Our Nursery School is open 38 weeks per year (Term time only). Acorn is our provision for funded Time for Two's for eligible children the term following their second birthday until the term following their third birthday. 

Children who are eligible access 15 hours of education Monday to Friday, term time only. Sessions are mornings or afternoons.  We do not offer any full day sessions.

Morning session:                Monday - Friday  8.40am-11.40am

Afternoon session:             Monday - Friday 12.30pm-3.30pm

Please note we can only offer a place if we have spaces available.

These sessions are for all funded 2 year olds.  We do not offer any full day sessions.

All eligible children will be placed on our waiting list and offered any available spaces in date of birth order (oldest first) and for those who live within our catchment area, and not offered a place in the order they are added to the waiting list, this is in line with our Admissions Policy. 

Our aim is to support the learning and development of each individual child by providing an integrated, balanced, broad, stimulating and differentiated curriculum.

The Acorn team is led by Katie Russell -  Early Years Lead Educator.  The children are allocated a key worker who will be your first point of contact. 

There are two options to be able to qualify for a funded two year old place in Acorn.

Places are available for two-year-olds who are eligible for 15 hours of free early years provision if:

Either:

1. The parent(s) claim one of the following benefits:

• Income Support
• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance (JSA)
• income-related Employment and Support Allowance (ESA)
• Universal Credit – if a parent is entitled to Universal Credit they must have an annual net earned income equivalent to and not exceeding £15,400, assessed on up to three of the parent’s most recent Universal Credit assessment periods.
• tax credits and have an annual income of under £16,190 before tax
• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit
• support through part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act
• the Working Tax Credit four week run on (the payment you get when you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit)
• Parents who are excluded from claiming public funds as a consequence of their immigration status, or their lack of immigration status
• Parents who are in receipt of support under section 17 of the Children Act 1989
• The children of these families will be entitled to a free place if their parents are working and meet similar low-level income requirements to others eligible for the scheme (e.g. a household income of £15,400 a year or less after tax)

2. Or the child:

• has a statement of special educational needs made under section 324 of the Education Act 1996
• has an Education, Health and Care plan prepared under section 37 of the Children and Families Act 2014
• is in receipt of Disability Living Allowance under section 71 of the Social Security and Contributions and Benefits Act 1992
• is looked after by a local authority (under section 22(1) of the Children Act 1989) or by a local authority in Wales within the meaning given by section 74(1) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014
• is no longer looked after by a local authority as a result of an adoption order, a special guardianship order or a child arrangement order (within the meaning of section 8(1) of the Children Act 1989 or section 74(1) of the Social Services and Well-being (Wales) Act 2014) which relates to either or both of the following:
  • with whom the child is to live when the child is to live with any person

Please follow the link to make an application if you feel you may be eligible: Time for Two's.

3. Working parents who meet the relevant criteria:  Eligibility checker

It is the parents responsibility to apply to the relevant body and be able to show us proof of acceptance before completing a registration form with us.  

Once you have applied and been approved for a place you can then put your child's name down on our waiting list. Please call main Reception on 01384 818255.  

We are happy to arrange a time for you to visit to look around the Nursery School.  Please contact us if you would like to visit or if you require any further information.