Admissions Policy, December 2018

The Sam Morris Nursery is a full day nursery, meeting the needs of families in Islington, London.  It is the nursery’s intention to make itself accessible to families through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.  In order to accomplish this, we will:

  • Provide information in clear, concise language, whether spoken or written form.

  • Monitor the gender and background of all new children joining the Nursery to ensure there is no discrimination.

  • Ensure all families are welcome in the Nursery for as long as it takes for their child to settle.

Criteria

The Nursery adheres to Islington Council’s policies when determining the allocation of Nursery places.  The Sam Morris Nursery offers 10 Community places will not be allocated due to the length of time a child’s name has been on the waiting list. The priorities are as follows:

  • Islington residents

  • Children ‘At Risk’ (or the sibling of a child at risk), who are the subject of an inter-agency protection plan

  • Children deemed by the Council to be ‘In Need’

  • Parents who are working or studying full time

  • Lone parent families

  • Siblings of current/past children, where possible

All places are allocated on availability within the appropriate age group.  It is the parents’ responsibility to keep the Nursery informed of any changes to their care requirements; this is explained to parents at the time of completing the child’s application for a place.

Waiting List

A place may be requested, once the baby has been born, by filling out an application form and adding it to the waiting list.  For older children, parents may apply at any time.  Parents will be contacted near their start date to inform of availability.  Once a space has been offered, the Nursery requires a deposit of one month’s fees in order to secure the place.  Once the place has been accepted, and the deposit paid, the deposit becomes non-refundable if it is not within the 6 month period.

Nursery Educational Grant (NEG)

Three and Four Year Olds

All three and four year olds are entitled to a free part-time early education place from the term after their third birthday.

From September 2017 some three and four year olds may be entitled to a further 15 hours, making a total of 30 hours per week. The following criteria apply:

  • Both parents are working (employed or self-employed including zero hours contracts) or the sole parent is working in a lone parent family; and

  • Each parent earns, on average, a weekly minimum equivalent to 16 hours at the national minimum wage (NMW) or national living wage (NLW); and each parent individually earns less than £100,000 per year.

  • Both parents are employed but one or both parents are temporarily away from the workplace on parental, maternity or paternity leave;

  • Both parents are employed but one or both parents are temporarily away from the workplace on adoption leave;

  • Both parents are employed but one or both parents are temporarily away from the workplace on statutory sick pay;

  • One parent is employed and one parent has substantial caring responsibilities based on specific benefits received for caring; or

  • One parent is employed and one parent is disabled or incapacitated based on receipt of specific benefits.

Any hours provided above the funded entitlement for three and four year olds at The Sam Morris Nursery are subject to the council’s charging scheme.

Children are entitled to 15 hours of free education, which can be applied for the term after the child’s third birthday.  This is calculated and spread out over the year, to ensure payments are consistent and to avoid confusion.

Under Threes

The Nursery provides 3 part time places for Islington-resident children under three. The part-time early education two year old places, for children who meet the eligibility criteria, are free.

A two year old is eligible for a free part-time early education place from the term after their second birthday if they meet one of the following national criteria:

  • the child is looked after by the local authority, is adopted or subject to special guardianship or a residence order

  • they are no longer looked after by the local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangements order which specifies with whom the child lives

  • the family meets either of the following financial criteria:

    • they meet the criteria used to determine eligibility for Free School Meals;

    • their family receives Working Tax Credits and has an annual gross income of no more than £16,190 per year

    • they have a current Education, Health and Care plan;

    • they are entitled to Disability Living Allowance;

The Council also funds some places for 2 year olds with special educational needs and disabilities who meet local rather than national criteria above

To find out if you are eligible under national and/or local criteria, go to www.islington.gov.uk/free2

 

Sibling Discount

The Nursery will endeavor to priorities Nursery places for children who have a sibling registered at the Nursery.  Sibling discounts are as follows:

  • 25% reduction for the second child only (30% for twins)

  • 35% reduction for the third child only

  • 45% reduction for the fourth child and each thereafter

 Students

As a non-profit Nursery, it is financially impossible for the Nursery to hold places over the half term, whilst students are not in college.  Should a parent wish to maintain their child’s Nursery place at The Sam Morris Nursery, they will be responsible for their child’s fees.  If this is not possible, parents will have to reapply for their child’s Nursery place.  The Nursery will make every effort to accommodate the return of a child in the following academic term/year.  However, we cannot guarantee the available space.