Nursery Admissions Policy – for admissions from January 2024 to August 2025

Section A – Nursery Admissions

1. Scope of the policy

1.1. This policy applies to community and voluntary controlled (VC) schools with:

• nursery provision (including Nursery Schools)
• early years provision running as an extended service (governor-run pre-schools) in nursery, infant, primary and all through schools that admit two-, three- and four-year-old children for funded or bought hours [1] or a combination of both.

[1] Bought hours are additional hours– on top of the universal and extended entitlements – for which parents are required to pay.

Devon County Council is the admission authority for setting these admissions arrangements.

1.2. The decision-making process for the consideration of nursery admissions applications for 2,3 and 4-year-old children is delegated by Devon County Council to the governing body of community and voluntary controlled schools. Governors should set up a Nursery Admissions Panel to manage this work.

1.3. It is recommended that other schools in Devon i.e., academies, foundation, free and voluntary aided schools with nursery and governor/trustee-run provision adopt this policy. They may choose to apply their own oversubscription criteria (that they have consulted on) for the whole school to the Nursery Admissions Policy, so they are aligned. Devon County Council requests that consideration is given to more vulnerable children and families when considering priority for Nursery Places (see Appendix 1: Oversubscription Criteria).

1.4. This policy does not apply to community special schools where there are nursery places

1.5. These arrangements comply with the requirements placed on funded providers in Devon that are set out in the Provider Agreement.

1.6. These arrangements seek to comply with the spirit and principles of the:

•  Early Education and Childcare Statutory Guidance for Local Authorities
•  Early Education and Childcare: Operational  Guidance
•  School Admissions Code
• Co-ordinated Admissions Schemes of Devon County Council
• This policy and related documents Nursery Admissions Policy Template January 2024 to August 2025, Note of Interest form and Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2024 – 2025

1.7. are taken through the Schools Organisation, Capital, and Admissions group (SOCA) which is a subgroup of the Devon Education Forum (DEF). The group discusses and makes recommendations on the policy.

1.8. Community and VC schools must complete the Nursery Admissions Policy Template: January 2024 to August 2025 that has been designed to ensure that schools meet the requirements set out in this policy. The template must be completed with all information relating to their school’s nursery ‘offer’.

1.9. Nursery is the stage of education before a child starts at school or reaches statutory school age (the start of the term following a child’s fifth birthday). Most four- and five-year-olds will be in school because places are offered in school for the September following a child’s fourth birthday.

2. Early Years Funding

2.1. All funded entitlements work to funding periods, so eligible children will be able to receive the entitlements from the termly date (1 September, 1 January, or 1 April) after they reach the relevant age.

2.2. All three- and four-year-olds are entitled to 570 funded hours a year. A child’s eligibility starts from the beginning of the funding period following their third birthday up until school age. This is known as the universal entitlement (15 hours).

2.3. Some three and four-year-olds, whose parents are working and meet the criteria, will be eligible for an additional 570 funded hours increasing their funded time to 1140 hours a year. This is known as the extended entitlement (30 hours).

2.4. From April 2024 working parents with two-year-olds will be able to access 570 hours (15 hours a week if taken during term time) from the start of the funding period following their child’s second birthday. This means that children will need to have reached their second birthday on or before 31 March 2024, and their parents will need to have successfully applied, to be eligible from 1 April 2024.

2.5. The same criteria used for the extended entitlement will be applied to the new funded hours. This will be known as targeted two-year-old funding for working parents between April 2024 and September 2025.

2.6. After September 2025, when the entitlement increases to 1140 hours (or 30 hours a week if taken during term times), it will be known as the extended entitlement.

2.7. From September 2024 working parents with children from 9 months of age will be able to access 570 hours of funded provision from the start of the funding period following the child’s 9 month ‘birthday’. This means that children will need to have reached their 9 month ‘birthday’ on or before 31 March 2024, and their parents will need to have successfully applied, to be eligible from 1 April 2024.

2.8. The same criteria that are used for the extended entitlement will be applied to these new funded hours. This will be known as under twos funding and from September 2025 will be known as the extended entitlement.

2.9. The process for working parents claiming the entitlements will be the same as under the current system, with eligibility checks processed through Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC). Parents will remain able to check what childcare support they are entitled to via the Childcare Choices website. Parents will need to open a childcare account through the Government Gateway to manage their application; they will also use this account to manage Tax-Free Childcare Payments.

2.10. From September 2025 the 570-hour entitlement for nine months to three-year-olds with working parents will increase to 1140 hours (30 hours a week term time only OR fewer hours a week for more weeks of the year) in line with the current entitlement for 3- and 4-year-olds. This is likely to mean that there will be fewer children on your nursery register because they are attending for longer hours.

2.11. For a summary, please see Appendix 2: Quick Guide to Early Years Terminology.

Two-Year-Old Funding

2.12. The introduction of funding for working parents with two-year-olds must not be confused with the existing two-year-old funding which, broadly speaking, is for parents receiving universal credit, or is a refugee or asylum seeker or if the child has an Education, Health, and Care Plan, received Disability Living Allowance or is or has been in care. Please see the full criteria.

