Nursery School Places

Your child is eligible for a place at a school nursery from the term following their third birthday.

Local Authority nursery units

You can find a list of  Local Authority nursery units in the Early Years Education - Information and Advice to Parents 2008/09.

For a place at a local authority nursery, parents/carers must complete form N1 - Application for Admission to a Nursery School /Nursery Unit and send it to

The School Admissions Section
Directorate for Children, Young People and Families
Berneslai Close
Barnsley
S70 2HS

You can submit an application for a nursery place following your child's second birthday. Your child's name will then be included on the waiting list for that nursery. The earliest your child can start attending is from the term after his or her third birthday - if a place is available.

Please send your application form by the beginning of the term before you want your child to start attending (earlier if possible) to allow us sufficient time to process it.

• Only children over two are included on nursery waiting lists
• Subject to a place being available, your child will be offered a place from the term following their third birthday.
• Places are allocated from the waiting list in order of date of birth
• Priority may be given to children with special educational needs, in exceptional circumstances.

Due to the volume of forms received, individual applications are not normally acknowledged. You can ring the Admissions Section to confirm your application has been received. Your child's name will be placed on the waiting list of your chosen nursery.

The Admissions Section will write to you with an offer as soon as a place becomes available. This will normally be six weeks before the start of term.

• You must complete the acceptance slip and return it to the nursery as quickly as possible.
• The nursery will send out a reminder two weeks after the offer letter.
• If you have not returned the slip after a further week, the offer will be withdrawn and the place offered to another child.
• If you receive an offer but feel your child is not ready for nursery, you can defer your place until the start of the following term. Contact the Admissions Section for details.

Nurseries at aided schools

You can find a list of aided school nursery units in the booklet Early Years Education - Information and Advice to Parents 2008/09 .

Contact the headteacher for details on how to apply for a place at a nursery unit attached to an aided school.

Helplines

Barnsley admissions contacts:
01226 773670
01226 773689

Opening Times/Locations

School Admissions Section
Berneslai Close
Barnsley
S70 2HS

Monday-Thursday
8.30am - 5.00pm
Friday
8.30am - 4.30pm

How the customer can help

The nursery staff will want to see your child's birth certificate.

Application Form References

• Application for Admission to a Nursery School/Nursery Unit

Where you can access information

• Schools
  
• Directorate for Children Young People and Families, Berneslai Close, Barnsley S70 2HS
  
• Click on 'Early Years Education - Information and Advice to Parents Booklet 2008-09' in Quick Links. 

Legislation

• School Standards and Framework Act 1998
• Education Act 2002
• Code of Practice on the provision of free nursery education places for three and four year olds.

Websites

Department for Children, Schools and Families 
Barnsley Choices
Families Information Service

Next Steps

Once we have received your application form your child's name is placed on waiting list and you will be contacted as soon as a place becomes available.

You will normally receive a letter at least six weeks before the term starts. 

Owner Officer Contact Details

Senior Officer School Organisation
Telephone: 01226 774513
email: schoolorg@barnsley.gov.uk

Frequently Asked Questions

Admission to a local authority nursery

How long is a session in a local authority nursery?
2½ hours.

Is there a charge for a place at a local authority nursery?
No. The sessions are free of charge

Can I apply to any nursery in the Barnsley area?
Yes.

When can I apply for a nursery place?
At any time following your child's second birthday.

How do I apply for a place?
Complete form N1 and return it either to the nursery or the School Admissions Section, Directorate for Children, Young People and Families, Berneslai Close, Barnsley S70 2HS.

How do I find out the position of my child's name on the waiting list?
Contact the School Admissions Section on 773670.

When will my child start nursery?

• If there are places available your child will be offered a place from the term following their third birthday.
• If the nursery is full your child will be offered a place as soon as a vacancy arises once they are top of the waiting list.
• Once your child reaches the term following their fourth birthday you are guaranteed a place in a local authority nursery (please note that this may not be your preferred nursery).

What can I do if my child is not offered a place at my preferred nursery?
If there are no vacancies at your preferred nursery you can:

• accept the offer of a place at an alternative nursery
• decline the alternative place and keep your child's name on the waiting list for your preferred nursery.
• consider alternative provision in the Private sector and claim Nursery Education Funding.

When will I find out that my child has been offered a nursery place?
You will normally receive a letter at least six weeks before the start of the term.

How is it decided that a nursery is full?
When the number of children already attending plus the number of allocated places reaches the capacity of the nursery.

If my child is refused a place at my preferred nursery can I appeal against the decision?
Yes. You have the right of appeal.  Contact the Admissions Section for details of the appeals procedure.

Can I change my mind once I have applied for a nursery place?

Yes, you need to submit another application form and inform the school admissions section in writing that you wish to have your child's name removed from the original waiting list.

Can my child attend a private nursery and a local authority nursery at the same time?
Yes, but you will have to pay the full cost of the private nursery place if your child attends the local authority nursery for five sessions.

Does my child have to attend local authority nursery for five sessions per week?
No, you can choose to take up less than five sessions per week.You can also claim the balance of the five sessions per week from a private nursery provider.

Do I have to move my child to a local authority nursery if they are settled with a childminder or at a private nursery or playgroup?
No, you can choose to leave your child with their current childminder or in a private nursery or playgroup and carry on claiming Nursery Education Funding until the term in which your child is five.

If I don't take up a place in a local authority nursery does this mean I will be disadvantaged when it becomes time to apply for school?
No. There is no link between admission to nursery and admission to school. Admission into a nursery unit cannot and does not guarantee a place in the associated primary school.

What is the ratio of staff to children in a local authority nursery?
One member of staff for every 13 children.

How do I obtain advice about admission to nursery?
Contact the school admissions section on 773670 or 773689.

 

Last modified on 12/11/2008