Opening Times

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Opening Times During the school term:
Drop-off and pick-up times have been staggered due to COVID-19. For the time being, start and end times are as follows:-

Monday to Friday, staggered start times:-

All day children 8.45am to 2.45pm
Morning children 9am to 12pm
Afternoon children 11.45am to 2.45pm

We offer: morning sessions, afternoon sessions or all day

Children are normally offered a place after the age of 2 years (depending on availability).

Wraparound care: We are unable to offer wraparound with St Nicholas School Foundation Stage at present due to Covid-19.  We hope to resume this service soon.

Term Dates

Term Dates for 2020 - 2021
Term 1
Thursday  3/9/20 – inset day – staff only
Friday 4/9/20 – Icebreaker visits – new children only
Monday 7/9/20 – Friday 23/10/20
Half Term Monday 26/10/20 – Friday 30/10/20
Monday 2/11/20 – inset day – staff only
Tuesday 3/11/20 – Tuesday 15/12/20 + Christmas Party on Wednesday 16/12/20
10am – 1pm – all children invited
 
CHRISTMAS PARTY – WED 16/12/20
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS – THURSDAY 17/12/20 – FRIDAY 1/1/21
 
Term 2
Monday 4/1/21 – Friday 12/2/21
Half Term Monday 15/2/21 – Friday 19/2/21
Monday 22/2/21 – Wednesday 31/3/21
 
EASTER HOLIDAYS – THURSDAY 1/4/21 – 16/4/21
 
Term 3
Monday 19/4/21 – Friday 28/5/21
 Closed Bank holiday Monday 3/5/21
Half Term Monday 31/5/21 – Friday 4/6/21
Monday 7/6/21 – inset day – staff only
Tuesday 8/6/21 – Wednesday 21/7/21

Fees
Fees are £13 for a three hour session payable termly in advance.

Funding
15 hours nursery education funding for three and four year old

30 hours funding for qualifying families

Two year funding for eligible two year olds.

If you are not eligible for funding with us,  fees will apply.

Universal nursery education funding is available to children the term after their third birthday and offers  five sessions (15 hours) for 38 weeks a year. Children can use the nursery education funding at more than one pre-school or nursery. If attending an LEA (Local Education Authority) Foundation Stage the funding for all five sessions must be used at that setting.

You can check if you are eligible for 30 hours funding here:-
https://www.gov.uk/30-hours-free-childcare?step-by-step-nav=f517cd57-3c18-4bb9-aa8b-1b907e279bf9

You can find out more about two year funding here:-
https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs/free-childcare-2-year-olds

Please click on the Contact Us button at the top of this page or call us  on 01865 604208 if you think you might be eligible.
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We  accept employers childcare vouchers.

Universal Credit 
You may be entitled to Universal Credit and help with childcare costs. Information at 
https://www.google.com/search?q=working+tax+credit&oq=working+tax&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0l4.13396j0j4&client=ms-android-samsung&sourceid=chrome-mobile&ie=UTF-8  
Have you considered Salary Sacrifice?
Mortimer Hall Pre-School is already registered with a number of the more common schemes. Please ask the Treasurer or Janet or Caroline for more detail .Also speak to your employer. Details available at http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/specialist/salary_sacrifice.htm
Visiting our Setting
We will be open on Thursday 1st April from 9.30 to 10.30am for pre-arranged ice-breaker visits for potential new starters only. The regular children will have broken up for Easter.  This will be a one-off date and anybody who can't make it will have to wait until September.  Each child will only be allowed one adult to accompany them and the adult will have to wear a mask for the whole time of the visit.
Extra Information from September 2020 onwards
  • Due to the coronavirus, we must keep numbers of parents in pre-school to a minimum so we would encourage you to talk to your child in advance and prepare them for your leaving promptly. Only one adult should accompany each child.
  • Parents/carers must wear masks, everyone (adults and children) will have temperature taken (including staff), hands will be sanitized on entry.
  • Staff will not wear face masks unless greeting parents and children on arrival or collecting fees.
  • Please make sure that any removable clothes, lunch boxes and bags are clearly named. Please bring a clearly labelled water bottle for your child. We ask that bags brought in are left on pegs at the end of the session and not taken home.

  •   We have /will be complying with Covid19 guidelines and will keep parents informed of what is happening.
Settling In and What to Bring
When you bring  to their first session your key person will introduce herself to you, go through some necessary paperwork and discuss a settling in plan. Please be prepared to stay with your child if needed.
 
Children staying for whole days or afternoon sessions at pre-school should bring a packed lunch and at about 12.30pm the children and pre-school staff sit together to eat.   This is a good time for social interaction, conversation and for helping them to prepare for having lunch at 'big school' later on.  We are aware that parents often worry about this part of the session but our experience has shown that the children enjoy lunchtimes and soon become confident at this time.  Staff will give help and support as and when required. 
 
It is important that your child is comfortable and able to join in any activities provided, so please ensure they are wearing clothes and shoes that allow then to climb, run, etc and that they can get dirty (painting, using glue, digging, etc).
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Please make sure that any removable clothes, lunch boxes and bags are clearly named.