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Does my child have to attend a nursery?
No, by law you are only required to ensure that your child is educated from the term following his or her fifth birthday. However, the benefits of a child attending nursery are well recognised, and it is recommended that you encourage your child to go.
What choice of nursery do I have?
Every primary and infant school in Stockton-on-Tees has a nursery. Some of these will have sufficient places for your child to start when they are three; others only have enough places for four-year-olds. For more information contact your local school or the School Admission Section.
There are many private nurseries, a number of which have been recognised by OfSTED for their educational provision.
Details of these and other nurseries, playgroups and child minders in the area can be obtained from the Stockton-on-Tees Children & Families Information Service.
How do I know which is the best nursery for my child?
It is strongly recommended that you visit those nurseries that you think may be right, and discuss with them what you want for your child. Do not hesitate to ring up for an appointment; nurseries will be pleased to give you information and advice and to let you make a visit.
How do I apply for a place?
Having decided which nursery you would prefer, you should contact the head teacher or proprietor/manager and ask if a place can be provided. It ay be that there are no places available, in which case you may have to select an alternative. Fore more information about how places are allocated in school nurseries, or if you are not satisfied with the outcome of your request for a place in a school nursery, contact the School Admission Section.
What time will my child spend in nursery, and how much will it cost?
There are morning or afternoon sessions available in school nurseries. The opening times are consistent with school hours and holidays. There is no charge for attendance.
Opening times and charges of private nurseries vary depending on the individual nursery. However, the parents of children aged three or four, attending one of the nurseries registered with OfSTED, will receive assistance with the cost of their fees from the Nursery Education Grant. Please contact the Stockton-on-Tees Children & Families Information Service to find out more.
I want my child to attend a school nursery but I work and need all-day care. What provision is there for this?
Some school nurseries and private nurseries work together to provide all-day care. Alternatively, should you require care for your child for half a day, some school nurseries offer Before- or After-school clubs.
The Stockton-on-Tees Children & Families Information Service will help you to find the nursery and care solution that matches your needs. their help is free of charge.
If I decide to place my child in a private nursery, how do I ensure that he has a place at school when he is old enough?
In order to ensure that your child is considered for a place in your most preferred school, you should contact the school concerned and ask for their name to be put on the school admission list. this will not guarantee your child a place at the school as there may be more aplications than there are places available, but it will give you the opportunity to apply.
The length of time your child's name is on a school admission list is not taken into account when deciding which children can be given a place at a school. However, to ensure that your application is considered in the first allocation, you should place your child's name on the list by the Christmas following their third birthday, or as soon as possible thereafter. Please contact the School Admission Section for further information.
Does the nursery school my child attends have any effect on the primary school he will be allocated?
No, the nursery your child attends, whether it is a school or private nursery, is not taken into account when allocating places in the reception class of a school. This means that if your child attends a nursery in a school, you cannot assume that they will automatically be allocated a place in the reception class of the same school.
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