Admissions policy

Welcome and Introduction

Welcome to our nursery. We are committed to providing high-quality care and early education in a safe, nurturing, and inclusive environment. Our aim is to help every child learn, play, and grow while feeling valued and supported. We follow the Early Years Foundation Stage (EYFS) statutory requirements for space and staff ratios to ensure your child’s safety and wellbeing.

This policy explains how we allocate places, what funding options are available, and what parents need to know about fees, optional extras, and support for families who choose not to pay.
 

Who can join

We welcome children from six weeks old until they start school (usually the September after their fourth birthday). Every family is respected for their unique culture, language, and experiences. If your child has additional needs, we will work closely with you and professionals to ensure the right support is in place before admission.
 

How we offer places

Places are limited and allocated in the following order:

1. Children already attending who need more sessions
2. Siblings of current children
3. University and Imago community (students and employees)
4. Local families if spaces remain

We also consider the number of days requested (prioritising full-time or multi-day bookings), your child’s age, and any special family circumstances such as work commitments or wellbeing needs.
 

Inclusion and SEND

We operate an Inclusion and SEND policy to make sure every child can access our nursery and its services.

If a child needs additional support, we work in partnership with parents and relevant professionals and strive to have everything in place before admission. This may include support from external agencies such as the Local Authority. Our goal is always to ensure your child’s needs are met safely and effectively so they can thrive in our setting.
 

Minimum attendance

We recommend a minimum of three days booking per week for continuity if your child receives 30 hours of funded childcare. However, in some circumstances, we can offer a two-day booking 2 per week. Our nursery is open all year-round to meet the needs of working families so most of our places are offered on a year-round basis.

We have a small number of spaces for term time contracts from September to June. Priority is given to Loughborough University students.
 

How we allocate funded places (FEEE)

Our nursery participates in the Government’s 15 and 30 hour funding schemes. For full details on how the funding is applied, please refer to our Early Years Funding guide, Nursery Fee sheet and Terms and Conditions.

Priority for funded places follows the same criteria as our general admissions policy. To ensure sustainability of our funded provision, we allocate funded hours in a way that supports efficient nursery operations while aiming to offer times which supports work and family life. High demand days are prioritised for children accessing our all-inclusive package, which includes meals, consumables, and enrichment activities.

Parents who take Package 3 - funded only sessions should speak directly to the Head of Nursery to agree on arrangements that suit both the family and the nursery. These places are offered termly and reviewed before each new term.
 

How to Apply

Applying is simple!

1. Complete our application form (available online or at the nursery)
2. Provide proof of eligibility for funding (if applicable)
3. We’ll confirm your place and arrange a settling-in session in writing

If you have any questions, please contact us - we’re here to help.