Thank you for considering Potton Pre-School for your child.

Once we have received your completed application form, and subject to our admissions process, we will contact you to arrange a visit to our setting. This gives you the opportunity to meet our team, explore the environment and talk to us about your child, their individual needs and what is important to you as a family.

Applying for a Place

We carefully manage the timing of applications to ensure that places are offered fairly and appropriately. This helps us to:

• Meet families when their child is at an appropriate stage to consider starting pre-school.
• Ensure that available places can be offered to families whose children are ready to start.
• Keep the time between a visit and a child starting with us as short as possible, supporting a confident and settled transition.
• Ensure we can continue to provide the high standard of care, attention and support that is central to our setting.

Please refer to our Admissions and Dates document below for information about when to apply.

Space Availability

We understand that families are keen to know whether we have spaces available. We confirm availability once we have received a completed application form and met with the family.

This allows us to consider the information provided about your child, their individual needs and the sessions you require, alongside the spaces available within the relevant age group.

Following your visit, if we are able to offer the sessions you require, we will provide written confirmation of your place and agreed sessions.  During periods of over-subscription, we may not always be able to offer your requested pattern of attendance. However, we will always do our best to accommodate your preferences. Where your preferred sessions are unavailable, we will discuss any suitable alternative sessions with you and, if we are unable to offer an alternative that meets your requirements, we can add your child to our waiting list.

We accept eligible Local Authority early years funding for two-, three- and four-year-olds. Children can start with us from the term after they turn 2 years and 6 months.

Admissions take place in September, January and April, and we are registered to offer up to 30 hours of extended entitlement funding, subject to eligibility and availability.

Sessions

Starting pre-school is a significant milestone, particularly for our youngest children. We therefore offer a gentle introduction to help children settle gradually and build confidence in their new environment.

Children aged 2 years and 6 months initially attend two sessions per week, while children aged three initially attend three sessions per week. As children become settled and confident, we can review their sessions with families, subject to availability.

Every child is unique, and our experienced team takes a flexible, child-centred approach to helping children settle. We provide a safe, nurturing environment where children feel secure, valued and supported as they begin their early learning journey.

Session Times

• Morning Session: 8:45am – 11:45am
• Lunch Club (from age three): 11:45am – 12:30pm
• Afternoon Session: 12:30pm – 3:30pm
• Full Day (from age three): 8:45am – 3:30pm

Wraparound Care

We offer wraparound care for children aged three and above, once they have been attending pre-school with us for one half-term, subject to availability.

This provision supports working families by offering additional care before and after the core pre-school day.

• Breakfast Club: 7:45am or 8:20am
• After-School Sessions: Available until 4:00pm, 5:00pm or 6:00pm

For full information about our wraparound provision, including fees and activities, please visit the Nest section of our website.

Pre-School Fees

• Unfunded session: £17.47
• Lunch Club: £3.90

Consumable Charge

Government early years funding does not fully cover the cost of delivering high-quality early education and care. We therefore ask families using funded sessions to contribute a voluntary consumable charge. Please see our Consumable Fee Policy for full details.

Our consumable charge is £3.40 per funded session, which contributes towards:

• Snack: £0.55
• Non-food consumables: £0.45
• Activities and enrichment: £2.40

This contribution helps us provide snacks, cooking ingredients, craft and other non-food materials, as well as a varied programme of activities and experiences for the children.

Activities and Enrichment

We are pleased to welcome a range of external providers who add to our weekly programme:

• Tuesday: Yoga
• Wednesday: Spanish
• Thursday: Super Star Sports

Tiny Tales Dance also visits once a month on Mondays to provide a special dance session.

Alongside these activities, children regularly take part in cooking and baking experiences, supporting skills such as following instructions, measuring, fine motor control, creativity and independence.

Throughout the year, we also celebrate a variety of cultural events and festivals. These experiences help children develop curiosity, respect for diversity and an understanding of the wider world.

Our aim is to provide children with a rich and varied early years experience where they can learn, explore, develop confidence and, most importantly, enjoy coming to pre-school.

Why do settings need to charge a consumable fee?

https://www.eyalliance.org.uk/problem-free-childcare-interactive-explainer-parents-and-carers