‘Both of my children have gone to Willington Primary School nursery. All the staff are brilliant at what they do! Thank you!’ Parent from cohort 2013/2014
‘Good teaching helps children make good progress in the Early Years Foundation Stage’ OFSTED 2014
We feel that it is vital for parents to have as much information as possible, before deciding on their child’s early education, we hope that the following information will be of both interest and value in helping you to make that all important decision.
We are very proud of our nursery school, our pupils and their achievements. Our indoor and outdoor areas provide learning and social opportunities for children in a happy, safe and secure environment. We are a very inclusive nursery where every child matters, meeting the individual needs of both children and parents, enabling children to reach their full potential. What children experience in nursery can create strong and lasting foundations on which to build on in later life, so we believe it is essential that the first experiences at Willington Primary School Nursery are both enjoyable and of the highest quality.
Our facilities provide pre-school education for up to 52 children divided over a number of sessions. Due to the demands of modern family life we aim to offer flexible nursery sessions to suit your demands. Your 15 hours flexible free entitlement could be taken in a number of ways, for example, your child could attend 5 morning/afternoon sessions or attend over 2 ½ days per week which will include lunches in a stimulating familiar environment.
Parents are very welcome, in fact actively encouraged to visit us prior to your child starting nursery school. Please visit the Nursery section on our website or contact the school office either by telephone or email to arrange a visit.
Mrs Britton
Nursery Teacher
Early Years Provision
All three and four-year-olds are currently entitled to 15 hours per week for 38 weeks of the year or if eligible 30 hours . It can last for up to two years or until your child reaches statutory school age. Some two year-olds are also entitled to access this provision and for eligible parents/carers a further 15 hours free entitlement can be accessed . The guide below will provide you with the information you need to access free entitlement to early years provision for your child.
Applying for a Nursery Place
You can add your child’s name to our waiting list in the term of your child’s second birthday or anytime after. To apply for a nursery place at Willington Primary School please complete an NA1 application form and return to school or e-mail the completed form to willington@durhamlearning.net. On receipt of your application you will receive confirmation from us that your child has been added to our list for 15 hours entitlement.
Your child will be offered a place in accordance with Durham County Council’s Admission Arrangements. Our usual intake is in September but we may be able to offer a place in the term after your child is three.
Free Play and Learn for 2 Year Olds
What is ‘free play and learn’ for 2 year olds
It’s free childcare for 2 year olds, to ‘play and learn’ at a local nursery. If you are eligible, your child could receive 15 hours a week – term time only.
Is my child eligible for a free place?
The duty to secure funded early learning for two-year-olds relates to children:
1. From households where a parent is in receipt of any of the following benefits:
- Income Support
- Income-based Job Seekers’ Allowance
- Income-related Employment and Support Allowance
- Support under Part VI of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999
- The Guarantee element of the State Pension Credit,
- or Child Tax Credit, provided they have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190, as assessed by Her Majesty’s Revenue and Customs (HMRC),
- or are in receipt of Working Tax Credits (including those in receipt during the four-week period immediately after their employment ceases, or after they start to work fewer than 16 hours per week) with a household income of less than £16,190 as assessed by HMRC.
2. Looked after by their local authority
3. With a current statement of special educational needs or an Education, Health and Care Plan.
4. Who have left care through special guardianship or an adoption or residence order.
5. In receipt of the Disability Living Allowance.
When could my child start?
If you qualify for free childcare, your child could take up their ‘play and learn’ sessions, the term after their second birthday.
When does my child qualify?
- Child born between 1 April – 31 August: September term intake
- Child born between 1 September – 31 December: January term intake
- Child born between 1 January – 31 March: April term intake
How do I apply?
You can download an application form, or contact the Childcare Places Team for a paper copy on Tel: 03000 268 913 or 03000 268 914, email: childcare@durham.gov.uk.
If your child is eligible you will receive confirmation from the Childcare Places Team in the form of a Golden Ticket. Please forward confirmation of your ticket with an NA1 application form and return to school or e-mail the completed form to willington@durhamlearning.net. On receipt of your application you will receive confirmation from us that your child has been added to our list for free play and learn for 2 year olds. .
30 Hours Free Childcare
Is my child entitled to 30 hours free childcare?
Working parents/carers of 3 and 4 year olds may be eligible for a further 15 hours free childcare in addition to the existing free 15 hours early education entitlement, if you meet certain criteria. From 1st September 2017, we will be able to start to offer the 30 hours childcare for eligible parents/carers where we have the space to do so.
Parents/carers wishing to access the additional 15 hours from September will be required to make an application via the Childcare Choices website www.childcarechoices.gov.uk
Eligibility Criteria
Parents of three and four year olds will need to meet the following criteria in order to be eligible for 30 hours free childcare:
- They earn or expect to earn the equivalent to 16 hours at National Minimum or Living Wage over the coming three months.
- This equates to £120 a week (or c.£6,000 a year) for each parent over 25 years old or£112.80 a week (or c.£5,800 a year) for each parent between 21 and 24 years old.
- This applies whether you are in paid employment, self-employed or on zero hours contract.
- The parent (and their partner where applicable) should be seeking the free childcare to enable them to work.
- Where one or both parents are on maternity, paternity, shared parental or adoption leave, or if they are on statutory sick leave.
- Where one parent meets the income criteria and the other is unable to work because they are disabled, have caring responsibilities or have been assessed as having limited capability to work.
- Where a parent is in a ‘start-up period’ (i.e. they are newly self-employed) they do not need to demonstrate that they meet the income criteria for 12 months.
- If a non-EEA national, the parent must have recourse to public funds.
If you are eligible you will receive an eligibility code. Once you have received your code and you wish to access 30 hours please complete an Early Education Entitlement Declaration form and contact Mrs Walker (01388) 746414 option 1 to verify you application. As a school we are currently providing 30 hour placements of Monday to Friday 9am to 3pm (term time only).
Documents you need to present to us are your eligibility code, National Insurance number and documentary proof of your child’s date of birth (Birth Certificate or Passport).
Special Educational Needs and Disabilities (SEND)
In the SEN Provision section we have added information about our Local Offer including how we support, identify and assess children with SEN at Willington Primary School.
If you would like to discuss your SEND requirements in detail please contact the school to arrange an appointment.
The Curriculum
Your child will be learning skills, acquiring new knowledge and demonstrating their understanding through 7 areas of learning and development.
Children should mostly develop the 3 prime areas first. These are:
- Communication and language;
- Physical development; and
- Personal, social and emotional development.
These prime areas are those most essential for your child’s healthy development and future learning.
As children grow, the prime areas will help them to develop skills in 4 specific areas. These are:
- Literacy;
- Mathematics;
- Understanding the world; and
- Expressive arts and design
These 7 areas are used to plan your child’s learning and activities. We will make sure that the activities are suited to your child’s unique needs. This is a little bit like a curriculum in primary and secondary schools, but it’s suitable for very young children, and it’s designed to be really flexible so that staff can follow your child’s unique needs and interests.
Children in the EYFS learn by playing and exploring, being active, and through creative and critical thinking which takes place both indoors and outside. For more information please download the parent/carer EYFS Parent Guide.
To find out more about how your child is learning and developing during their first five years, in relation to the EYFS a parent’s guide – What to Expect, When? has been published. Children develop more rapidly during the first five years of their lives than at any other time. This booklet has been written to help you as a parent know what to expect during these vitally important years by focusing on the seven areas of learning and development which are covered in the EYFS.
