Admissions Policy

Wheathampstead Playgroup is registered with Ofsted (Office for Standards in Education) to provide care for 36 children. The Registration Number for Playgroup is EY418285. Playgroup is registered for children aged from 2 to 5 years (until they are eligible to start Primary Education). Children will normally start in the first half term after they turn 2½, subject to the availability of places. A waiting list is operated.

Children's names may be placed on the waiting list at any time after birth and parents are advised to contact the Supervisor as soon as possible. Early registration helps us to administer our admissions policy fairly and also allows us to plan for the future needs of our area. Please print out and return the following form to Playgroup in order to do so: Waiting list form

Parents are contacted the term before their child is due to start, and invited to visit Playgroup and participate in a session with their child. During this visit a registration form and registration fee of £20.00 needs to be handed to the supervisor in order to secure a child's place.

Children will be offered a minimum of two 3 hour sessions. Where possible, preferences for morning or afternoon sessions will be accommodated but this is subject to available places. Lunchtime sessions are limited to 18 places per session.

Playgroup is frequently over-subscribed and places will be allocated in the following order of priority:

1. "Looked after children" and those in care of Hertfordshire County Council.

2. Children with special needs, who have been referred to us by another agency (including the health and education authorities or social services).

3. Other new entrants: Children living within our catchment area, which is constituted by the civil and ecclesiastical parishes of Wheathampstead. Within this group, places will be allocated according to the length of time children have spent on the waiting list.

4. Children from outside our catchment area who are cared for by carers living or working within our catchment area, eg. local childminders, grandparents.

We accept other children from outside our catchment area when there are places available after allocation according to the rules set out above.

The rules detailed above relate to new admissions only.

Should there be a shortage of spaces, priority may be given to 3 year old funded children, in order to help to ensure that they are prepared for their transition to Nursery.

Please note that we do not automatically reserve places for younger siblings. Parents should not forget to add brothers and sisters to the waiting list.

The payment of fees is due the first two weeks of each half term. There is no refund of fees in the event of illness or other absence. Late or non-payment of fees may result in a child losing their place at Playgroup until such time as all outstanding fees are paid.

Notice period - a half-term's notice is required when a child is leaving Playgroup, enabling the place to be offered to someone else.

Safeguarding Children

Behaviour

Equal Opportunities