2.13. From September 2025, when working parents can access the extended entitlement,  the terminology will be less confusing. It is for this reason that we will continue to call this funding two-year-old funding and the new funding from April 2024 two-year-old funding for working parents.

2.14. In schools that admit two-year-olds (including schools that admit two-year-olds at the start of the funding period during which they will have their third birthday – ‘rising threes’ [2]), parents must pay for the hours that their child attends, unless, from April 2024  they are entitled to the new two-year-old funding for working parents.

[2] These schools must have an age range that enables them to take 2-year-olds i.e., 2-11. If the school age range is 3-11 the school must wait until the child has had their third birthday before the child can be admitted. A governor-run pre-school can take 2, 3- and 4-year-olds without the school age range changing.

2.15. Therefore, from April 2024 some schools could have two-year-olds whose parents:

• pay for their place,
• are eligible for the two-year-old funding for working parents,
• are eligible for two-year-old funding

2.16. Devon County Council is sent a list of potentially eligible parents approximately every 6 weeks by the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP). Parents on this list are sent an email and/or text or an invitation (see images below), which directs them to check their eligibility through the Citizens Portal.

2.17. Schools must direct parents who do not receive an invitation, email or text but who they believe to be in receipt of Universal Credit to check their eligibility on the Citizens Portal before processing an application for a place. Parents in receipt of benefits (except for Disability Living Allowance for a child) can use the Eligibility Checking System (ECS) on the Citizens Portal and will get an immediate response about their eligibility.

2.18. Some parents will need to select request help through the Citizens Portal to enable them to submit evidence of eligibility. For example, they may have to attach a court order to prove that a child has previously been in care.

2.19. Parents who are unable to access the Citizens Portal can have an ‘assisted application’ where an eligibility check is carried out on their behalf. These parents should call the Customer Service Centre 0345 155 1013.

2.20. Parents should be encouraged to accept a place and to take up the full number of funded hours.

2.21. Parents should be directed to the parents webpage and can email 2info@devon.gov.uk if they have any questions.

2.22. It should be noted that a three-year-old can be eligible for two-year-old funding. During the period from a child’s third birthday up until the start of the funding period following their third birthday – when the universal entitlement begins – the child could be funded as a two-year-old if the criteria for two-year-old funding are met.

2.23. Schools that do not take two-year-olds are encouraged to consider extending their age range to two to meet the increasing demand for two-year-old places. Alternatively,  schools should admit children from their third birthday and claim two-year-old funding for eligible children. Admitting children from their third birthday would also enable working parents to access the nursery for their two-year-old from April 2024. If this is something that you wish to consider please contact the Funding Help desk to complete a new Provider Agreement Form so funding can be claimed Early Years Entitlement Funding – Mailbox earlyyearsentitlementfunding-mailbox@devon.gov.uk

2.24. If any school wishes to discuss age range changes more generally, please contact fran.butler@devon.gov.uk

Early Years Pupil Premium and Disability Access Funding

2.25. Funding is also given to schools and early years providers for 3 and 4-year-old children that are eligible for the Early Years Pupil Premium and for the Disability Access Funding. Both funding types support individual children.

2.26. Devon County Council run an eligibility check for Early Years Pupil Premium (EYPP) on parents who have set up an account on the Citizens Portal and been found eligible for 2-year-old funding and/ or free school meals AND who have a child of eligible age i.e., term after they are 3.

2.27. Parents who have not got an account on the Citizens Portal and who you think may be entitled to Early Years Pupil Premium should complete and submit the application form so a check can be made.

2.28. All providers that are in receipt of Early Years Funding are required to complete and return a Provider Agreement Form and return it to the Early Years and Childcare Service to signify that they agree to comply with the Provider Agreement.

2.29. A new Provider Agreement Form must be completed:

• by all newly funded early years providers [3].
• by existing providers where the age of children being funded is changing i.e., they start taking two-year-olds, they want younger three-year-olds to be able to access two-year-old funding.
• by providers that change their management i.e., a maintained school becomes an academy, a governor-run pre-school becomes a nursery class.
• when any details change i.e., phone number, email, named person.
• occasionally the Provider Agreement is updated, and a new Provider Agreement Form may need to be completed if there are significant changes to the local arrangements.

[3] Where ‘providers’ are mentioned, this means schools.

Admission points

2.30. The age of children and the times when schools admit them can differ. Schools that take two-year-olds can have the following admission points [4]:

Funded two-year-olds are admitted:

• from the start of the funding period following their second birthday.
• as rising three-year-olds at the start of the funding period in which they have their third birthday.
• that have had their third but who have not yet reached the start of the funding period following their third birthday when the universal entitlement is funded.

Non-Funded two-year-olds are admitted:

• from their second birthday (some of these children may go on to be a funded two-year-old [start of the funding period following their second birthday} and others will pay)
• from the start of the funding period following their second birthday.
• that have had their third but who have not yet reached the start of the funding period following their third birthday when the universal entitlement is funded.

From April 2024: Funded two years olds whose parents are working [5] can be admitted.

From September 2025: All 9 month to 5-year-old children (the start of the term following a child’s fifth birthday) with working parents who are eligible for the extended entitlement can be admitted.

[4] Schools are encouraged to take children as soon as they are two if there is a demand.

