Melba Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Can anyone tell me if their admissions policy includes something about how many sessions you give existing children as opposed to new ones? This is causing troubles as we are very full this year and our policy seems to be more about admitting new children. The problem has arisen because we do not agree to keep sessions for 3 year olds to the disadvantage of 2 year olds but it doesn't say anything about that in our policy and I am not sure what it could say about that. Once a child is with us, what responsibility do we have to give parents what they want, particularly if it is a case of them changing their minds and wanting something different 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hopeytg Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 Not sure if this helps but I send all parents a letter around half term asking them what sessions they require for the next term. It clearly says that if they don't reply I will assume they require the same sessions and changes are not possible once term starts. It allows me to plan and set the staff rota plus I am able to calculate 'spaces'. 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
diesel10 Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 We sent a letter to all existing parents who's parents were turning 3 this term quite early this term as I realised there was quite a lot of them. I would always give priority to existing and offer to new if there are still spaces. We confirmed the new session for after xmas in writing. Having said that parents are still swopping and changing. One emailed today asking if she add lunches after Xmas even though her sessions were confirmed weeks ago. Spring born children turning 3 will have very limited availability for sessions in the summer term. Probably just afternoon sessions. In my opinion its the way the government funds the sessions, do they really expect us to run half empty in Autumn so we can fill up in spring and summer when more turn 3. Yes they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mouseketeer Posted November 25, 2015 Share Posted November 25, 2015 you need my 10 point admission plan Melba, this is the top 3 criteria for being allocated places. 1- Funded 3 and 4 year olds already attending who are not claiming their full 15 hours funding (school year). 2- Funded 3 olds already attending who are not claiming their full 15 hours funding (next school year) 3- Un-funded 3 year olds already attending who wish to increase hours. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Melba Posted November 25, 2015 Author Share Posted November 25, 2015 We try to keep mornings available for the younger children as if we prioritised 3 and 4 years olds to have whatever they wanted, then we would only be able to take on a very limited number of 2 year olds which would almost certainly have a very negative effect on our income the next year. There are lots of other places for them to go around us. I know some settings give the mornings to the older children and the 2s need to come in the afternoon but this is not something that we want to do as we have no option for naps being in only one room. Funded children always have an option for their 15 hours but not necessarily exactly what they would prefer once we are close to full. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stargrower Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 We have to save space for children moving up from our Toddler Room (2's) so we run at a lower capacity and have to turn people away even though the space is there at the time. Our Pre-school Room is not full for the first time in years as our local Primary is offering 32.5 hours free for all 3 and 4 year olds. It is seriously affecting our sustainability but there is nothing I can do. I have spoken to the LA about it, but the school are funding it themselves so there is nothing the LA can do either. Makes me mad, as the school has a requires improvement rating. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lynned55 Posted November 26, 2015 Share Posted November 26, 2015 Poor you, it must be effecting you greatly. I seriously wonder how they can afford to do this, goodness, they must have a great budget then. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Posted November 27, 2015 Share Posted November 27, 2015 (edited) Have the same problem as stargrower, having to keep spaces for the children moving up. We have recently knocked through a wall and increased our 3-5 room size so that we can hopefully work round the problem. Had very few starting school this year, but next year is a whole different ballgame, so am booking up lots of funded 2 year olds to fill those spaces - and hoping the local school nursery doesn't poach them once they turn 3! Perhaps the school might be doing it as a short term solution to get numbers up due to their Ofsted outcome (i.e. once they're in the door, they keep them!) Edited November 27, 2015 by grumpymum Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.