All three and four year olds and some two year olds in England are currently entitled to free, part-time early learning, care and development.
Children can be added to our waiting list from birth. To do this parents/carers can telephone the nursery to arrange a suitable time to call in to complete the necessary forms and have a look around, or they can request that an admissions form be posted out to them. An admissions form is also available to download below and can be completed and returned to nursery. When applying for a nursery place please ensure that you receive a receipt from us confirming that your child’s name is on our waiting list. Arrangements for selecting pupils who apply and the allocation of places are written in the Admission to Community and Voluntary Nursery Schools and Units including Oversubscription Criteria which is available to view below.
Free Early Years Services for 3 and 4 Year Olds
All 3 and 4 year olds in England are entitled to free, part-time early learning, care and development. It lasts for up to 2 years, until children reach statutory school age.
All children can currently attend Etherley Lane Nursery School on a part-time basis for 15 hours a week, for 38 weeks of the year.
When does my child qualify:
- Child born between 1 April – 31 August: September term intake
- Child born between 1 September – 31 December: January term intake
- Child born between 1 January – 31 March: April term intake
From September 2017, the Government will offer 30 hours of free childcare per week for parents of three and four year olds, to help them continue or take up employment.
Etherley Lane Nursery School offers places for children who are eligible for the 30 hours entitlement.
Guidance from the Department for Education states that parents will need to meet the following criteria to be eligible:
- They earn or expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months. This equates to £120 per week (or £6,000 per year) for each parent over 25 years old or £112.80 per week (or £5,800 per year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old. This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract.
- Where one parent meets the income criteria above and the other is:
- unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
- On maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
- Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (ie. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months.
- If the parent is a non-European Economic Area (EEA) national, they must have recourse to public funds.
Who will not Qualify:
A parent will not meet the criteria when:
- Either parent has an income of more than £100,000.
- Either parent is a non-EEA national and subject to immigration control (and has no recourse to public funds).
What happens if a parent loses eligibility?
They will receive a “grace period” – this means they will be able to keep their childcare for a short period. Once the “grace period” has lapsed, the parent will be entitled to the universal 15 hour entitlement.
Check your eligibility
You can check whether you are eligible on the 30 hours free childcare eligibility check https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk/.
Parents who need assistance to apply (or who do not have access to the internet) can call the Childcare Service Customer Interaction Centre on Tel: 0300 123 4097 and apply by phone.
If you are eligible for 30 hours you will be given an 11 digit eligibility code. You need to provide us with this eligibility code as well as the National Insurance number and date of birth of the person who registered online and your child’s date of birth.
You will need to reconfirm your eligibility every three months but a reminder will be sent to you by HMRC by text and/or email.
Free Play and Learn for 2 Year Olds
Etherley Lane Nursery School is currently offering Play and Learn sessions for 2 year olds. Free Play and Learn for 2 year olds is a free childcare place for 2 year olds at a local nursery. You can apply for a free place if one of more of the following apply:
- are from households where a parent is in receipt of any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- the Guarantee element of the State Pension Credit
- or Child Tax Credit, provided they have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC)
- or are in receipt of Working Tax Credits (including those in receipt during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work fewer than 16 hours per week) with a household income of less than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC
- are looked after by their local authority
- have a current statement of special educational needs or an Education, Health and Care plan
- have left care through special guardianship or an adoption or residence order
- are in receipt of Disability Living Allowance
If you qualify your child could take up their free ‘play and learn’ sessions the term after their second birthday:
- Child born between 1 April – 31 August: September term intake
- Child born between 1 September – 31 December: January term intake
- Child born between 1 January – 31 March: April term intake
They will be entitled to receive 15 hours per week, term time only.
How do I apply
If you have received a golden ticket and form please bring them into nursery. If you don’t receive a golden ticket you can visit the Parent Portal: https://education.durham.gov.uk/parentportal/, where you can instantly check whether you are eligible. If you are eligible you will receive an email with your eligibility code. Please bring this code to nursery. Some parents cannot check their eligibility on the Parent Portal. You will need to contact the Childcare Places team on 03000 268 913 for an application form if the children are:
- Looked after by the council.
- Have a current statement of special educational needs or an Educational, Health and Care plan.
- Have left care through special guardianship or an adoption or residence order.
- Are in receipt of the Disability Living Allowance.
This application form is also available for download below.
If you don’t have access to a computer or need help to apply please contact the nursery on 01388 604835.
We are also offering sessions to families who are not eligible for the Play and Learn place but would like their children to attend a nursery session. These sessions can be purchased at a cost of £15.00 for 3 hours. If you would like any more information please do not hesitate to contact us.
If you would like to find out more about free early years services through the local authority you can contact:
Childcare Places, Durham County Council, County Hall, Durham DH1 5UJ
Telephone 03000 268913
Admission to Community and Voluntary Controlled Nursery Schools and Units including Oversubscritption Criteria
Admission Form for Nursery School
2 Year Old Free Play and Learn Application Form
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND) – Admission to Early Years Settings
The majority of children with Special Educational Needs and Disabilities can be supported at any nursery school, nursery unit or early years setting.
Nursery provision is also available in certain special schools. Support for individual pupils is determined by Durham Local Authority through Education, Health and Care Assessment.
The Durham Local Authority Admissions criteria stipulate that children are offered a nursery place according to their age. However, children identified with SEND are given priority irrespective of when they have their third birthday.
If you feel that your child has additional needs that we need to consider and that may entitle them to be given priority during the admission process, please let us know when you submit their application form. If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
Further information can be found in our School Policies section. Please view or download the School Admissions Policy, SEN Policy and information on Equal Opportunities.