[5] Parents will start applying for places in January 2024 or earlier. Expect the demand for 2-year-old places to increase.

2.31. Schools that take three-year-olds admit them from:

• their third birthday
• the start of the funding period following their third birthday.

These children may be:

• Funded taking the universal entitlement.
• Funded taking the extended entitlement.
• Non-funded

If a child is born between:	Funding can be claimed from:
1 January and 31 March	1 April following the child’s birthday
1 April and 31 August	1 September following the child’s birthday
1 September and 31 December	1 January following the child’s birthday

3. Statutory duties to ensure sufficient places and to improve outcomes for children.

3.1. Devon County Council has a statutory duty set out in the Childcare Act 2006 to ensure that there is enough early years and childcare provision for all families that need or want it (so far as is reasonably practicable). They must also strive to improve outcomes for children. This policy reflects these duties.

To enable the Early Years and Childcare service to ‘manage the childcare market’:

3.2. Schools must contact the Childcare Information Mailbox if:

• They have been asked to supply more or different childcare.
• They have parents who cannot access the childcare they need.
• They have a waiting list for their nursery.
• They are approached by a parent or childcare provider in relation to parents and childcare providers Right to Request’ [6].

[6] This applies to early years places and wraparound childcare for older children.

3.3. There are also duties placed on the local authority to supply information, advice, and help to parents about childcare and information, advice, and training for childcare providers. If you cannot offer a place to a family, please direct them to Find Childcare. This childcare directory replaced has replaced Pinpoint.

3.4. Schools must complete the Provider Self Update as this information feeds through to Find Childcare which is published to help parents find the childcare they need in Devon. The information is also used by the Early Years and Childcare Service to decide whether there is sufficient childcare.

3.5. Schools must share the Unable to Find Childcare form with parents if they cannot accommodate their request for early years and childcare provision.

4. The Nursery Offer

4.1. Schools must describe and publish for parents on the school website what their universal (15 hour) offer will be for 2,3- and 4-year-olds. See Appendix 3: Delivery Models

4.2. Schools must decide on their universal offer in line with the Provider Agreement and publish this on their website annually or sooner if there are changes to the school offer.

4.3. There must be no break in the middle of the day and schools must not place a charge on attendance during the lunchtime period (unless it is part of a session that is being bought and not funded).

4.4. The historical model of morning nursery sessions for one group of children that are repeated for another group of children in the afternoon must not be offered.

4.5. Parents need flexibility so they can use the funded time when they need it to work and train.

5. The Extended Entitlement (30 hours)

5.1. Schools must describe to parents what their ‘extended entitlement offer’ is and how more hours or sessions can be bought. Parents that use the school as well as another provider can claim funding from both providers and during the school holidays. The model below enables working parents to access 30 hours a week over the 38 term time weeks:

Where schools run their own early years provision as well as before and/or after school provision (for nursery and older children [7]) this policy must be applied to the allocation of places for the 2, 3 and 4-year-old age range across all the services. Sessions can be funded between 7:00 and 19:00.

[7] Combining the age ranges often makes wraparound childcare provision more viable.

5.2. The provision before and after school and during the school holidays (wraparound childcare) will differ from the core early years provision made during the school day as there may be older children attending. A teacher is not required to lead the provision during these times in schools that have an extended age range and therefore there can be a 1:8 ratio of adults to children – there must always be two adults in attendance (minimum qualifications will be a Level 3 and a Level 2 see the Early Years Foundation Stage for guidance). Schools offering governor-run pre-school provision will most likely have a similar staff structure.

5.3. Schools must decide on their extended entitlement offer in line with the Provider Agreement and publish this on the school website annually or when changes are made.

5.4. If the school cannot offer longer hours than the school day, they should work in partnership with childminders and other providers so that parents can be signposted to other providers where they can get the rest of their entitlement or buy additional hours to enable them to work.

5.5. Devon County Council expects nurseries and governor-run pre-schools to have a mixture of children accessing the universal entitlement, the extended entitlements as well as children that attend for only bought hours or sessions.

6. Published Nursery Admissions Number (PNAN)

6.1. This is the number of children that can be admitted at any one time. Once the governing body has set this number, they should not refuse admission for applications below the PNAN.

The PNAN must differentiate between the number of babies, 2-year-olds and 3- and 4-year-olds. The governing body may also need to differentiate the PNAN between the numbers of children that can attend at different times of the day because both demand and staffing may differ, for example:

6.2.

Nursery opening times	Age of children	PNAN [8]
7.00am – 9.00am	0 – 1 year 11 months	3
7.00am – 9.00am	2 years old	8
7.00am – 9.00am	3 and 4 years old	16
9.00am – 3.00pm	0 – 1 year 11 months	6
9.00am – 3.00pm	2 years old	16
9.00am – 3.00pm	3 and 4 years old	39
3.00pm – 7.00pm	0 – 1 year 11 months	3
3.00pm – 7.00pm	2 years old	12
3.00pm – 7.00pm	3 and 4 years old	24

[8] If you need support with nursery organisation, please contact Fran Butler 01392 385395.

