| Q |
What is the Foundation Stage? (part 1) |
| A |
The Foundation Stage begins when children reach the age of three and a third and it lasts until the end of the school year in which the child becomes five. Children may go to a number of settings during the Foundation Stage, attending initially part-time and then full-time. In early Foundation, children may attend a nursery class or nursery school maintained by the Local Authority (LA) or a recognised non-maintained private day nursery, independent school or voluntary setting (pre-school or playgroup). In late Foundation, children may attend a school ‘Reception’ class in either a maintained or ‘independent’ school setting. In some schools, early and late Foundation Stage children are educated together in a ‘Foundation Stage Unit’.
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| Q |
What is the Foundation Stage? (Part 2) |
| A |
The Foundation Stage Curriculum is a planned programme of learning opportunities, provided in funded education settings by practitioners who follow the ‘Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage’. Using this guidance, practitioners plan a curriculum, which meets the needs of all children and helps them make suitable progress towards a set of ‘early learning goals’. These goals outline the skills, understanding, knowledge and attitudes, which it is hoped children will have acquired by the end of the Foundation Stage. Children will be at different stages of progress towards these goals, depending on their age and stage of development.
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) will be statutory from September 2008. It brings together principles and effective practice from Birth to Three Matters and the Curriculum Guidance for the Foundation Stage together with elements of the National Standards for Under 8’s Day Care and Childminding. From September 2008, all registered settings, including childminders, must comply with the learning and development and welfare requirements.
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| Q |
What provision is available for my three year old? |
| A |
A wide range of provision is now available for three and four year olds across the Wakefield District. There is now a guaranteed entitlement to a free, part-time nursery education place for every three and four year old whose parents want one. This free entitlement can be accessed within the maintained sector or at any of the private, independent and voluntary nursery providers that are eligible to access nursery education funding.
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| Q |
What nursery education provision does Wakefield Local Authority (LA) provide? |
| A |
Nursery Education is provided in designated Nursery and Foundation Stage Units based at the majority of our Infant and Primary Schools. There are two dedicated Nursery Schools and a Children’s Centre within the District that take children from 3-5 years of age. Wakefield currently offers five half day sessions per week (two and a half hours per session) usually either morning or afternoon sessions for 38 weeks each year. No charge is made for LA provision. Some schools have additional childcare facilities on site. There are charges for these additional services. The section "Wakefield Primary Schools" identifies those schools that can offer additional services.
From 2010 the Government is increasing the free entitlement from 12½ to 15 hours per week. Plans are also being developed to make this available flexibly over three days.
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| Q |
Is my child eligible for an LA nursery place? |
| A |
The earliest date a child can access a free Nursery Education place is the term after the child’s 3rd
birthday. Although we can guarantee a free part-time nursery place for each child whose parents
want one, we cannot guarantee that this place will be at the school of your preferred choice or within
your catchment area.
Date of Birth
1 January - 31 March
Term in which 3rd/4th Birthday Falls
Spring
1st term of eligibility following 3rd/4th birthday
Summer
Date of Birth
1 April - 31 August
Term in which 3rd/4th Birthday Falls
Summer
1st term of eligibility following 3rd/4th birthday
Autumn
Date of Birth
1 September - 31 December
Term in which 3rd/4th Birthday Falls
Autumn
1st term of eligibility following 3rd/4th birthday
Spring
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| Q |
How are the LA nursery places allocated? |
| A |
Each school is responsible for allocating part-time nursery places. If you are interested in any particular schools, then please contact them directly and they will inform you of the process.
Children from families living outside the Wakefield District will be considered alongside those who live within the Wakefield District.
The LA is responsible for admissions for statutory age full-time schooling, which is legally from the term after the child’s fifth birthday. Full details are available in the section "How to apply for your child's first school place".
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| Q |
What is the timetable for admission to a Nursery Unit? |
| A |
There is no specific timetable for admissions to part-time nursery education. You should contact the
schools you are interested in and add your child’s name to their waiting list. The school will then
advise if, and when, a place is likely to be available.
The LA advises that schools allocate part-time places the week before the half-term break, prior to
admission the following term. This enables parents to have time to make alternative arrangements if
necessary.
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| Q |
At what age should I put my child's name on a school's waiting list? |
| A |
This varies, but normally at two years of age. Some schools are often full, therefore you may wish to
put your child’s name down at more than one school, in order to increase your chances of your child
accessing a free part-time nursery place within the maintained sector. However, you should inform
the school that you have also put your child’s name on another school’s waiting list.
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| Q |
How do I know which nursery or pre-school education will be best for my child? |
| A |
Every child and parent’s needs are different. It is important to contact settings and discuss your and your child’s needs with the staff. If you are a working parent, then you may need longer daily provision than 2½ hours nursery education. Not all schools have additional facilities but many are developing them to meet changing needs or are working in partnership with a private provider to offer additional services. You would have to pay for the additional care provided, if this was available, but it would give you continuity of care for your child. Day Nurseries may also offer continuity in care and education.
All maintained schools and some non-maintained settings will have a prospectus to help you. We would recommend that you try and spend some time at different settings to see what is available in your area. This will help you to decide which setting is best for your child.
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| Q |
What are the admissions criteria to a school with a nursery class? |
| A |
Currently the only criteria for admission to a nursery class (which is from the term after a child’s third birthday) is on an age order waiting list (eldest first), regardless of catchment areas and where the child resides. Schools operate the waiting lists and admission to Nursery school classes are arranged directly with the school. The three schools that are designated Nursery schools do serve a catchment area. A place in a Nursery class does not guarantee a full-time place at that school.
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| Q |
What are the admissions criteria to a school with Reception Provision only? |
| A |
Where your local school does not have a Nursery class, it will operate a Reception class. Reception classes can admit children part-time the term after their fourth birthday. Schools operate admissions to a Reception class and these are arranged directly with the school. Children who have their 5th birthday between 1 September and 31 August are usually the only children that are admitted to a schools Reception class at the beginning of each academic year (September). A place in a Reception class does not guarantee a full-time place at that school. Schools should admit children following the full-time admissions criteria.
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| Q |
Am I guaranteed a full-time place at the school once my child has started in the LA nursery unit? |
| A |
No. There is no guarantee that a pupil, who is admitted to a school’s Nursery unit will be admitted to the school full-time. Parents of children in Nursery units must complete an Admission Preference Form, in order to request a full-time place in a school, because the admissions criteria has to be applied afresh to determine which school has places. Schools should not put pressure on parents for their child to attend Nursery, in order to gain a place at school.
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| Q |
Do schools provide out of school hours childcare? |
| A |
A number of schools across the District provide care and play opportunities for children aged three to eleven years. Some schools have Breakfast Clubs, which are open before school from around 8.00am, and schools that have an After School Club, open until 5.30pm or 6.00pm. Some schools provide Holiday Play Schemes during half-term and main school holidays. There are charges for these additional services. The list of schools in the section "Wakefield Primary Schools" identifies those schools that can offer these facilities.
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| Q |
What is Wraparound Care on a school site? |
| A |
A broad definition of ‘Wraparound Care’ would be a package of more than one provision attended by a child in any one day. However, for the purpose of this guide, it is defined as a day care provision on school premises which caters for children aged three or four for the other half of the Nursery class day and the lunch time period. This means that a child can then stay for the whole day.
A number of schools within the District have private or voluntary provision on the school site or nearby (with transport facilities) and are able to offer Wraparound Provision. There are charges for this additional childcare. The list of schools in the section "Wakefield Primary Schools" identifies those schools that can offer this facility.
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