Blackhall Nursery Admissions and Welcome Policy and Procedures
Blackhall Nursery is in partnership with the City of Edinburgh Council Education Department to provide free pre- and ante-pre-school early years education. In meeting its standards of care Blackhall Nursery follows the Scottish Social Services Council Codes of Practice for Employers of Social Service Workers and Social Service Workers. We are a community nursery, managed by a volunteer parent committee and board of directors. We employ a staff team of excellent early years professionals to run the Nursery on a day-to-day basis. We aim to be a centre of excellence in the provision of a happy learning-through-play environment.
Places, The Waiting List and Applications
1. Blackhall Nursery offers children either a morning or an afternoon place of five 2.5hr sessions per week, term-time only. We do not offer part-time places.
2. Application forms are available from the Nursery or from Blackhall School. Applications can be submitted only on or after your child's second birthday. Forms should be returned to the Waiting List Secretary c/o Blackhall Nursery, Ravelston Park Pavilion, 18 Keith Crescent, Craigcrook Rd, Edinburgh EH4 3RU.
3. We charge a non-refundable application fee of £5. This should be enclosed with your application form. Cheques should be made payable to Blackhall Nursery. This fee is purely to cover costs (photocopying, postage, admin, stationery, phone calls).
4. Thereafter applications will be treated on a first-come, first-served basis, with the exceptions detailed below. You should receive an acknowledgement slip for your application within two weeks, so you can be sure your child is entered on the Waiting List. If you do not, please contact the Waiting List Secretary ASAP.
5. Because we are trying to meet a specific need for a pre-school catchment nursery feeding into Blackhall Primary School, priority may be given to children who live in the Blackhall catchment, as defined by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Education Department, or to those with siblings at Blackhall Primary.
6. Pre-school children will be given priority over ante pre-school children.
7. Because we depend on a per capita grant from the Council, we require your place at Blackhall Nursery to be your sole funded place (i.e. you may not also have a funded place either at a local authority nursery or at a partner provider private nursery). We do not accept fees.
8. You will be notified by post of your child’s nursery place in the spring prior to the August/September start. If you do not accept an offer, but wish to keep your child’s name on the list, there will be a non-refundable administration fee of £5.
9. Once you accept a place for your child, further information will be sent to you about open days, start dates etc.
The Welcome: Familiarisation Visits and Settling In 10. Blackhall Nursery welcomes all children, regardless of ability, race or gender.
11. We will endeavour to cater appropriately for children with special needs, in consultation with parents, carers and relevant agencies. Children with special needs may be given priority in the allocation of nursery places, as may children whose first language is not English.
12. We hope to make your child’s settling in process a smooth one by offering the following opportunities:
- at least one Open Day before the start of Nursery;
- at least one Meet the Teacher session;
- staggered start dates so that small numbers of children start together;
- the opportunity for you to stay with your child until s/he is settled;
- the opportunity for your child to ease gradually into Nursery by staying for a shorter period that the 2.5 hours initially;
- regular consultation with staff to establish good settling-in practice between the parent/carer, the child and staff, as appropriate.
We look forward to welcoming you and your child(ren) to Blackhall Nursery.
Notes: These are for your guidance and information only.
· Usual practice, based on the Waiting List, is that pre-school children are offered either a morning or an afternoon place and three year olds (ante-pre-schoolers) are offered afternoon places.
· A place at Blackhall Nursery does not guarantee you a place at Blackhall Primary School. Those who live within the Blackhall School catchment apply directly to the school in the November prior to the year in which your child is due to start school. Those who live outwith the catchment must make a separate application to the Council for a place. Nursery staff will advise you on procedures.
· Children with January/February birthdays are currently entitled to a deferred entry place at school. This means you may wish to apply for an extra pre-school year at Blackhall Nursery. Staff will advise you on procedures for this too.
Revised Mar 05/Oct 07 FG 24.10.07