6.3. The main purpose of having a PNAN is to enable parents to see how many places are available when they are making an application. Schools must complete the Provider Self Update and give consent to publish information about the service they offer in the nursery so that parents are informed through Find Childcare.

6.4. If there is unexpectedly high demand for places and the governing body believes they could admit more children, the likely outcome will be that school will admit above the PNAN or the PNAN will be increased. The number of children that can be admitted at any one time will depend on their age, the amount of floor space available and what other qualified staff may be needed.[9]

[9] If you need support with nursery organisation, please contact Fran Butler 01392 385395.

6.5. The governing body should factor in the local demand for places and the age ranges of the children wanting a place. If there is a change to the PNAN part way through the year this must be published on the school’s website and updated through the Provider Self Update which will update Find Childcare.

6.6. If there is an increase in the demand for places the governors may decide to increase the PNAN at the start of the following term to accommodate children on the waiting list and conversely reduce the PNAN if, exceptionally, there is very low demand, and the organisation of the setting is changed so that the admission of another child would be prejudicial to efficient provision.

6.7. Most nurseries find that they are left with a few sessions that they cannot fill. This may not be the case when the new funded entitlements are all in place.

7. Charging

7.1. The school must have regard to the Provider Agreement.

7.2. The schools charging policy must set out the details of how to buy nursery time, how much it costs, and how and when parents will be invoiced. The charging policy must be published on the school website.

7.3. Parents must not be asked to buy a uniform as part of the offer of a nursery place as this would be a barrier to accessing the funded entitlements. Nevertheless, parents may have the choice to buy a uniform for their children.

8. Helping parents with the Cost of Childcare

8.1. Schools must register for and promote the take up of Tax-Free Childcare to help parents with the cost of childcare.

8.2. Schools must signpost parents to the Childcare Choices website  so they can Check what help they could get with childcare costs

8.3. Working families who are in receipt of Universal Credit can get up to 85% of childcare costs through Universal Credit for Childcare. Universal Credit childcare costs

8.4. Up to 70% of childcare costs could be claimed through Tax Credits for Childcare.

8.5. Parents in full-time higher education can apply for a Childcare Grant to pay for childcare costs for children under 15 (or under 17 if they have special needs).

9. Transport

9.1. There is no entitlement to transport under Devon County Council’s Education Travel Policy for children prior to attendance in a reception class as a rising five-year-old.

10. School Lunches

10.1. Free school meals (FSM) must be supplied for children who are registered pupils (2, 3- and 4-year-olds in nursery classes and nursery schools only) who have a unique reference number (URN) and whose parents meet the benefit related criteria. The child must attend both before and after the lunch period. A free school meal must be given whether the child is attending for funded or sessions that the parents must pay for and regardless of their age.

10.2. This does not apply to provision run as an extended service/governor-run pre-schools. However, schools with an age range starting a 2 or 3 that call the provision a ‘pre-school’ must supply a free school meal.

10.3. Registered nursery children, who do not meet the eligibility criteria for a free school meal, must be offered the opportunity to buy a school lunch or bring a packed lunch.

10.4. Schools must encourage parents at the earliest opportunity to check their eligibility for 2-year-old funding (if appropriate) and Free School Meals through the Citizen Portal.

10.5. Parents must be informed that a free school meal could be available to them as this may help them when choosing which sessions to attend.

10.6. For more information please see Free School Meals for Nursery Children.

11. How to apply for a nursery place

11.1. A timeline of the admissions process can be found in Appendix 4: The Admissions Process

11.2. Most children start at nursery at the beginning of a term or half term. To apply for a place parents must use this Parent Declaration Form template that the school has customised and obtained from the school and the Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2024 – 2025 and return this to the school.

11.3. Schools must have a Nursery Admissions Panel to manage applications. Responsibility for Nursery Admissions sits with the governing body, so it is for them to decide the members of the panel.

11.4. The closing dates for applications to the school Nursery Admissions Panel are 1 April, 1 July, and 1 January (these dates may be changed to fit with the school calendar [10]). Applications made after these dates may not be considered until after all the applications that arrived on time. If a parent could not apply before the closing date because they moved to the area, they should inform the school. If the reason for applying after the closing date is acceptable to the Nursery Admissions Panel, the application will be considered at the same time as everyone who did apply on time if this is still possible.

[10] If these dates are changed there must be enough time allowed for applications to be considered and for parents to be informed if they have been offered a place or not. Those parents that are not offered a place must be given enough time to find an alternative provision.

11.5. No places will be held in reserve for a child who applies late; the governing body cannot hold places empty if another child applies for admission. Schools must publicise the need to apply for a place on their website.

11.6. The Note of Interest may be completed by parents of children who are not yet eligible for a nursery place i.e., where a parent with a baby or toddler enquires about a place.

11.7. When parents return the Note of Interest to the school they will be informed when they must complete the Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2024 – 2025 and Parent Declaration Form to fit with the Nursery Admissions cycle.

11.8. If the nursery always has unfilled capacity, the Nursery Admissions Panel should accept applications throughout the year. Children must be enabled to start as soon as the parent needs the place, and they must not be required to wait for the application date.

11.9. This may mean that the Nursery Admissions Panel passes responsibility for making decisions about nursery applications to the Head Teacher so that there is no need to gather the admissions panel for applications when the nursery is undersubscribed.

