Welcome to our Early Years Foundation Stage
A Brief Overview
The Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) curriculum covers our Nursery and Reception classes. Children develop quickly in the ‘early years’ and early years practitioners aim to do all they can to help children have the best possible start in life.
During the COVID-19 school closures work for Early Years children will be updated daily to SeeSaw. All children have their own logins for this. If you have any problems or questions please get in touch using the email addresses below
Contact Details
Is my child able to start at Nursery?
Two Year Olds
We offer private places for 2 year olds – please see our charging summary for our fees. Generally we are able to meet the needs of families with regards to sessions required. Availability changes throughout the year, please call in the office for more details.
We are also able to offer sessions for 2 year olds who are eligible for the government funded 2 year old play and learn sessions. Children who are eligible for these sessions will attend nursery for 15 hours per week. Additional sessions can be organised.
We have a separate room where the children begin and end their sessions each day. This allows a smooth and calm handover to and from parents and carers, and a chance to share information.
Our two year olds spend the middle part of the session either in the main nursery room or outside. This enables them to gradually become accustomed to the larger space so that by the time they are ready for their three year old place there is a seamless transition.
Are you Eligible for a Funded Place?
If you think that you may be eligible for a funded place for 2 year olds, please call in to the school office for more information or access this website:
http://www.durham.gov.uk/playandlearn
or log on to the Parent portal to check your eligibility.
https://education.durham.gov.uk/parentportal/
If eligible, you will be given a Golden Ticket or code that you then share with us to guarantee your child’s place. Children who are eligible for these sessions will attend Nursery for 15 hours per week. We ask that you state a preference regarding the sessions you would like your child to attend when you complete the application form. Our sessions are:
- Mornings (8.45am – 11.45am)
- Afternoons (12.30pm – 3.30pm)
Children will be able to take up a place at the start of the term after his/her 2nd Birthday.
Three Year Olds
We offer the universal entitlement of 15 hours nursery provision for children who are 3 (and 4) from the term after their 3rd Birthday.
We ask that you complete a nursery application form and return this to school stating a preference for the sessions you would like your child to attend nursery. Our sessions are:
- Mornings (8.45am – 11.45am)
- Afternoons (12.30pm – 3.30pm)
30 Hours of Funded Nursery Provision
The Government have offered 30 hours of funded childcare per week for parents of 3 and 4 year olds, to help them continue or take up employment.
Guidance for 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 3 months
- This equates to approximately £139.52 a week (or £1,813.76 over 3 months) for each parent over the age of 25 years old
- This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on a zero hours contract
- If you or your partner are temporarily earning less than this amount because of Coronavirus, you may still be eligible. You must be furloughed through the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme or claiming a Self-employment Income Support Scheme grant to qualify
- 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’ (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?
- Either parent has an income of more than £100,000 per year
- 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 may be entitled to the universal 15 hours
Check Your Eligibility
You can check whether you are eligible on the 30 hours of funded childcare eligibility checker https://www.childcarechoices.gov.uk We also have instructions to help you – please ask at the office.
If you are eligible, you will be given an 11 digit code. You will need to share this with us (along with your National Insurance Number and your child’s date of birth); we will then be able to offer you a place. You will need to reconfirm your eligibility every 3 months.
At Oakley Cross Nursery we can offer different attendance options for parents/carers; please speak to Mrs Chapman, our EYFS Lead, for more information.
You can download this application form or alternatively call into school to collect a form from the main office.
For details of our pricing please click on the following document:
Keeping in Touch
You can keep up to date with what is happening in Early Years by following our Facebook page. Just search for Oakley Cross Early Years.
Archived Class Work
You can view our archived class work on our website.
Adobe Reader
You may need a product like Adobe Reader (free download) to view our PDF documents on our website.
