Admissions Policy

The numbers and ages of children admitted to Little Stars Day Nursery and Pre-School comply with the legal space requirements set out in the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS). When considering admissions we are mindful of staff: child ratios and the facilities available.

We take the following matters into account when prioritising and deciding on admissions:

• Availability of places, taking into account the staff: child ratios, the age of the child and any registration requirements
• Children who have siblings who are already with us
• When the application is received (extra weight is given to those who have been on the waiting list the longest)
• Little Stars’ ability to provide the facilities necessary for the welfare of the child, including appropriate staffing arrangements
• A child requiring a full-time place may have preference over one requiring a part-time place. This is dependent upon work commitments, occupancy and room availability
• Any extenuating circumstances affecting the child’s welfare or the welfare of his/her family.
• Looked after children and children with Special Educational Needs

A child requiring a full-time place may have preference over one requiring a part-time place. This is dependent upon work commitments, occupancy and room availability. We operate a waiting list and places are offered on an availability basis.

We operate an inclusion and equality policy and ensure that all children have access to nursery and pre-school places and services irrespective of their gender, race, disability, religion or belief or sexual orientation of parents.

Prior to a child attending Little Stars, parents must complete and sign a contract and registration form. These forms provide the Little Stars with personal details relating to the child. For example, name, date of birth, address, emergency contact details, parental responsibilities, dietary requirements, collection arrangements, fees and sessions, contact details for parents, doctor’s contact details, health visitor contact details, allergies, parental consent and vaccinations etc. 

These details will be kept confidentially for your child’s time here and in accordance with our GDPR Policy May 2018. 

Along with the registration form, prior to your child starting parents must also pay a deposit, equivalent to four weeks of booked sessions, and a registration fee of £60.00. 

Funded places:

We offer funded places for two year olds and universal entitlement and extended entitlement for three and four year olds for early education. Our funded hours are subject to availability. A fully funded child’s place will be free at the point of entry and will only be charged a holding deposit which will be returned in a reasonable time. We work in line with the Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole Provider Agreement April 2019. 

When you register your child for their funded place we will discuss your needs and, as far as possible with availability and staffing arrangements, we will accommodate your wishes.

Information from the Department for Education- Government funding is intended to deliver 15 or 30 hours a week of free, high quality, flexible childcare. It is not intended to cover the costs of meals, other consumables, additional hours or additional activities. Parents can therefore expect to pay for any meals offered by the provider alongside their free entitlement. Parents can also expect to pay for other consumables or additional activities offered by the provider, such as nappies or trips. Where parents choose to purchase additional hours of provision, consumables or additional activities, this is a private matter between the provider and the parent.

Covid 19 guidance

Children who are symptom free or have completed the required isolation period, can attend Little Stars. Families are asked to inform Little Stars if they, the child or anyone in their household has any symptoms and to follow the COVID-19 guidance as and when this is updated.

We will provide parents with clear communication regarding the role they play in the safe operating procedures and all measures being taken to ensure the safety of their children and themselves.

If anyone in the setting becomes unwell with a new, continuous cough or a high temperature, or has a loss of, or change in, their normal sense of taste of smell (anosmia), they must be sent home and advised to follow COVID-19 guidance for households with possible or confirmed coronavirus (COVID-19) infection.

When a child develops symptoms compatible with coronavirus, they should be sent home. Anyone who displays symptoms of coronavirus (COVID-19) can and should get a test.

Information regarding the symptom of coronavirus a loss of, or change in, your normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) – It will be very difficult to recognise this symptom in young children and they often go off food and drink for many reasons including when teething. It is advised that if a child does refuse food/drink at nursery you inform parents in the usual way and ask them to monitor this alongside any other coronavirus symptoms.