12. Information provided on an application.

12.1. When parents return the Note of Interest to the school they will be informed when they must complete the Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2024 – 2025 and Parent Declaration Form to fit with the Nursery Admissions cycle.

12.2. No other information is needed to enable the governors to decide on whether a child should be given a place.

12.3. Information provided by parents on their eligibility for the extended entitlement and/or the number of funded hours the parent wishes to use must not be factors influencing whether a place is offered or not.

12.4. Parents of two-year-olds must be asked to check their eligibility for 2-year-old funding AND Free School Meals on the Citizens Portal before applying.

12.5. Parents of three-year-olds must also be reminded to check their eligibility for a Free School Meal because eligible parents whose children attend both before and after the lunchtime period can have a free school meal. This may influence the parents’ choice of sessions and show which children will attract Early Years Pupil Premium Funding.

12.6. It is important that where the Nursery Admissions Panel offers places to some and refuses others that they do so fairly and consistently. Where the Nursery Admissions Panel have reason to believe that information is false and has been supplied knowingly, they may withdraw the offer of a place. This is particularly relevant where an address is given which is not the one from which a child will attend nursery, and this disadvantages another child.

12.7. The school may choose to ask for evidence of a child’s home address before admission.

12.8. The Nursery Admissions Panel must check proof of date of birth evidence to ensure the child is eligible to attend and claim funding before agreeing to the offer of a place.

12.9. If there are more applications than there are places available will the Nursery Admissions Panel prioritise applications according to the Oversubscription Criteria.

12.10. The Nursery Admissions Panel must apply the Oversubscription Criteria. to all applications including those for two-year-old places and bought time.

12.11. After the Nursery Admissions Panel has prioritised against the Oversubscription Criteria which children must be given places, the child at the top of the prioritised list will be given the sessions they want, and the Nursery Admissions Panel will work their way down this list until all available time has been offered.

12.12. Children further down the list may not get the sessions they want. Alternatives should be offered. Those parents may or may not choose what is offered. If they do not, continue to go down the list until all sessions have been taken.

12.13. If there are fewer applications than places available, then no application will be refused.

12.14. Schools must not limit or restrict the hours or times offered. Wherever available the full 15 or 30 hours must be offered to a child that has been prioritised using the Oversubscription Criteria.

13. Informing Parents

13.1. The school will contact successful parents before May half term if an application was made on 1 April, before October half term if an application was made on 1 July and before February half term if an application was made on 1 January. These dates may be adjusted to fit with the school calendar.

13.2. Parents must also be contacted if there is not a place available.

13.3. If a parent needs help finding a place at another provider, they must be directed to Find Childcare where they can search for childcare. Parents must also be given the Unable to Find Suitable Childcare form to complete and return.

13.4. Following the allocation of nursery places the school will keep a waiting list. Waiting lists must be kept in order of the Oversubscription Criteria.

13.5. Places on waiting lists will not be prioritised according to how long a child’s name has been on that list, by the age of the child nor by whether the place is funded or bought.

13.6. It is possible that a child’s name could go down a list as well as up.

13.7. If a place is only available for a short period of time when an application has been made, i.e., half a term or less, then the school should discuss with the parent whether it would be in the child’s best interest to attend the nursery for such a short period of time before having to find a place at another provider. Continuity and consistency of care is most important in the early years and having lots of transitions can be disruptive for a child.

14. Admissions at other times

14.1. Parents can make a request for admission after the normal cycle of admissions using the Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2024 – 2025 and the Parent Declaration Form. This allows for the child to start as soon as possible so they can benefit from their full funded entitlement. A formal offer letter/email will then follow from the school.

14.2. If parents are seeking a nursery place because the child has just moved to the area admission should be as soon as possible.

14.3. If the parent is leaving another provider (to attend the school nursery) where they have been buying hours, it is likely that they will have to give a period of notice before they leave. If this notice period is not honoured a charge may be levied because they have given up a place without giving sufficient notice. The provider makes this charge because they may not be able to fill the times left by the child.

15. Increasing the hours attended

15.1. If a session/s becomes available part way through a term priority for these sessions must first be given to children already attending who want to buy, take more funded sessions, or change the sessions they attend. This is because more working families will be entitled to the extended entitlement as it is rolled out. Some family’s circumstances may change which means they will need more sessions to enable them to work. Nurseries should expect to have fewer children attending but for more sessions.

15.2. The Oversubscription Criteria must be used to prioritise parents who want more or different sessions.

15.3. The Oversubscription Criteria must be used to prioritise a waiting list of children who want a place in the nursery. These will be children who are old enough to attend the nursery now. Parents of children who are not yet old enough to attend the nursery should complete the Note of Interest so the school can contact them when they need to apply for a place.

15.4. Parents with children attending the nursery will be offered the available session/s. Until there are no sessions left.

15.5. However, if there are sessions that are still not filled, they must be offered to parents on the prioritised waiting list.

15.6. Changes to the sessions attended will generally only be agreed to take effect from the start of a term and only then if there is capacity to accommodate requests.

15.7. It is expected that parents will ensure that their child attends at the times booked so that children can get into good routines and be ready to start school.

