admissions policies - can any committee members help?

[misshardbroom]

Our preschool (I'm Chair of the committee) is vastly oversubscribed, and so far we've managed to cope by offering a greater number of children fewer sessions (e.g. the 3-4 age group have 3 sessions each week). However, the numbers for next year are so great that it's doubtful whether we can even offer as many sessions as this.

Can any committee members help? I'm wondering what admissions policies you have in place, how many children you even put on your waiting list, etc.

Any thoughts would be gratefully received.

The LEA nurseries are funded differently so if your child attends one you cannot claim for any other setting as well - presumably the LEA pays the staff & for the building etc directly grrrrrrrr

Yes a setting has to offer 5 sessions per week "if it is able to"

CG - Is it true that if a setting can't offer 5 sessions a week then they can't receive the early years funding?

No that is not true, they must offer 5 sessions if they are ABLE to. A pre-school near us only operates 3 mornings per week as the community centre they use is not available for any other slots so they offer 3 funded sessions per week.

Similarly if people start off with only 3 sessions per week and then wish to increase but we are then full then it's tough they can't have 5 sessions with us.

So what you stated is NOT true

Hmm just trying to work out why DS' preschool doesn't offer funded sessions. I presumed it was cos it was only open for 3 mornings. I take it being attached to a church has nothing to do with it?

Are they Ofsted registered?

Don't all preschools have to be ofsted registered? I know there are 2 types of inspections though - one to determine that the setting meets the 14 National Standards, and one to determine that it delivers the EYFS in a way that is acceptable to the government. All settings have to meet the National Standards but I think only those who offer the Early Years Grant have to follow the EYFS? For example I think a lot of pre-prep nurseries opt out of the EYFS because a lot of them are hothouses and they have to be pushy which isn't in line with the EYFS which is meant to be child-led.

That would make sense, but doesn't explain your query. Hmm, i am interested now....

Since the introduction of the EYFS etc and the paperwork they have to do there is little point in a pre-school not registering. However if they only offer 2.5 hour sessions and the EYF is not sufficient per session to cover their costs they would be stuffed as they are not permitted to charge a "top up" They can only charge if they offer additional services such as opening longer hours etc.

CG - I take it you mean not registering for the grant as opposed to not registering with ofsted at all?

yes not registering for the Grant. They have so much paperwork to do to comply for Ofsted (which they must by law) there is not much extra work involved in being a registered setting.

How long are the sessions and how much do you pay?

£4.57 for 2.5 hours, 3 times a week.

There's 36 children so altogether that's £164.52 per session and £493.56 per week.

Aren't all settings registered? Or did you mean registered to receive the grant again? Gosh it's all very confusing isn't it!

Yes registering to become a grant accepting place. It would def be worth it because I'm sure the grant would be more than £4.57 per session? How on earth do they run for that? Perhaps they would have to start paying rent or something so it actually costs what they receive in grant, or put wages up, or spend more on resources.

Which LEA do you live in?

Dudley LEA.

How come pre-prep nurseries are exempt from having to follow EYFS?

I'm not sure how prep schools get out of it, I can't find the dudley rate. You have to be open at least 35 weeks per year (I think).

I should imagine the EYF grant would be at least £7 per session there is loads of information and help on the Dudley Met site for the provider

www.dudley.gov.uk/education-and-learning/early-years if they wanted to investigate operating as a provider. Perhaps they don't have the time/energy to pursue it?