The Admissions Process – FAQs

Q: How do I register my interest in my child starting at Preschool?

A:  Parents are invited to complete a 'Register of Interest' form to add their child’s details to our waiting list. The Register of Interest form can be found in the 'Applications' section or by clicking here and emailing or posting it to the school office. 

Q: At what age can my child start?

A: If there are spaces available, we accept children from the day after their 2nd birthday. 

Q: When will I know if we have a place?

A: If you have completed a 'Register of Interest' form, then, when a space becomes available, you will be sent an offer to confirm whether you still require the space and what sessions / days you would like your child to attend.  

Q: Is it first come first served?

A: Our Admissions Procedure is determined according to the fairest methods possible. Therefore, we consult with parents in order of their child’s birth date, starting with those children who have turned 3 and work backwards.  

Q: My child has been offered a place

From the date that the offer is made, you will have a maximum of 5 working days to decide whether to accept the place on the requested start date. If acceptance of the place is not confirmed within 5 working days of the date when the offer is made, we will assume you no longer require a place for your child and they will be taken off our list.  

If the parent/carer requests for a later start date, then the child will be placed on a waiting list and their place may be offered to another child.

Q: I have confirmed that my child will be starting Preschool. What now?

A: When we confirm the starting date and the sessions that your child has been allocated, we will arrange some settle-in sessions with you. One of these sessions will be used as a paperwork session to complete with the nursery staff. The paperwork contains crucial information that we need regarding your child’s needs within the setting. It is important for you to complete and return this to us before they start, ideally before the start of term, to ensure your child has everything they need.  

Q: What’s a Home Visit?

A: If your child has specific needs or if we feel it would help your child settle, we may recommend a home visit where one or two of our Early Years Practitioners will arrange to visit you and your child at home. This helps your child familiarise themselves with members of the team in a comfortable environment. It also enables the team to learn as much as possible about your child in their familiar, comfortable environment to help with the settling in process at Preschool.

Q: What if my child isn’t settling?

A: Each child is allocated a Key Person from amongst the Early Years Practitioners.  This key person will pay particular attention to your child’s needs as they settle into Preschool and will be your first contact should you, or they have any questions or concerns.  You are always welcome to stay with your child as long as they need to ensure they are happy and secure. We will always contact you if your child is not settling happily or is in any distress. You can speak to your child's key person or any member of staff about any questions or concerns you may have at any time.