16. Admission appeals

16.1. If a nursery place is refused, parents can go through the school’s complaints process to express their concerns. The Nursery Admissions Panel will review the decision and decide whether the refusal was justified on the grounds that the nursery is full.

16.2. Even if it is agreed that the nursery was full, it will consider the impact on the child and family and may still award a place at the nursery if there is both the physical space and enough staff available.

17. The Offer of a Place

17.1. Early Years Funding can be taken with more than one provider, the child is limited to only accessing providers on two sites in one day – this could mean they attend several providers that are co-located. For example, a breakfast club, school nursery, after school club (all on the school site) and then a childminder in their home.

17.2. Schools must clearly show to parents when the start and finish times of sessions will be and ensure that parents can clearly see that they have received the full entitlement (both universal and extended) completely free. This can be on a contract, on invoices between provider and parent/s or demonstrated on the Parent Declaration Form.

17.3. Parents must not claim more than the 15- or 30-hour entitlement. Checks are conducted to ensure that overclaims are not made when using the entitlement at more than one provider. If this occurs, the parent must choose where to claim the funded entitlement and where to pay for more hours. The provider that has hours reduced should charge the parent for the added hours. Parents will normally choose to fund the provider with higher fees to keep their chargeable time to a minimum.

18. Induction into the Nursery

18.1. Schools should encourage visits from parents and children who are considering applying for a place. This is an opportunity for parents to see what is on offer. Visits to the nursery and home visits by school staff are not a compulsory part of the admissions process and will not affect decisions on whether a place can be offered at the nursery. Parents should be told, prior to making an application, of starting times and induction and transition arrangements so they can make an informed choice for their child.

18.2. Ensure that parents understand what arrangements are in place to help familiarise themselves and their child with the provision, for example, a virtual tour of the nursery and/or a Zoom meeting with the early years team.

19. Points of admission to Nursery and School

19.1. Generally, children will start in the nursery at the beginning of a term regardless of whether the nursery admits children from age two or three.

19.2. Early Years funding will be paid up until the time when the child reaches statutory school age if the parent chooses to defer or delay entry into school.

19.3. There is a legal requirement that all children begin full time education by the beginning of the term following their fifth birthday.

19.4. All places offered in reception, at the normal admissions round, are for full-time admission in the September following the child’s fourth birthday. It is a legal requirement on schools to offer a full-time place but not on parents to send their child full time. Parents have a right to defer or delay admission or send their child to reception part-time.

19.5. More children than ever are attending early years provision for longer hours. Schools must consider this when children are starting in reception classes and must offer a full-time place.

19.6. Schools can also offer the choice of a part time ‘staggered’ entry – the school should set out clearly for parents what that choice is, so they can make an informed choice. Governors and staff may find the Options for Parents of 4-year old’s document helpful when considering this.

Section B – Employee Guidance

Guidance for employees

Officers of Devon County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service are accountable for this policy in cooperation with governors, management, and staff in schools.

The governing bodies and staff in all schools are requested to support the efficient operation of the policy by using the Nursery Admissions Policy Template January 2024 to August 2025,   Note of Interest and encouraging parents to apply using the Nursery Application Form DCAF-0 2023 and the  Parent Declaration Form and to discuss provision which best meets the child’s and parents circumstances.

No advice should be given by school staff or management which a parent may interpret as a sign that a place will or will not be made available at a school.

The schools Nursery Admissions Policy must be uploaded onto the Provider Self Update.

Any queries about the operation of the scheme should be referred to Devon County Council’s Early Years and Childcare Service for advice and support.

Further information on early years funding is on the Devon County Council website.

Please e-mail  fran.butler@devon.gov.uk or call 01392 385395 and ask for Fran Butler when prompted.

Section C – Appendices

Appendix 1: Oversubscription Criteria

Nursery Admissions Oversubscription Criteria: January 1, 2024 – August 31, 2025

To be used only when the number of applications exceeds the number of sessions available in the nursery.

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Oversubscription criteria for children who have not yet had their second birthday

A child with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school or nursery will be admitted [11].

1. Looked after Children [12] and children who were previously Looked After but immediately after being Looked After became subject to an adoption order, a child arrangements order (CAO), or a special guardianship order (SGO) [13] including those who were in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted.
2. Priority will next be given to children or parents with an exceptional medical or social need [14] to attend this nursery.
3. Priority will next be given to children who live in the designated area and are eligible for two-year-old funding [15] but are not yet old enough to receive this funding and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding (from April 2024).
4. Priority will next be given to children who live within the schools designated area and whose parents are working and eligible for the extended entitlement of 15 hours from September 2024 or 30 hours from September 2025 and Early Years Pupil Premium /or Disability Access funding.
5. Priority will next be given to children who live within the schools designated area and whose parents are working and eligible for the extended entitlement of 15 hours from September 2024 or 30 hours from September 2025.
6. Priority will next be given to children who live in the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery.
7. Priority will next be given to all other children who live in the schools designated area.
8. Priority will next be given to children who live outside of the schools designated area with a sibling at the school.
9. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who are eligible for two-year-old funding but are not yet old enough to receive this funding and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding (from April 2024).
10. Priority will next be given to the children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for at least two years or who were recruited within the last two years to fill a vacancy for which there is a skills shortage.
11. Other children.

