions once your child attends Westwood Farm Community Pre-School.

Procedures for changing sessions

We provide you with a session request form at the end of each term which is for the term ahead. You will receive these via e-mail to ensure fairness. The completed slips supersede any previous requests we may have received, including those made on your registration form.
We then endeavour to meet your requirements, allocating sessions on a first come first served basis.
We do not keep a waiting list for specific sessions.
This process then starts again the following term.
Any changes to sessions during term time will incur a £10 administration fee.

What happens if no sessions are available?

In the event of all our sessions being full, request slips will not be issued, and all parents will be informed via e-mail.
Your child will automatically be allocated the same sessions they currently attend.

Children with SEND

The manager must seek to determine an accurate assessment of a child’s needs at registration. 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.
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, well-being and accessibility in the setting. If a child’s needs determine that adjustments need to be made, the 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.
At the time of registration, 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.
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 setting 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.

Children with SEND

The manager must seek to determine an accurate assessment of a child’s needs at registration. 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.
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, well-being and accessibility in the setting. If a child’s needs determine that adjustments need to be made, the 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.
At the time of registration, 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.
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 setting 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.