Admissions
Admission to The Orchards Nursery for mainstream children aged 2, 3 or 4 years old. The Nursery is not in charge of admissions for the Special Needs Nursery, these must be done via Bolton council.
The admissions policy for nursery schools and classes is as follows.
The Head Teacher will allocate places in their nursery school or nursery class as they become available, primarily on the age of the children. Head Teachers may also take into account medical factors or serious social deprivation, which should normally be supported by independent evidence. Pupils with a place in any other Bolton LA nursery school or class will only be considered after all other places have been considered. Failure by parents to reveal any other LA nursery placement for their child may result in a place being withdrawn if this is subsequently brought to light.
We offer free 15 hour places for all mainstream children aged 3 and 4. There is no eligibility check for these places.
We also offer 15 hours places for 2 year olds, and 30 hour places for 3 and 4 year olds. These places all need proof of eligibility provided by parents or carers. https://www.gov.uk/help-with-childcare-costs or come into school and we’ll help you with this.
Having a place in a nursery class DOES NOT automatically give a child admission to Cherry Tree or Green Fold schools.
How and when do I apply?
Come into school at any time and ask for an application form.
We also have a High Needs Base attached to the Nursery. Admission to this is NOT via the main nursery and our children do not get preference.
Admission to The Orchards High Needs Base for children with Special Needs, aged 2, 3 or 4 years old. Admissions are decided by a Bolton council panel.
Early Years High Needs Base Provision
As part of Bolton Early Years SEND strategic approach, High Needs SEND Base provision offer places for children aged 2-5 years with High Needs SEND within an environment that will meet their learning and development needs, enable integration and be staffed by practitioners able to offer specialism.
The Early Years High Needs Base provision offers:
• Places for funded children with high needs whose needs cannot be fully met within mainstream provision.
• Provision for the number of hours of their free entitlement for 2,3 and 4 year olds.
• Indoor and outdoor provision at the heart of the setting that provides inclusive learning opportunities in all areas of the EYFS curriculum.
• A team of staff who are highly trained and experienced in the field of SEND.
• An environment and resources specifically sourced to reduce barriers to learning and support development within core areas of learning for children with SEND.
• A high ratio of staff available to meet the needs of pupils who require more specific care.
High Needs Base Provisions
All Saints CofE Primary School offers 6 full time equivalent places in their Early Years SEND Base provision (Little Saints); these places are for children who are eligible for 2, 3 or 4 year old funding.
Grosvenor Nursery School offers 6 full time equivalent places in their Early Years SEND Base provision; these places are for children who are eligible for 2, 3 or 4 year old funding.
Children’s Opportunity Group offers 4 full time equivalent places in their Early Years SEND Base provision; the Blue Room; these places are for children who are eligible for 2, 3 or 4 year old funding.
Thomasson Memorial School offers 6 full time equivalent places in their Early Years SEND Base provision within the nursery classes; these places are for children who are eligible for 2, 3 or 4 year old funding.
The Orchards Nursery School offers 4 full time equivalent places in their Early Years SEND Base provision with the nursery classes; these places are for children who are eligible for 2, 3 or 4 year old funding.
How and when do I apply?
Professionals can apply by submitting a base referral form along with the Early Help Assessment and supporting evidence to the Early Years SEN High Needs Base Panel, where it will be assessed against a matrix of development to determine a child’s level of needs.
Please submit the following documentation to the EY SEND Hub Coordinator: jo.brown@bolton.gov.uk by the deadline specified below.
• A signed Base Referral Form
• Early Help Assessment
• Most recent reports from external agencies (e.g. SALT, OT)
N.B. Before submitting the referral, please ensure that the information sharing section on the Early Help Form contains ‘High Needs Base Panel’.
For further information, please contact:
EY SEND High Needs Base Coordinator – Jo Brown
The Orchards Federation
Lower Site
Highfield Road
Farnworth
Bolton
BL4 0RA
Tel: 07753 226 201
Email: jo.brown@bolton.gov.uk