[11] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding.

[12] These children are Looked After by or provided with accommodation in the exercise of its functions (see the Children act 1989 section 22 (1)) by a Local Authority.

[13] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding and for Early Years Pupil Premium

[14] Evidence from a medical specialist or social worker must be provided.

[15] Parents must be encouraged to check their eligibility through the Citizens Portal before making an application.

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Oversubscription criteria for two-year-olds

A child with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school or nursery will be admitted [16].

1. Looked after Children [17] and children who were previously Looked After but immediately after being Looked After became subject to an adoption order, a child arrangements order (CAO), or a special guardianship order (SGO) [18] including those who were in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted.
2. Priority will next be given to children or parents with an exceptional medical or social need [19] to attend this nursery.
3. Priority will next be given to children who live in the designated area and are eligible for two-year-old funding [20] and Early Years Pupil Premium and /or Disability Access Funding (from April 2024).
4. Priority will next be given to children who live in the designated area and are eligible for two-year-old funding [21]
5. Priority will next be given to children who live within the schools designated area and whose parents are working and eligible for targeted two-year-old funding for working parents [the extended entitlement of 15 hours from April 2024 or 30 hours from September 2025] and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding.
6. Priority will next be given to children who live within the schools designated area and whose parents are working and eligible for targeted two-year-old funding for working parents [the extended entitlement of 15 hours from April 2024 or 30 hours from September 2025].
7. Priority will next be given to children who live in the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery.
8. Priority will next be given to all other children who live in the schools designated area.
9. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery and are eligible for two-year-old funding and Early Years Pupil Premium and /or Disability Access Funding.
10. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery and are eligible for two-year-old funding.
11. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery and are eligible for targeted two-year-old funding for working parents and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding.
12. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery and are eligible for targeted two-year-old funding for working parents.
13. Priority will next be given to all other children who live outside the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery.
14. Priority will next be given to the children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for at least two years or who were recruited within the last two years to fill a vacancy for which there is a skills shortage.
15. Other children.

[16] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding.

[17] These children are Looked After by or provided with accommodation in the exercise of its functions (see the Children act 1989 section 22 (1)) by a Local Authority.

[18] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding and for Early Years Pupil Premium

[19] Evidence from a medical specialist or social worker must be provided.

[20] Parents must be encouraged to check their eligibility through the Citizens Portal before making an application.

[21] Parents must be encouraged to check their eligibility through the Citizens Portal before making an application.

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Oversubscription criteria for three- and four-year olds

A child with an Education, Health, and Care Plan (EHCP) naming the school or nursery will be admitted [22].

1. Looked after Children [23] and children who were previously Looked After but immediately after being Looked After became subject to an adoption order, a child arrangements order (CAO), or a special guardianship order (SGO) [24] including those who were in state care outside of England and ceased to be in state care because they were adopted.
2. Priority will next be given to children or parents with an exceptional medical or social need [25] to attend this nursery.
3. Priority will next be given to children who live in the designated area and are eligible for two-year-old funding [26] (and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding from April 2024).
4. Priority will next be given to other children who live in the schools designated area who are eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding.
5. Priority will next be given to children who live within the schools designated area and whose parents are working and eligible for the extended entitlement of 15 hours from April 2024 or 30 hours from September 2025.
6. Priority will next be given to children who live in the schools designated area who have a sibling at the school or nursery.
7. Priority will next be given to all other children who live in the schools designated area.
8. Priority will next be given to children who live outside of the schools designated area with a sibling at the school.
9. Priority will next be given to children who live outside the schools designated area who are three years old and eligible for two-year-old funding and Early Years Pupil Premium and/or Disability Access Funding (from April 2024).
10. Priority will next be given to the children of members of staff who have been employed at this school for at least two years or who were recruited within the last two years to fill a vacancy for which there is a skills shortage.
11. Other children.

[22] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding.

[23] These children are Looked After by or provided with accommodation in the exercise of its functions (see the Children act 1989 section 22 (1)) by a Local Authority.

[24] These children meet the eligibility criteria for two-year-old funding and for Early Years Pupil Premium

[25] Evidence from a medical specialist or social worker must be provided.

[26] Parents must be encouraged to check their eligibility through the Citizens Portal before making an application.

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Appendix 2: Quick Guide to Early Years Terminology

Two-year-old funding:

This funding will continue to be 15 hours a week term time (or 570 hours a year) for families that meet these criteria. Funded two year olds.

Targeted two-year-old funding for working parents:

15 hours a week term time (or 570 hours a year) of funded time for working families from April 2024 until September 2025. Funded two-year-olds with working parents.

Under twos funding for working parents:

15 hours a week term time (or 570 hours a year) of funded time for working families with a child that has had their 9-month birthday. Available from September 2024 until September 2025. Funded children from 9 months with working parents.

Universal entitlement:

Funding for all three- and four-year-olds.

Extended Entitlement:

Funding for working parents with 3- and 4-year-olds that is being rolled out to children from the start of the funding period following their 9-month birthday from September 2025.

