Statement of intent

It is our intention to make our pre-school accessible to children and families from all sections of the local community.

Aim

We aim to ensure that all sections of our community have access to the pre-school through open, fair and clearly communicated procedures.

Methods

In order to achieve this aim, we operate the following admissions policy:

We ensure that the existence of the pre-school is widely advertised in places accessible to all sections of the community.

We ensure that information about our pre-school is accessible -in written and spoken form- and ,where appropriate in different languages. Where necessary,we will try to ptovide information in braille, or through signing or an interpreter.

We arrange our waiting list on a time on list basis, within each intake period. In addition our policy may take into account the following:

* the vicinity of the home to the pre-school.

* siblings already attending the pre-school.

Children start with a minimum of two sessions per week unless there are medical reasons or special needs for starting with one. We may accept children on one session after the main waiting list has been satisfied.

Children already attending the pre-school have priority for new sessions over the waiting list on the following criteria:

* Children start with two sessions.

* A third session is available if requested a term in advance at the age of three.

* A fourth session (preferably a Risers' session) is available if requested a term in advance at the age of four.

We keep a place vacant, if this is financially viable, to accomodate an emergency admission.

We describe our pre-school and its practices in terms which make it clear that it welcomes both fathers and mothers, other relations and other carers, including childminders.

We describe our pre-school and its practices in terms of how it treats individuals, regardless of their gender, special educational needs, disabilities, background, religion,ethnicity or competence in spoken English.

We describe our pre-school and its practices in terms of how it enables children with disabilities to take part in the life of the pre-school.

We monitor the gender and ethnic background of children joining the group to ensure that no accidental discrimination is taking place.

We make our equal opportunities policy widely known.

We consult with families about the opening times of the pre-school to avoid excluding anyone.

We are flexible about attendance patterns to accomodate the needs of individual children and families.

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We reserve the right to charge a top-up fee per session to compensate for the difference between our fees and that received for grant funding, and to charge fees for any sessions not paid by grant funding. Charges will be billed to parents before the start of each half term. Sessions must be paid for regardless of the child's attendance.

This policy was adopted at a meeting of Hollybush Montessori school held on 26th July 2007.