Admission

Admission to nursery is not covered by statute but the following criteria is policy for admission to Mini Meophams. 

Children are normally considered for admission to our nursery calendar year before they are due to enter Reception. Where spaces are available, younger children will be considered and offered places.

Admissions criteria for allocating nursery places are as follows:

• Children in Local Authority Care or previously in Local Authority Care

• Current family association

• Health, social and special access reasons

• Children eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium

• Age

• Distance from the school

Note:

• To be eligible under the second criterion, the sibling must still be attending the mainstream school when the younger child takes up a place in the nursery

• A place in the nursery does not guarantee a place in the Reception class of the mainstream school. Therefore a separate application must be made for admission to the main school

• Applications should be made directly to Meopham Community Academy

All children are eligible for 15 hours of free funding from the term after the child’s 3rd birthday. Entitlement to a Free Early Education place does not offer a guarantee of a place at any one provider or a particular pattern of deliver. 

Children who are younger than 3 may be offered a place no earlier than the September after they have turned 2. Children who are 2 years old and eligible for a 'Free for 2 (FF2)' place can apply at any point during the term, in accordance with the eligibility confirmed start date. 

You can apply for a place at Mini Meophams for your child by contacting the main school office on mca-office@golden-thread.org.uk.

Pattern of Delivery (from September 2023) 

Mini Meophams is a sessional, term time only (open for 38 weeks a year) early years provision. As a result of feedback from the wider community, we are pleased to be able to offer 15 hour and 30 hour funded places from September 2023. The offer of our delivery from September 2023 is as follows:

Option 1 – 15 hours funded:

Monday 8.30-3.30*

Tuesday 8.30-3.30*

Wednesday morning (8.30-11.30)

Option 2 – 15 hours funded:

Wednesday afternoon (12.30-3.30)

Thursday 8.30-3.30*

Friday 8.30-3.30*

Option 3 – 30 hours funded:

Monday to Friday 8.30 – 3.30*

Option 4 – 30 hours (15 hours funded, 15 additional childcare hours charged at £112.50 per week):

Monday to Friday 8.30 – 3.30*

*please note, lunch is an additional funded hour from 11.30-12.30 priced at £7.50 (this is a reduced cost taking effect from September 2023). If you do not wish to pay the additional cost for your child to stay for lunch then you can collect your child at 11.30 and return them to nursery at 12.30.

To find out more information about funding and eligibility please visit childcarechoices.gov.uk. 

Early Years Pupil Premium

Your child may be eligible for Early Years Pupil Premium if your child is aged 3 or 4 and you get 15 hours free childcare.

You must also get at least one of the following:

• Income Support

• income-based Jobseeker’s Allowance

• income-related Employment and Support Allowance

• support under part six of the Immigration and Asylum Act 1999

• the guaranteed element of State Pension Credit

• Child Tax Credit (provided you are not also entitled to Working Tax Credit) and have an annual gross income of no more than £16,190

• Working Tax Credit run-on, which is paid for 4 weeks after you stop qualifying for Working Tax Credit

• Universal Credit - your household income must be less than £7,400 a year after tax not including any benefits you get

You may also get early years pupil premium if your child is currently being looked after by a local authority in England or Wales or if your child has left care in England or Wales through:

• adoption

• special guardianship order

• a child arrangements order