Appendix 3: Delivery Models

Deciding on the right model for your school can be difficult. It has a bearing on the staffing you need, and the viability and sustainability of your provision. This appendix sets out some examples and considerations that you may want to reflect on when to review your schools ‘offer’.

Considerations:

• The model must enable parents to only take the funded hours if that is what they choose. Make sure parents can get 15 and 30 hours without having to pay for extra time or forfeit funded hours.
• The model should reflect the local demand. If most of the families are working full time you will probably need to offer a longer day than just 9:00 – 3:00. If families do not work or only work part time the school day may be fine.
• Most schools will have a mixed demand. This should be reflected in the ‘offer’.
• Make the offer ‘simple’. That makes claiming funding and invoicing more straightforward. It also makes it easier for parents to understand and calculate how much of their entitlement they are using.
• The school day may not start and finish on the hour or half hour; try to avoid creating sessions that would make it difficult to calculate the time booked.
• You claim funding for the hours booked, not the hours attended.
• Many parents will want to ‘stretch’ the entitlement across the year. Be clear about what your term time offer is, and if you open for more than 38 weeks, what your ‘holiday’ offer is.
• If you offer term time only many parents may also need to use an all-year-round provider and so they may split the funded time or pay for time at the school and use the funded time with the other provider. If this happens at your school consider how the other providers are making their offer.
• The number of drop-off and collection times that you will have.
• The pros and cons of limiting choices of sessions.
• How much flexibility you can offer to meet local demand without creating a model that is complicated to staff and administer.
• The impact on children’s education and care.
• 12:00 -1:00 lunchtime is part of the children’s learning time.

Below are some examples of how you may choose to deliver sessions in the nursery:

Many Devon schools operate the 3-hour model, with increasing numbers offering wraparound childcare sessions for nursery and older children. It fits well with the school day but may not be ideal for working families.

Example with 3-hour sessions:
9:00 – 12:00 = 3 hours 12:00 – 3:00 = 3 hours

The five-hour model suits working parents, but the session times may be longer than some families want or need.

Example with 5-hour sessions:
8:00 – 1:00 = 5 hours 1:00 – 6:00 = 5 hours

Example of mixed sessions:

Sessions	You might choose:
If parents need just mornings:   8:00 – 12:00 = 4 9:00 – 12:00 = 3 7:00 – 12:00 = 5 8:00 – 1:00 = 5 9:00 – 1:00 = 4	Drop off 8:00, 9:00, 12:00 Collect 12:00, 1:00, 3:00, 5:00   8:00 – 1:00 9:00 – 12:00
If parents need a day:   8:00 – 3:00 = 7 8:00 – 4:00 = 8 8:00 – 5:00 = 9 8:00 – 6:00 =10 9:00 – 3:00 = 6 9:00 – 4:00 = 7 9:00 – 5:00 = 8 9:00 – 6:00 = 9	9:00 – 3:00 = 6 8:00 – 5:00 = 9
If parents need just an afternoon:   12:00 – 3:00 = 3 12:00 – 4:00 = 4 12:00 – 5:00 = 5 12:00 – 6:00 = 6 3:00 – 6:00 = 3	12:00 – 3:00 = 3 12:00 – 5:00 = 5

You could choose to offer following as bought (only) choices that could be made with the 3-hour model: 

8:00 – 9:00
7:30 – 9:00
7:00 – 9:00
3:00 – 4:00
3:00 – 4:30
3:00 – 5:00
3:00 – 5:30
6:00 – 6:30
6:00 – 7:00

Or you could offer these as part of your funded provision.

You could choose to offer the following bought (only) choices that could be made with the 5-hour model: 

7:00 – 8:00
7:30 – 8:00
6:00 – 7:00
6:00 – 6:30

Or you could offer these as part of your funded provision.

Appendix 4: The Admissions Process

Although this process is applied to all children it must be noted that children must be enabled to start at any time if there is a place available. Dates can be changed to suit each school, those included are intended to be used as a guide.

Children become eligible for a funded place when they were born:	On or after 1 April and on or before 31 August	On or after 1 September and on or before 31 December	On or after 1 November and on or before 31 March
Visit the nursery in:	Spring term	Summer term	Autumn term
Apply by:	1 April	1 July	1 January
Admissions panel meet in:	May	September	January
You will receive a letter or email about your application before:	May half term	October half term	February half term
Reply to the letter or email:	Within 2 weeks to accept a place (or ask why you did not get a place). You can telephone, email, or write to the school.	Within 2 weeks to accept a place (or ask why you did not get a place). You can telephone, email, or write to the school.	Within 2 weeks to accept a place (or ask why you did not get a place). You can telephone, email, or write to the school.
Start at Nursery (Or at the start of term closest to that month)	September Autumn Term	January Spring term	April Summer term

Appendix 5: Contacts and Further Information

Early Years Funding Helpdesk	Early Years Funding Website   E: eyef@devon.gov.uk   T: 01392 385530 (Providers Funding Helpdesk)
Nursery Admissions	Nursery Admissions Website   E: fran.butler@devon.gov.uk
School Admissions Service	School Admissions Website   E: admissions@devon.gov.uk    T: 0345 155 1019
Early Years and Childcare Service contacts	Meet the team